Meet Dr. Jazlynn Paige

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Jazlynn Paige. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Jazlynn below.

Dr. Jazlynn , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

Being the only is a conversation that I have had continuously throughout my career; from college to graduate school until even now. Being the only black woman in many spaces I have learned that it takes a balance of confidence and setting boundaries. I quickly learned that my ability to embrace my identity is tied to feeling confident about who I am and what I contribute to the world. I have become proficient in not minimizing myself because understanding that my experience is actually valuable, has not only increased my confidence but my self-awareness too. The other skill that I have developed throughout this journey is setting boundaries. This came about because I often found myself constantly feeling obligated to educate others or speak up for myself. This led me to feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted so through trial and error I quickly learned that setting boundaries was critical to my mental health and protecting my energy.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota and I graduated college from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Child Psychology. Then I went straight to graduate school for my Masters and in Education and then my doctorate in Psychology from Indiana State University. I have been working as a School Psychologist for the past 10 years. Now, I am the owner and founder of Paige Psychological Consulting, which I started in 2019. My business aims to solve the lack of mental health and equitable education in the school system for all students but especially for 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 that have been systematically mislabeled and/or 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 that I created based on my own personal experiences and manifestations as well as my time of working with children with little to no self-confidence.

I offer independent contracts with schools, 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 wide range of knowledge in education and mental health. Businesses, organizations, and schools can expect to receive an approach that is genuine, holistic, judge-free, and individualistic to their needs.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Navigating the experience of being the only person of color in a room offers profound opportunities for personal and professional growth. One of the most impactful skills that I developed from this journey is emotional intelligence. Being in spaces where you stand out teaches you to deeply understand your emotions, triggers, and how you react under pressure. From this, I even became more attuned to the experiences of others, especially marginalized groups, and I developed an ability to see situations from multiple perspectives. It really helped me master the ability to stay calm, composed, and constructive, even in potentially uncomfortable or challenging environments.

Over time, I also developed the ability to read the room pretty well; understanding group dynamics, power structures, and how to position myself effectively to influence outcomes. Learning to be more strategic has been a game changer when navigating conversations diplomatically not only for myself but for my business too.

Lastly, but certainly not the least I ​​became better at recognizing when I need to engage and when I need to step back for my own well-being. Through this I learned the importance of self-care and over the years I have been able to take care of myself better and more consistently.

My advice to others on their BOLD journey, though it is challenging, would be to develop your assertiveness, while maintaining professionalism but most importantly, find your support system because you will need it.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

I absolutely love this question! It is one of my favorite questions to be asked because it’s simple— I become selfish and take care of myself. Being “selfish” in the sense of prioritizing your own needs, boundaries, and well-being can actually be highly beneficial in challenging environments, especially being “the only”. In this context, selfishness doesn’t mean disregarding others, but rather practicing self-preservation, self-advocacy, and self-care. You cannot pour into others with an empty cup. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Audre Lorde, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare”.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.paigepsychconsulting.com
• Instagram: @paigepsychconsulting