Paul Dunaway

Dr. Paul Dunaway is an Assistant Professor of Behavioral Sciences at Christian Brothers University. He earned a PhD from the University of Memphis, Counselor Education & Supervision in 2019, and his dissertation research was titled “Crisis Intervention Team Training for Law Enforcement: Analyzing the Factors that Influence Verbal De-escalation Skills Attainment in the Memphis Model.” The University of Memphis recognized Paul as Graduate Student of the Year – Doctoral Level. He also earned a Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Memphis. In addition, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Professional Studies in Law Enforcement Administration from The University of Memphis. 

Dr. Dunaway is a Licensed Professional Counselor – Mental Health Service Provider (TN) (License #4000), Clinical Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) #174696, and National Certified Counselor (NCC) #657069.

Dr. Dunaway is passionate about counseling, and his passion speaks through his service to the mental health community in various roles and capacities. He serves as the Clinical Director & Owner of the Protea Counseling & Consultation Group. He has previously served as the Crisis Counselor/Program Supervisor for Youth Villages – Specialized Crisis, Intern, Volunteer, and Contract Worker for The Exchange Club Family Center, Memphis, TN. In addition, Dr. Dunaway serves as an Assistant Professor of Behavioral Sciences at Christian Brothers University. He teaches courses some of the university’s most popular psychology courses. 

Dr. Dunaway has also taught as a Current Adjunct Professor, Counselor Education for the Chicago School of Professional Psychology Online Campus. In addition, Dr. Dunaway has taught at The University of Memphis as an Instructor and Teaching Assistant. Rachel Bennett (CBU Psychology Major student) shared,

I was in Dr. Dunaway’s first-ever class here at Christian Brothers University, and from the jump, his demeanor, prosperity, and kindness made me feel at home. As a freshman, my direction and overall judgment were all over the place; I was still determining my future and how I’d honor the Lasallian values in my adult life. However, he has guided and provided direction and support over the years. Starting the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling this fall will allow me to pursue a future where I can actively give back to the community. With Dr. Dunaway’s guidance, I have become confident in clinical mental health counselors’ contributions to our community. Counseling honors the community above all else by establishing unconditional positive regard. This unconditional positive regard is something that Dr. Dunaway has carried into his professional and academic life, and it has made him not only an exceptional counselor but an exceptional professor. I’m delighted he was chosen for Faculty Spotlight for May and could not imagine anyone else who would be a better fit for this position.

Dr. Dunaway is a well-respected author and researcher. He has a wide range of publications that focus on the following topics: Family Crisis Counseling, Crisis intervention strategies, Domestic Violence Treatment Programs for Adjudicated Veterans with PTSD, and DV Behaviors. Dr. Dunaway has complete varying levels of professional training, including Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Training, Tennessee Public Safety Network, 2022, Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy, EMDR Consultants, 2019 Tennessee Department of Mental Health – Mandatory Pre-Screening Agent, Nashville, TN, 2018, and Animal Assisted Therapy, University of North Texas, 2017. 

Dr. Dunaway’s professional affiliations include the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, the Military and Government Counseling Association, the Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Honor Society, the American Counseling Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Lifetime Member. 

Dr. Dunaway serves in various roles, continuing to complete professional training; he is involved in his community through service with Memphis Police Department as a Crisis Intervention Team Trainer and Instructor. In addition, he serves as the Deputy Sheriff for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Reserve Patrol Captain, Germantown Police Department – Hostage Negotiation Team, and Mental Health Advisor. 

He has served as an invited lecturer and presented on topics such as:

  • Mental Health Triage in the Combat Theater: A New Training Model for Forward Surgical Teams.
  • Military and Government, Evaluating the Need for a Gender-Specific Risk Tool for Female Intimate Partner Violence Offenders
  • Crisis Intervention Training: Police and Disabled or Mentally Ill Individuals, Analyzing the Factors that Affect Verbal De-escalation
  • Skill Development in Law Enforcement Crisis Intervention Team Training, Crisis Intervention Training: Police and Disabled or Mentally Ill Individuals
  • Bridging the Silence: Connecting Counselors with Deaf Culture, Neurosequential Trauma-Informed Interventions for Mentally Ill Offenders
  • Maybe You Can Teach an Old Dog NEW Tricks: Creating an Animal Assisted Therapy Class, Developing Students to Become Future Researchers
  • Serving Those Who Serve: A Model Domestic Violence Intervention Program for Veterans and their Families, The Future of Counseling Research: Engaged Research Teams
  • Research Mentorship through Community Engaged Research Teams: The Crisis Research Team Model, Best Practices in Engaged Research: Researcher- Community Partnerships to Improve Client Outcomes.
  • Serving Those Who Served: Trauma-Informed IPV Treatment with Veterans.
  • SAFETY Model: A Realistic Approach to Multiculturalism in Crisis Situations.
  • Building Resilient Community-Researcher Partnerships through Engaged Research
  • Mental Health
  • Triage and De-Escalation in the Combat Theater.
  • Engaged Research: Connecting Researchers and Practitioners to Improve Client Outcomes