Dr. Paige Blankenship
Dr. Blankenship is a compassionate and highly skilled licensed psychologist with extensive experience in trauma-informed care, counseling, school psychology, and forensic psychology. She specializes in supporting individuals across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, and families, through evidence-based evaluation and therapeutic approaches. With a strong educational background and specialized training from esteemed institutions such as the University of California, Davis and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Dr. Blankenship provides expert psychological evaluations, treatment recommendations, trauma-focused therapy, professional presentations, and expert witness services. Her commitment to empowering clients and fostering healing through tailored, evidence-based interventions makes her a trusted resource for those navigating life’s most challenging experiences.
About Dr. Blankenship
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Dr. Blankenship is a Licensed Psychologist in Florida.
She is PSYPACT Authorized, meaning that she can provide virtual services to individuals in 43 states.
She is certified in various therapy modalities including TF-CBT, PCIT International, and PCIT - UC Davis.
She is a trained Mental Health Neutral with the Capital Collaborative Group on Tallahassee, the Big Bend, and Northwest Florida, as well as trained in Parenting Coordination through a Florida Supreme Court Certified Training Program.
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Dr. Blankenship attended the University of Florida for her undergraduate studies, where she graduated Cum Laude and received a BS in Psychology.
She then attended Florida State University for graduate school. She received a Doctor of Philosophy in Combined Counseling Psychology and School Psychology from an APA-Accredited program.
Although controversial, Dr. Blankenship is allegiant to both schools and she considers herself to be a “Gator-Nole.”
Dr. Blankenship completed an APA-Accredited Internship and Postdoctoral Residency at University of California, Davis, where she specialized in trauma-informed care and forensic evaluations. She then completed a trauma-informed Postdoctoral Fellowship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
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Dr. Blankenship has worked in a wide variety of settings including schools, hospital systems (inpatient, outpatient, and providing crisis services in the ICU and trauma center), academic medical centers, jails and juvenile detention facilities, and private practice.
Dr. Blankenship works with individuals across the lifespan, from all cultural backgrounds. She has also worked with a wide variety of underserved populations including foster care youth and families, unhoused individuals, incarcerated individuals, veterans, and college students.
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Dr. Blankenship’s dissertation explored the relationship between different types of trauma and suidiality. It is titled The Impact of Interpersonal Trauma Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder on Suicide-Related Outcomes. Her master’s thesis examined the relationship between traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and special education services.
Her publications include:
Bennett, N. M. & Blankenship, A. P. (2020). Cultural considerations for behavioral problems in children. In L.T. Benuto, F. Gonzalez, & J. Singer (EdS.) Handbook for Cultural Factors in Behavioral Health: A Guide for the Helping Professional. Singer.
Martin Swanbrow Becker, A. Paige Blankenship, Kathy Melo, Katie Spencer, Colleen Thomas, Kate E. McLean, Hilary Singer (2017). Improving resident assistant suicide prevention gatekeeper training through focus group feedback. College Student Affairs Journal, 35(2), 117-130.
Pfeiffer, S. I., & Blankenship, A. P. (2017). Lessons learned from working with highly gifted and creative kids. Psychology and Education, 53(2).
Blankenship, A. P., & Canto, A. I. (2016). Traumatic brain injuries and special education services in the schools. Journal of Exceptionality, 26(4), 218-229.
Canto, A. I., Crisp, M. A., Larach, H., & Blankenship, A. P. (2016). Inclusion and students with traumatic brain injuries. In J. P. Bakken & Obiakor, F. (Eds.), Advances in Special Education.
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Blankenship, A.P. (May 2024). Supporting the Development of Personal Safety Skills in Children and Adolescents. Benicia Unified School District. Virtual: Benicia County, California.
Blankenship, A.P. (February 2024). Boundaries and Reporting: Adolescent Suicide Prevention. Shorecrest Preparatory School. St. Petersburg, Florida.
Blankenship, A.P. (February 2024). Suicide Prevention for Students. Shorecrest Preparatory School. St. Petersburg, Florida.
Blankenship, A.P. (February 2023). Maternal Health Advocacy with Kids. Workshop/Webinar at MoMMA’s Voices Community Connection Call. Melbourne, Florida.
Blankenship, A.P. & Hoffman, K. (September 2020). Improving the quality and impact of foster parent training: Acceptability and feasibility of the intervention, and preliminary parenting and child adjustment results from the implementation of the Resource Parenting Curriculum (RPC). Poster Presentation at the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA.
Hoffman, K., May, L., Jackson, B., & Blankenship, A.P. (September 2020). Enhancing tauma-informed parenting skills among Florida's foster parents. Workshop at the Department of Children and Families (DCF) 2020 Summit, Orlando, FL.
Blankenship, A.P. (May 2020). Crisis intervention and counseling. Didactic Presentation at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
Folk, J. & Blankenship, A.P. (May 2020). Advancing developmentally appropriate child welfare practice for adolescents. Master Class at the Quality Parenting Initiative 2020 National Conference, Virtual.
Hoffman, K., Ghazarian, S., & Blankenship, A.P. (October 2019). Improving the quality and impact of foster parent training: Preliminary acceptability and feasibility results from the implementation of the Resource Parenting Curriculum (RPC) in a local child welfare system. Poster Presentation for the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Research Symposium, St. Petersburg, FL.
Blankenship, A. P., Bennett, N. M. (September 2018). Neurobiology of trauma: How trauma and prenatal exposure affect the brain. Main Session Presentation at the Training Up Regional Conference, Rocklin, CA.
Blankenship, A. P., Swanbrow Becker, M., Melo, K., Spencer, K., Thomas, C., McLean, K., & Singer, H. (August 2016). Connecting a college campus: Qualitative feedback from resident assistant suicide prevention gatekeeper training.Poster Presentation at the American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Conference, Denver, CO.
