Realizing ~ Cultivating ~ Empowering

Dr. Carol Dahlen is a passionate educator, clinical mental health counselor, and transformational consultant with over 20 years of experience equipping schools and communities with tools to thrive. As an independent consultant, she specializes in diversity training, cultural competency, restorative practices, social-emotional learning (SEL), character development, and trauma-informed care. Currently, she serves as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Behavioral Consultant for Merrillville School Corporation, where she brings compassion, insight, and strategic support to students and educators alike.

Carol’s career has spanned multiple states and systems, from working with at-risk youth through the Southern Nevada Community Gang Task Force to serving as a Parent Educator with Clark County’s Department of Family Services. She also volunteered for nine years as a Guardian Ad Litem for Minnesota’s juvenile court, advocating for vulnerable children with unwavering dedication.

She holds degrees in Human Services and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with advanced certifications in Trauma & Loss, Restorative Practices, and The Virtues Project. Her doctoral research focused on trauma's impact on school-aged children and how compassionate discipline can improve classroom behavior. A long-standing member of APA, ACA, AMHCA, and Prison Mindfulness, Carol is also part of Chi Sigma Iota and the Golden Key International Honour Society.

At the heart of her work is a deep belief in the oneness of humanity and the resilience of the human spirit. Dr. Dahlen is on a mission to co-create trauma-informed, inclusive, and virtue-driven school cultures, starting with goals like establishing mental health wellness rooms and embedding restorative and SEL-based practices in schools.