Patricia Ann Pape has had a passion for social work since she was 5 years old. She pursued her dreams, beginning with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Northwestern University in 1962 and continuing with a Master of Social Work from George Williams College in 1979. Along the way, she also became certified as an addictions counselor and licensed as a clinical social worker and school social worker, all in the state of Illinois.
Now recognized by her peers as an expert in substance abuse treatment, psychotherapy, mental health and life transitions, Ms. Pape is thrilled to be a pioneer in the field she spent so long admiring and chasing. Since 1982, she has been a principal at Pape & Associates, a substance abuse rehabilitation center with a goal of providing all individuals and their families with a confidential resource to help them resolve personal problems, leading to an improved quality of life for people both at home and at work. Ms. Pape’s main responsibilities at the facility are counseling individuals with opiate and alcohol addiction in both individual and group settings and mentoring on women’s issues. Some of her other current professional endeavors include serving as the owner and CEO of a private practice in family counseling since 1979, as a Chicago affiliate of the Employee Assistance Program since 1982, and a member of the alcohol and drug task force of the Illinois Synod Lutheran Church of America since 1985.
In addition to the positions she holds now, Ms. Pape also has experience as the founder and director of the Abbey Alcoholism Treatment Center, consultant at Lutheran Society Services, and coordinator of community resources at the DuPage Probation Department. Notably, she wrote the original curriculum for the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program, which is still in use at the College of DuPage, along with numerous contributions to professional journals. Ms. Pape enjoys being a leader in the field, especially as a woman. To ensure that she remains at the forefront of industry happenings, she holds memberships in a number of organizations, including the Association of Labor Management Administrators, the Academy of Certified Social Workers, the National Association of Social Workers, and Women in Management.
Ms. Pape’s hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. She was honored as the Social Worker of the Year in the Fox Valley District in 1998, and Woman of the Year from Entrepreneur Women in Management in 1986. She is also featured in numerous volumes of Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the Midwest, Who’s Who in the World, and Who’s Who of American Women.
