President
Rena M. Lolar, LCPC, M.Ed.
University of Maine - Counselor Education
Outpatient Therapist, Health Affiliates Maine
Rena M. Lolar (“she/her/hers”) is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor from the Penobscot Nation working in private practice with Health Affiliates Maine. Over the past twenty years, Rena has been working and teaching in a variety of fields in education and mental health. Rena has a BA in Psychology, a BA in Women’s Studies an MEd in Counselor Education with a concentration in Mental Health and School Counseling from the University of Maine in Orono. Rena has previous work in domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy, home-based and community therapy, behavioral interventions with preschool age children with Autism, and teaching and training various subjects in mental health and psychology.
Outside of practice, Rena has been a guest lecturer and trainer at the University of Maine, the Bangor Fire Department, the Maine Counseling Association, Health Affiliates Maine, Husson University, Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, as well as several lunch and learns for the Eastern Maine region of the Maine Counseling Association. Rena enjoys running, teaching, writing, sports, gardening and volunteering for agencies that support children with disabilities and other underserved populations.
Rena has been an active member of the Maine Counseling Association and the Eastern Maine regional board since 2010. She first joined as a graduate student and continued her service after becoming a licensed counselor in 2013. MeCA has provided many opportunities for Rena to grow and develop during her time on the Executive Board. Rena hopes to continue to provide those opportunities for new and up and coming counselors during her time as president. Rena is also a strong advocate for counselor wellness and support and will continue to work for counselors in Maine not only through her service with MeCA, but throughout her career.
"As a high student in a school away from my reservation, I had varied challenges to overcome – from fitting in, to cultural and learning differences, to income disparity – my path was not a linear one.
Over the years, I benefited from the guidance, support, and leadership from mentoring in various places. With good mentoring and support, I was able to overcome challenges along the way, succeed in education and rise to the next level in my career.
As our paths are forming and changing, we rise to greater heights with the influence of good mentors and leaders. I hope to provide the same support, guidance, and leadership I received from other professionals to graduate students, counselors, counseling supports and educators in the helping field.
The Maine Counseling Association has provided invaluable support and opportunities for growth and development in counseling through their network of volunteers, advocates, and dedicated helpers across the state. Through our mentoring efforts in the Maine Counseling Association, we hope to involve more up and coming counselors and students of underserved populations to continue our path of growth, leadership and dedication to diversity and inclusion in our field.
'I am only one person, but through my efforts to rise above challenges, dedication to helping, perseverance and commitment to growth, advocacy and learning - I leave the world better than how I found it'."
Rena M. Lolar, MEd, LCPC
Penobscot Nation
Maine Counseling Association - President 2022-2023
Outpatient Therapist- Affiliate
Health Affiliates Maine
LCPC Task force 2020 - present
Maine Day Task Force - University of Maine - 2022
