Learn more about our clinician, Dawn Paquelet, ALMFT
1. What inspired you to enter this field? When I attended Mount Mary University I became interested in psychology and the behavioral sciences. Then, in my master’s program at Loyola/Erikson, I studied early child development and learned about the importance of systemic and intergenerational family work. I was fascinated by therapeutic work that viewed the person relationally and as part of larger systems. Without skipping a step (just about 20 years), I returned to school and am now writing my dissertation in the Ph.D. program at Adler University in the Couple and Family Department.
2. Where has been your favorite place to travel and why? I have been fortunate to travel to many places in the U.S. and internationally. My favorite place to visit was Australia! During the trip, my family and I watched the first fireworks of the New Year from a rooftop, and also explored Bondi Beach, with its waters full of surfers and dolphins.
3. What is your favorite thing about living in Wisconsin? I live in Wisconsin but travel to Chicago for work and school. My favorite places in Wisconsin are Door County—the cherries, lighthouses, and fish boils, and the pristine lakes of northern Wisconsin. Of course, on the weekends, you will most likely find me at a baseball game or exploring downtown Milwaukee.
4. What are some tools you use to decompress? I decompress by reading and ballroom dancing. Dancing has been a wonderful sport for me to lose myself and connect with others. I admit to enjoying all the sparkling gowns and dramatic
entrances!
5. Do you have any mentors? Who inspired you and why? I do have many mentors: teachers, colleagues, and supervisors. When I attended Erikson twenty years ago, some of the great co-founders and teachers were still working at the school. I had the pleasure of attending classes with Barbara Bowman, Dr. Fran Stott, and Dr. Robert Halpern. I also was taken under the wings of Dr. Laurel End and Dr. Karen Friedlen at Mount Mary University. We were all young women with our first babies navigating academia! I am also appreciative of Fleming Family Therapy, where I continue to grow as a clinician.
6. How would you recommend a client prepare for a session? I encourage clients to come to the therapy space knowing it is a safe place. Writing down your issues and goals can be helpful for the first session. I hope to convey to my clients that while therapy may be new to them, I am prepared to help.
7. How do you keep up to date on industry trends and news? I attend local, national, and international trainings and seminars in couple and family therapy. Recently, I attended the International Parental Alienation Conference, which is one of my clinical interests. It was a great way to be up-to-date on the research and practices concerning parental alienation.
8. What did you look forward to this summer? This summer my husband and I took a trip on a transatlantic boat where we stopped in Halifax, watched the fireworks in Boston Harbor, and then departed back to New York City. On land, my husband and I enjoy a farmers market, brunch overlooking Lake Michigan, and sometimes, a whole day binge-watching Netflix!