Blankenship, A. P., & Canto, A. I. (August 2016). Traumatic brain injuries and special education services in the schools. Poster Presentation at the American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Conference, Denver, CO.
Melo, K., Swanbrow Becker, M., Blankenship, A. P., Spencer, K., Thomas, C., McLean, K., & Singer, H. (April 2016). Assessing the effectiveness of gatekeeper training in preparing RAs to identify and intervene with suicidal students through focus group feedback. Workshop at the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
Melo, K., Swanbrow Becker, M., Blankenship, A. P., Spencer, K., Thomas, C., McLean, K., & Singer, H. (April 2016). Assessing the effectiveness of gatekeeper training in preparing resident assistants to identify and intervene with suicidal students through focus group feedback. Poster Presentation at the Marvalene Hughes Research in Education (CORE) Conference, Tallahassee, FL.
Swanbrow Becker, M., Blankenship, A. P., Ritts, S., Nemeth Roberts, S. F., & Branagan, W. T. (April 2015). The impact of training on resident and resident assistants’ health. Workshop at the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Swanbrow Becker, M., Blankenship, A. P., Ritts, S., Nemeth Roberts, S. F., & Branagan, T. (April 2015). The impact of training on resident and resident assistants’ health. Poster Presentation at the Marvalene Hughes Research in Education (CORE) Conference, Tallahassee, FL.
Blankenship, A. P., Crisp, M. A., Lewis, S., & Schmidt, K. (February 2015). The school-wide implementation of the PAX good behavior game. Workshop presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.
Canto, A. I., Nemeth, S. F., Dabel, V., Scharlepp, R. L., Blankenship, A. P., & Smith, S. M. (February 2015). Evidence based tools for serving survivors of complex trauma. Symposium at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.
Crisp, M. A., Blankenship, A. P., Lewis, S., & Schmidt, K. (November 2014). The efficacy of behavioral consultation and implementation of the PAX Good Behavior Game. Presentation at the Florida Association of School Psychologists (FASP) Annual Conference, Sarasota, FL.
Blankenship, A. P., & Crisp, M. A. (April 2014). The role of the school psychologist in threat assessment and crisis prevention. Poster Presentation at the Marvalene Hughes Research in Education (CORE) Conference, Tallahassee, FL.
Nemeth, S. F., & Blankenship, A. P. (April 2014). Supporting families after pediatric traumatic brain injury. Poster Presentation at the Marvalene Hughes Research in Education (CORE) Conference, Tallahassee, FL.
Canto, A. I., Nemeth, S. F., Dabel, V., Scharlepp, R. L., Blankenship, A. P., & Smith, S. M. (March 2014). Evidence based tools for serving survivors of complex trauma. Workshop at the Society of Counseling Psychology, American Psychological Association (APA) Division 17, Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Blankenship, A. P., & Crisp, M. A. (February 2014). The role of the school psychologist in threat assessment and crisis prevention. Poster Presentation at the Trainers of School Psychologists (TSP) Annual Conference, Washington DC.
Nemeth, S. F., Blankenship, A. P., & Crisp, M. A. (February 2014). Supporting families after pediatric traumatic brain injury. Poster Presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Annual Conference, Washington DC.
Mocco, C., & Blankenship, A. P. (February 2014). Intervention development: Using what you have to increase math fluency.Poster Presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Annual Conference, Washington DC.
Crisp, M. A., & Blankenship, A. P. (February 2014). Crisis prevention and threat assessment: The role of the school psychologist. Poster Presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Annual Conference, Washington DC.
Blankenship, A. P., Nemeth, S. A., & Kuchta, K. A. (April 2013). Students with traumatic brain injury: Improving social, emotional, and behavioral functioning: A group curriculum. Poster Presentation at the Marvalene Hughes Research in Education (CORE) Conference, Tallahassee, FL.
Nemeth, S. A., Blankenship, A. P., & Kuchta, K. A. (February 2013). Students with traumatic brain injury: Improving social, emotional, and behavioral functioning: A group curriculum. Poster Presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Annual Conference, Seattle, WA.
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Intensive trainings completed in the areas of:
Autism Evaluation
Forensic Evaluations for Adults and Juveniles
Interdisciplinary Collaborative Law
Parenting Coordination
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD
Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE)
Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for Traumatized Children
The Incredible Years – Parent Group Leader Training
PAX Good Behavior Game Training
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American Psychological Association (APA)
Florida Psychological Association (FPA)
Capital Collaborative Group
International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)
On a personal note…
Beyond the professional details above, I’d also like to share a little about who I am personally. I’m a native Floridian and completed graduate school at Florida State University. Afterward, I had the opportunity to live in beautiful Northern California for a few years, then in St. Pete, before eventually returning home to Tallahassee.
I love traveling and immersing myself in different cultures. I enjoy diving into anything that channels my creative side because it really fills my cup. Lately, I have been decorating elaborate sugar cookies and doing home renovations. I love reading and listening to audio books and podcasts, and I like a good mix of fiction and non-fiction. I try to spend as much time as I can with the people who are important to me. I love animals and will gladly pull over to help a stray dog or move a turtle from the middle of the road. I really love enjoy work and truly love what I do. Giving back and staying involved in the community are also important to me, as is advocating for the dignity and rights of all people. When I’m not working, you can often find me outdoors biking, hiking (although this was easier in California), at the beach, or hanging out with my family. Above all, I value my roles as a daughter, wife, friend, and mother.
I also like to share something personal because I believe it matters in this work - while I have studied trauma extensively, my understanding is not only academic. I have also experienced many hard things and have done my own personal work in therapy. I know firsthand the courage it can take to seek support, heal, and grow.
-Paige
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