Lekeisha Dawkins

Mrs. Dawkins, LCSW-R, is a seasoned Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in the human services field. Her career spans various roles, from frontline clinician to administration. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from New York University (2004) and a BA in Psychology from Lehman College (1998). She also holds a CASAC certification and is an OASAS NYS-certified Impaired Driving Evaluator. In 2009, she trained at Yeshiva University for SIFI, mentoring numerous Social Workers, CASACs, and Mental Health Counselor interns. She later pursued post-graduate coursework in Applied Behavioral Analysis at Mercy College (2015) and completed advanced training in Intensive Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis at the William Alanson White Institute (2016). 

Currently, Mrs. Dawkins serves as Vice President of Clinical Services for OMH behavioral health, Intensive Outpatient SUD, and OTP clinics specializing in opioid addiction treatment. She operates in both administrative and clinical capacities, working directly with staff to provide substance use treatment, medication-assisted therapy, and support for dually diagnosed individuals (mental health & substance abuse disorders). Her responsibilities include policy development, procedural improvements, productivity strategies, and community engagement. 

Beyond her executive role, Mrs. Dawkins has extensive experience across mental health, HIV/AIDS services, grant-funded programs (including serving as a SAMHSA grant reviewer), inpatient & outpatient addiction treatment, school-based programs for children with special needs, and quality improvement/auditing. Since 2012, she has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Mercy University, where she integrates real-world clinical experience into the classroom, mentoring future clinicians. 

In 2017, Mrs. Dawkins founded Journey to Pathways, LCSW, PLLC, a private practice dedicated to bridging the gap in mental health services for minority communities seeking African American clinicians they can trust and relate to. The practice’s mission is to offer quality, comprehensive therapeutic services to individuals, couples, and families in a safe, confidential, and integrity-driven environment. By demystifying therapy and reducing stigma, Journey to Pathways empowers clients to begin their healing journey with confidence.