The walls tell you everything you need to know about Joshua Bennett-Johnson’s approach to addiction counseling. Instead of diplomas and certifications, visitors to JBJ Counseling find themselves surrounded by vintage rock posters and counterculture artwork.
“One of my younger clients nicknamed me ‘The Casual Counselor,'” Johnson says with a smile, dressed in his trademark t-shirt and jeans. “But make no mistake—there’s nothing casual about the work we do here.”
For more than 13 years, Johnson has been guiding individuals and families through the arduous journey of recovery from substance and alcohol disorders. After spending seven years in traditional clinical environments, he established his private practice in 2019, determined to create something different.
The contrast between Johnson’s approach and conventional treatment methods is striking. Where many addiction specialists rely on standardized protocols and scripted interventions, Johnson has built his practice on the principle of client autonomy.
“I hold client autonomy sacred: their goals, their preferences, their ideas, their action steps,” Johnson emphasizes. “I serve as their guide and ally. A ‘Soul Sherpa,’ of sorts. The client is the expert, all the time and every time.”
This philosophy extends to his work with families as well. Rather than dictating a standard approach, Johnson helps family members develop personalized recovery plans that allow them to support their loved ones effectively. “That goes for family members, too,” he notes. “I help them develop their own recovery plan to best support their loved one in healthy and effective ways.”
The evidence suggests his unorthodox methods work. Johnson has witnessed remarkable transformations throughout his career, with success rates that challenge industry norms. “I’ve worked with hundreds of people over my career, and I’ve seen more people get better and stay better than not, by a huge margin,” he reports.
Johnson’s approach aligns with emerging research showing that personalized treatment plans addressing individual circumstances tend to yield better outcomes than standardized protocols. By recognizing that recovery paths vary widely between individuals, he creates space for sustainable, meaningful change.
“If there was one way to get better, there would be one book,” Johnson observes. “Every individual’s journey is radically unique, and it is an honor to serve the wonderful people I work with.”
The rewards of this work are profound. “Seeing someone regain their self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-worth is priceless,” Johnson reflects. “Treatment works. Problems become solutions. Healing happens. And the results are inspiring, affirming, and beautiful.”
As his boutique practice continues to evolve, Johnson hopes to reach an increasingly diverse clientele who might benefit from his distinct approach. “I’d like people to know that there are alternatives to the stuffy and sterile qualities often associated with therapy,” he says. “I do therapy different than most, but the success rates of my clients prove to me that my approach to this work, works.”
In an industry often characterized by clinical detachment, Johnson’s rock-and-roll approach to recovery offers a refreshing alternative—proving that sometimes the most effective path to healing doesn’t look like a traditional treatment center at all.