Dominique L. Gadson, PhD, MSW, LMSW, CSAYC

Backstory

By Sue Coyle

Dominique L. Gadson is a social work innovator and trauma-informed strategist who founded the Gadson Blueprint Academy in Indianapolis after recognizing a disconnect between professionalism and empathy.

“It began with a simple observation: a lack of customer service and human-centered interaction in nearly every profession I encountered both as a leader and as a consumer,” she said. “I wanted to create a space where education, empathy and accountability could coexist, healing not just individuals but the environments that
shape them.”

Gadson also works as a psychotherapist, outside of the academy, specializing in trauma recovery, family restoration, and emotional regulation. “That balance between direct clinical care and systemic advocacy enables me to address both the root causes and ripple effects of harm, as I believe that prevention and healing must coexist,” she says.

The path that led Gadson to where she is today—working as a social worker in both the clinical and macro worlds—began long before she even knew what social work was. “I grew up watching how unhealed pain and limited access to resources shaped entire families, including my own,” she remembers. “Social work gave language to what I’d already been witnessing: the intersection of trauma, policy and hope. I saw [social work] as both a profession and a responsibility.”

In fulfilling that responsibility, Gadson has earned master’s degrees in social work and philosophy, as well as a doctorate in human and social services. “Each degree represents dimensions and layers of how I approach change,” she says.

She also served in the U.S Army, which she credits with helping to expand her empathy, as well as sharpening her sense of mission, discipline and adaptability. Throughout her career and in addition to founding the academy, Gadson has established the New Generational Blueprint and created “The Preventative & Interactive Genogram Model,” which she presented at the 2025 Transformational Collaborative Outcome Management (TCOM) conference.

Gadson is a member of the Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana board of directors and a panelist/contributor to the Center Grove School District’s Support Panel. She was recognized in the 2025 Marquis Who’s Who in America and by The LifeSciences Magazine.

Outside of work, “I ground myself in faith, family and creativity,” she says. “Whether it’s journaling, designing wellness spaces, or spending time with my husband and children, those moments remind me of who I am outside of leadership.”