Meet Makayla Dodson, an enthusiastic and driven member of our team. Makayla is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work (MSW) at Walden University Online. She is expected to graduate in May of 2028. Makayla is passionate about children with Autism and ADHD, mental health awareness, and substance abuse education. She hopes to work with individuals of all ages and to impact their lives in a meaningful way.
Makayla graduated with a bachelor’s in Family & Human Services from Towson University in May of 2024. After graduation, Makayla got a job working at The Coordinating Center, where she is a service coordinator for children on the Autism Waiver. Makayla has learned how to make clients feel comfortable opening up to her, use culturally competent practice, locate resources, and navigate difficult situations throughout her last year and a half at The Coordinating Center. She hopes that interning with Anne Arundel Counseling will help her gain counseling skills as well as use evidence-based interventions to better her clients’ lives.
Makayla believes all clients should feel heard when working with her and that they have the right to guide the conversation topics. Makayla understands that counseling is a two-way relationship, and the only way to have clients open up is for them to feel truly comfortable when speaking to her. Makayla shares that she saw this work successfully when she was a client of counseling herself, and she only felt comfortable opening up after building rapport with her counselor.
Makayla was born and raised in Frederick County, moved to Baltimore County for her bachelor’s degree, and currently resides in Montgomery County with her long-term partner. Together they have a dog (Finn) and one guinea pig (Tiger). Makayla’s favorite hobbies include reading thriller/romance books, watching reality TV, taking her dog on walks, and spending quality time with friends and family. With an interest in advocacy, Makayla brings an empathic approach to Anne Arundel Counseling.
At Anne Arundel Counseling, Makayla is dedicated to fostering resilience and empowering each individual to navigate their mental health journeys. She looks forward to connecting with clients and supporting them in discovering their strength and voice, as well as continuing to learn more skills to help her become a better counselor as she progresses through her MSW.