Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jazlynn Paige.
Hi Dr. Jazlynn, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always questioned why things are the way they are, and my mother attributes my success to that because I have always wanted to find things out on my own. My entrepreneurial spirit stems from my desire to demand justice and equity for all; I want to see change and action. When reflecting on my career path, I always knew that I would work with children since I was 8 years old, but I was not sure in what capacity. And then, I took a psychology course in college, and I instantly knew that I wanted to learn more because it intrigued me, and the rest is history. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Child Psychology and went straight to graduate school, where I enrolled in a doctorate program. I received my Master’s Degree in Education and then my Ph.D. in School Psychology. Throughout my years of studying and working as a school psychologist, I knew that I picked the right field, or maybe it picked me, but my inherent desire has always been to learn about the way we as humans behave and why. After working in schools for several years, I created my business in 2019 due to the amount of educational injustices I consistently encountered. I started by cutting my hours at the school where I worked to understand how entrepreneurship would work for me. I started with 3 schools, then by the spring of 2020, I quit my job and became full-time. I created my own business, but it was solely based on the needs of the communities I serve. I noticed a gap between black psychologists and mental health professionals, as well as a gap in advocacy programs for families of color. Since then, I have acquired an average of 10 schools each year in which I serve as a school psychologist, offering intellectual testing, behavioral assessments, mentorship, social skills, girls’ groups, consultation, and more! My company aims to solve the lack of mental health and equitable education in the school system for black and brown students. In addition to my work in the schools, I offer consultations to parents to assist them with learning about special education and act as an advocate when needed.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My path was destined, so it happened naturally, but there have been obstacles. I have noticed that there has been a persistent theme of racial injustice and discrimination as a black woman. This theme began heavily when I was in graduate school, obtaining my doctorate in psychology. I have had to work twice as hard to prove I am worthy of being in spaces where I belong. Since the inception of my business, I have had more significant and predominantly white businesses try to steal contracts from me and blatantly even refuse to pay me for my services. I am often met with resistance from colleagues in my field who force me to fight for things I shouldn’t need to. Lastly, I have found that securing funding for my business has also been an obstacle. My business is unique in that I contract with school districts by providing a racial justice lens and work with children in mental health, trauma, and special education, but I do not have a physical space. I know that my work is valuable. I just haven’t encountered a funding opportunity that believes that as well.
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Paige Psychological Consulting?
Paige Psychological Consulting is a business that aims to solve the lack of mental health and equitable education in the school system for all students, predominantly black and brown students. I do this work by offering school psychology services in school districts across Minnesota. My services include but are not limited to intellectual testing, behavior assessments, social skills, counseling, and consultation. I not only offer school psychology services to schools across Minnesota, but I also offer parent advocacy for families struggling to navigate through the education system. More specifically, I can assist families with children in special education who have been systematically mislabeled and mistreated. Black and brown children are being overly diagnosed, given harsher disciplinary consequences, and being placed in special education at higher rates compared to their peers. In addition to the services that I offer, I created affirmation card decks titled “Master Your Mindset” aimed to instill confidence and positivity. I have two card decks: one for children and one for adults. I am very proud of these as they are products I created based on my experiences and manifestations and my time working with children with little to no self-confidence. I offer independent contracts, professional training with schools and organizations, and parent advocacy support in education. I am known for my ability to build authentic relationships with children, families, and businesses, my sharp intellect, and my broad range of knowledge in education and mental health. Businesses, organizations, and schools can expect a genuine, judge-free, holistic, and individualistic approach to their needs.
We’d like to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
Luck is often perceived as a combination of chance, probability, and personal interpretation. Some people believe luck is a force that influences outcomes beyond rational explanation, while others view it as a subjective perception of random events. I view luck as a product of personal actions, preparation, and opportunity intersecting. Through hard work, persistence, and resilience, I have manifested my life and business. Luck is attributed to randomness and probability, so I can’t downplay that my success and diligence are based on luck; I worked hard for this!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paigepsychconsulting.com/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/paigepsychconsulting/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazlynnpaige/
