Meet Dr. Keyon Anderson of New Normal Collective

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Keyon Anderson.

Dr. Keyon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, and that experience shaped everything. School wasn’t easy. I had to learn how to self-advocate, how to adapt, and how to see my differences as strengths. That mindset guided me into education, social work, and eventually mental health, because I know what it feels like to be overlooked in systems that define success too narrowly.

Today, I’m a therapist, professor, and author based in Los Angeles. I co-founded New Normal Collective, a therapy practice offering mental health care across California. I also teach full-time in the School of Social Work at Cal State Long Beach, where I’m deeply involved in curriculum development and student mentorship.

This past summer, I traveled to Germany with a cohort of students and faculty to engage in an international education exchange around Holocaust history and collective trauma. That trip reminded me that healing work is global; and that understanding our past helps us hold space for others in the present. From navigating my own learning challenges to mentoring the next generation, my story is about building bridges between experience and education, struggle and resilience, self and community.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. The journey has been equal parts growth and challenges. Navigating burnout, grief, and systems that weren’t built with people like me in mind, There were years of working multiple jobs, launching projects with limited resources, and learning to balance showing up for others while still tending to my own healing.

But those experiences shaped my clarity and commitment. I realized the work isn’t just about surviving, it’s about reimagining systems so more people can thrive. That’s the foundation of New Normal Collective: creating a space where people can heal without having to explain who they are first.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about New Normal Collective ?
New Normal Collective (NNC) is a virtual therapy practice serving individuals, couples, and families across California. We specialize in responsive, real-world care that meets people in the thick of life whether they’re facing burnout, relationship changes, uncertainty about the future, or navigating a major transition. Our team brings insight from education, creative work, and community leadership, not just therapy. Because meaningful care doesn’t follow a script. We’re growing beyond therapy offering workshops, group sessions, and partnerships that make care more accessible.

In addition to my work in education and therapy, I co-authored the leadership book Accidental Leadership, Intentional Departure, which explores how professionals can lead with authenticity, self-awareness, and purpose.

Many of those lessons influence how I approach both personal growth and the collective healing work we do through New Normal Collective.

How do you define success?
What matters most to me is helping people feel safe enough to heal and strong enough to create change. I’m focused on building care systems that affirm who people are and what they carry. When someone feels resourced and supported, they show up differently for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.newnormalcollective.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-keyon-anderson-lcsw-ppsc