Page 140 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2023

Denise Johnson
Owner, Behavior Analyst
When Denise Johnson of Victory Behavioral Center began her first job in this field, she fell in love with the kids. “I was inspired by the ways we could help them improve their quality of life,” she says. “I left work every day with a sense of purpose and knowing that what I do matters tremendously to my clients and their families.”
In fact, meeting new families is something she loves about her work. “I bond with them, and we collaborate on how to help their child get from where they are to where they need to be. There
is nothing like watching the joy on a parent’s face as they talk about how their child is forming new social relationships or is finally hitting milestones. It is everything to me.”
For Johnson, the community and personal support she received when she started her business has had the greatest impact on her career. “If it wasn’t for the people who kept telling me I could do this, and that I would be successful, I wouldn’t have had the courage to pursue my dreams,” she says. “It was their monetary investments that ultimately allowed me to get everything in order to open my doors. I am forever grateful.”
At times Johnson had to overcome self-doubt that she would become an entrepreneur. “But God showed me time and time again that this was his plan for me.”
She feels it’s extremely important that women support other woman-owned businesses. “When you figure out that instead of competing you should be collaborating, everyone wins.”
Many people are surprised to learn that she is not only a wife, business owner, and community volunteer, but also a mother of six children ages 16-1, one of whom is diagnosed with autism.
228.707.4417 www.VictoryBehavioral.com
140 | September 2023 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living