She received her MSW from the University of California, Berkeley and worked from 2006-2013 at the UCSF Trauma Recovery Center / Survivors International, where she treated victims of violent crimes and torture as well as those seeking asylum. From 2013-2017 she treated victims of terrorist attacks and those bereaved by homicide in greater London with ASSIST Trauma Care of the UK. While in London, Ms. Dodgen also co-founded and taught a yoga class and support group for homicide bereavement.