Dr Keith Marshall overcame the hardships of growing up in a poor socio-economic environment, and enduring early childhood sexual and physical abuse (which led him to a chronic drug addiction). For many years while he was addicted, he experienced multiple near-death events including being shot in head and stabbed multiple times, relationships disruptions, homelessness, employment disruptions, low-self-worth, and most importantly, an unexplainable spiritual event in 2006 which freed him from the bondage of addiction (described in his autobiography “From Dumpster to Doctor”). After many months of painstaking introspective work on himself and making amends to others and himself for his past mistakes, Dr. Mashall was able to realize that his past pain pushed him to his purpose in life, which is to help others overcome addiction and human developmental struggles.
In his efforts to become more effective at helping others, Dr. Marshall went back to school in 2006 and subsequently earned a Specialist in Alcohol and Drug Studies Certificate from Glendale Community College and became a Certified Addiction Treatment Counselor. In 2007 he attended Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena CA. and earned both his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in human development with a Specialization in Early Childhood Education. In 2011 he was accepted to the Chicago School of Professional Psychology where he subsequently earned his Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology. Moreover, in 2023 Dr. Marshall earned a Certificate in Corporate Governance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School-Aresty Institute of Executive Education. In 2025 Dr. Marshall obtained Certification as an Anger Management Counselor.
In addition to his studies Dr. Marshall has gained many years of experience working in mid-level management positions in Hospital Environmental Services Departments, as an Independent self-employed Certified Professional Fitness and Nutrition expert, and as a Certified Counselor and Clinical Director at various Drug and Alcohol treatment centers in the Los Angelas County area.
In 2015 Dr. Marshall founded Dedicato Treatment Center Inc. which Certified by the California Department of Health Care Services and accredited by the Joint Commission, to provide Intensive Substance Use Disorder Treatment which includes co-occurring Mental Health Disorders.
Dr. Marshall research projects include his Doctoral Dissertation “Human Developmental Risk Factors Associated with Adolescent Substance Use Disorders” (Pro-Quest, 2015), and his Master Thesis “Exploring Psychopathology and Low Self-Esteem and it’s Correlation with Adolescent Substance Abuse” (Pacific Oaks College, 2012).
Dr. Keith L. Marshall, PsyD, M.H.D., is an award-winning author and International Impact Book Awards recipient whose work has been recognized for its notable contributions to transformational literature. He is the author of From Dumpster to Doctor: A True Story of Perseverance from Fear to Freedom (2025) and Factors of Transformation: Be the Change You Want (2022), both published by Dorrance Publishing. His writing bridges lived experience and disciplined personal development, offering powerful testimony of transformation alongside practical guidelines that outline intentional mindset shifts and structured disciplines necessary for authentic growth, resilience, and sustainable change.
Dr. Marshall’s literary work has also received professional recognition from two of the publishing industry’s most respected review institutions—Foreword Clarion Reviews and Kirkus Reviews, organizations widely regarded as trusted gatekeepers of literary quality, editorial rigor, marketplace credibility, and adaptation visibility. For an independent author, receiving reviews from both institutions carries exceptional significance, signaling that his work has been evaluated beyond personal testimony and affirmed by respected third-party literary authorities. Particularly noteworthy is his 3-star Clarion Review, which should not be interpreted through the casual consumer lens of retail star ratings. Within the independent publishing world, Clarion applies a far more demanding literary standard, often reviewing books created without the structural advantages of major publishing houses, elite editorial teams, publicity departments, foreign-rights representation, or studio-connected adaptation networks. In that context, a 3-star distinction represents substantial literary merit, professional storytelling strength, thematic sophistication, and recognized commercial legitimacy, making it especially meaningful for a self-directed memoir rooted in lived transformation, resilience, and disciplined personal reinvention.
