Inside the chic, yet comfortable, office of Dr. Paige Dunlap, one is welcomed by the calming shades and pops of color that serve as the backdrop, perfectly complementing both the dazzling silver chandelier suspended and the inspiring wall decals encouraging one to “Dream” and “Imagine.” These are messages that reflect and are profoundly part of her personality and professional aspirations. A native of the Bluegrass State, Dr. Dunlap received her Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University and has since worked as a practitioner and counselor educator at universities in North Carolina and Michigan. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor, and National Certified Counselor. She also holds credentials as an Approved Clinical Supervisor and Certified Vocational Evaluator.

“There are so many reasons I can recount regarding why I chose to add a private practice to my career as an educator. I felt compelled to stay abreast of the issues within the field and help individual’s makeover their lives.” Important to her, is that “I provide a variety of services. In order to get to the heart of a client’s concern, I need to complete a thorough assessment. This will help me assist the client in developing an efficient and effective plan for creating positive change in their life. I find this holistic approach very appealing.” In addition to providing clinical mental health counseling services, limited license supervision, and vocational evaluations, Dunlap says she wants to make an impact on the community. “Rehabilitation counseling focuses on helping individuals with disabilities become successful in employment. Given the current rate of unemployment, there is no better place time when it comes to assisting individuals with their employment needs,” she believes.

Dunlap focuses her research on aspects of counselor education including counselor supervision, transition-age youth with disabilities, leader-member exchange dyads, and multicultural issues. Specifically, she is continuing research on the counseling implications of providing counseling services to gang members and other criminal populations. “I have a broad interest in the multicultural counseling arena. When it comes to research, I like to focus on the underrepresented subcultures. For example, gang members (or other incarcerated populations) and the adequacy of services that counselors provide to them. I think it is extremely important to ensure that, as counselors, we are aware of interventions and services to assist all populations, not just those that are readily available,” Dunlap says.

When Paige isn’t shopping, crafting, baking, scrapbooking or sewing, she is involved in various organizations that strive to make an impact in communities nationwide including the American Counseling Association, where she serves as a member of the Governing Council. She also holds memberships in the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association,   National Council on Rehabilitation Education, the National Association on Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

As “mom” to a gray and white mixed-breed short hair cat named Angelica, and an online shopping connoisseur, Paige has developed a personal mission to “grow as a person yet remain grounded and humbled while learning life lessons from others.” She has taken great joy in fulfilling this mission daily. “I’m truly looking forward to the exciting years ahead,” she says with enthusiasm!