Page 93 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2025

GIVING BACK
VICTORY
BEHAVIORAL CENTER story by Cherie Ward photos courtesy of Victory Behavioral Center
Therapy and compassion aren’t confined to a building at Victory Behavioral Center—it spills out into the community, across charity events, and into the hearts of the families
they serve. Led by Clinical Director Denise Johnson, the Ocean Springs- based center provides ABA Therapy for children diagnosed with autism, serving families all along the Gulf Coast.
“We service children from age two
on up,” Johnson said. “We work on communication skills, social skills, and help with any type of behavioral issues. We have a very close-knit team—they’re really awesome—and we do a lot of training.”
That same teamwork extends beyond the center’s walls. Giving back isn’t a side note for Victory Behavioral. “We
do a lot of things in the community together—volunteering, fundraising, charity balls, just anything to give back,” Johnson said. “It’s one of the values in our company, and we take it seriously.”
has partnered with groups like Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport, Embrace Abilities, the Boys & Girls Clubs, and Shuck Cancer, among others. “We also do the MSD Run every year,” Johnson added. “And with the Boys & Girls Clubs, we’re part of the Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? event. That one’s huge and so much fun.”
After moving to the Coast several years ago, Johnson quickly fell in love with
the people and pace. “Everyone was
so kind, and it just felt like home,” she said. “I wanted to immerse myself in the community, and that same spirit became part of our company culture.”
Victory Behavioral employs 11 staff members and provides full-time, one- on-one therapy. Each child receives individualized support Monday through Friday, learning everything from communication to self-care routines.
“If you were to come here, it would look like we’re playing,” Johnson said with a laugh. “We’re doing school readiness things, a lot of gross motor
work, and it’s a lot of fun. Because they’re so engaged and having such a good time, they don’t even know they’re working.”
Behind all the laughter and learning is a deep commitment to excellence. “The biggest things for us are high- quality services and always improving ourselves,” Johnson said. “We’re constantly training, getting better, and making sure we’re out there in the community. This team truly enjoys being around each other and out in the community. We’ve really become like a family.”
In recent months, Victory Behavioral SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
228.707.4417 • hello@victorybehavioral.com
December 2025 | 93