His memoir, From Dumpster to Doctor: A True Story of Perseverance from Fear to Freedom, received notable praise, with Clarion describing it as “an inspiring memoir of perseverance, transformation, and spiritual renewal,” and Kirkus recognizing it as “a gripping account of survival, redemption, and the rebuilding of identity.” Together, these validations strengthen the book’s credibility not only among readers, libraries, and booksellers, but also among literary agents, rights managers, screenplay developers, documentary producers, film and streaming scouts, and media professionals seeking powerful true-life transformational narratives with adaptation potential. This broader industry relevance reinforces Dr. Marshall’s work as a serious contribution to memoir, transformational literature, recovery psychology, leadership development, and screen worthy redemption storytelling. Readers may review these professional literary assessments here:
Clarion Review: https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/from-dumpster-to-doctor/
Kirkus Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/keith-l-marshall/from-dumpster-to-doctor-Marshall/
In June 2023 Dr. Marshall received the Prestigious Presidential Life-Time Achievement Award for Volunteer Services alongside multi-Emmy Awards and Oscar winning Actor the late cultural icon Louis Gossett Jr., Multi Grammy Award winner Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Model/Activist Michelle Roxan, Political Activist Jan Perry, and Angeles Echols Brown, Founder of EYM. The moderator for the event was Dr. George E Homles who has had the honor of serving five United States Presidents (1996 to 2023).
Dr. Marshall continues to volunteer his time one day a week to provide education on addiction, anger management, coping skills, and all other human developmental related topics to over 100 men and women at the Pasadena Ca. Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Program.
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The mission of the Dedicated Behavioral Health Foundation is to provide comprehensive supportive services such as transitional housing, evidenced-based psychological services, and teaching life and coping skills. We will serve clients who suffer from substance use disorders, ex-non-violent offenders, and parolees, to help them become more productive, useful, and whole” above the two donation buttons.
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Dr. Keith Marshall has written his personal story of triumph over 23 years of addiction and self-destructive thinking and behaviors in his biography From Dumpster to Doctor a True Story of Perseverance from Fear to Freedom”. After 23 years of getting high on drugs and self-medicating, being homeless and hiding behind dumpsters, being shot in the head and stabbed multiple times and many other near-death situations, going in and out of jails and institutions, Dr. Marshall was able to break free from addiction.
He went back to school for nine years and earned a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology and three professional addiction certifications. He has continued to lead life of purpose and meaning by sharing the gift of recovery with others at his own addiction recovery facility, Dedicato Treatment Center.
Dr. Marshall offers his personal journey in order to inspire others to take that very difficult first step in choosing to live a life free from addiction, trauma, or any other human developmental struggles that holds them bound. If you are thinking of recovery, but are afraid, we encourage you to read Dr. Marshall’s story. If you are inspired by his story to recover, then we welcome you to work with Dr. Marshall here at the Dedicato Treatment Center. Dr. Marshall is here actively and personally working with every patient to help them on their own unique journey from fear to freedom.
Factors of Transformation: Be The Change You Want does not waste one second expressing poetic fluff many self-help books use to solicit readers. At the onset of his introduction, author Dr. Keith L. Marshall states point blank he wants us to understand the power of our conscious and subconscious thoughts in every dimension of life, be it spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, or social. The idea is to assist those who desire to achieve liberation from negative thinking patterns that yield poor behaviors, to become sensitive to the power of thoughts and become more productive.
“A brutally honest and inspirational story of a man turning his life around.”
“His descriptions of living ‘in an internal prison with a life sentence and no parole date’ are gripping.”
Clarion and Kirkus are among the most recognized, respected literary review authorities and gatekeepers in the world for serious literary works, publishing credibility, rights acquisition, and screenplay or film adaptation consideration. Receiving professional recognition from both places Dr. Keith L. Marshall’s work in a rare class of independently authored books that have earned elite third-party validation for literary merit, market credibility, and adaptation potential, with a three-star Clarion review carrying particular significance as rare selective recognition for a work without major publishing-house backing, while the strength of the Kirkus review speaks powerfully for itself.
