Jose Tapia, Jr.

Dr. Jose Tapia, Jr. is an Assistant Professor and Associate Department Chair in the Counseling and Human Services department at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (College of Education). He holds roles as CACREP Liaison and President of the Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (RMACES). His research focuses on disability-responsive care, LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy, and interabled couples counseling. He is a licensed professional counselor (LPC), certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC), and registered play therapist (RPT).

• Education: PhD in Counseling (University of North Texas), MS in Rehabilitation Counseling, BS in Rehabilitative Services (UT Pan-American).
• Teaches courses like Culturally Informed Treatment, Play Therapy, and Clinical Supervision.
• Recipient of awards including the Arthur A. Hitchcock Award (2021) and Doctoral Student of the Year (2021).

Research & Service: Leads initiatives to advance disability justice in counseling, including adaptations of play therapy for children with disabilities and trauma-informed ethical frameworks. Active in professional organizations like ACES, ACA, and NCRE. Service Contributions: Served as ACES Graduate Student Representative and currently chairs RMACES.