Jennifer B Slaughter, LCSW-S

Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Approved Supervisor located in Houston, TX. Jennifer’s practice supports those who feel stuck in their lives - whether that’s stuck in a negative thought pattern, stuck in a past experience, stuck in a toxic relationship, or stuck in their developmental growth. Jennifer specializes in working with those who have experienced trauma and dissociation, as well as those who feel depressed or anxious to a point where they feel overwhelmed with daily life.

During a session, Jennifer may draw from Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), as well as Somatic Experiencing techniques. Both types of therapy believe that trauma is stored within the brain and the body, and an individual who hopes to recover from trauma must work through their stored images, emotions, beliefs, and bodily sensations. Jennifer helps clients to develop a more curious and flexible view of their thoughts and feelings and supports clients in finding individualized coping skills. She also recognizes that people’s lives are filled with relationships and often asks clients to speak about their interactions with loved ones emphasizing perspective-taking and connection. Jennifer helps clients reflect on their relationships, both past, and present, to increase awareness of repeating patterns and possible re-enactments. Her sessions are warm and invite new perspectives, making them especially helpful for those who are in therapy for the first time. Her eclectic style draws from numerous psychological modalities, allowing each client to be seen as the unique individual they are.

Jennifer works with clients of all races, ethnicities, and spiritual and religious backgrounds (including non-religious). She provides queer affirming and gender affirming care and is sex positive (including asexual) and kink positive. Jennifer believes in and respects each person’s right to self-determination.

Jennifer earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana, and her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work. She has over 20 years of experience in the mental health field. Jennifer has worked in a variety of clinical settings with diverse populations, which includes multidisciplinary inpatient psychiatric and outpatient treatment programs, rehabilitation, and long-term care facilities, public and charter high schools, as well as non-profit business management. Most recently, she worked for over six years at The Menninger Clinic, an inpatient psychiatric facility, before entering into full-time private practice.

A message to clients

People seek therapy for a myriad of reasons, and in my experience, the common denominator is pain - seeking relief from emotional pain. Your pain may be about your sense of self, certain relationships, a traumatic event, ongoing attachment trauma, or existential angst, to name a few. We might look at how you are protecting yourself and if those methods are helpful and adaptive. If they are, great; keep doing it! If they aren’t, we would examine other possible strategies. It is important for my clients to develop a healthy relationship with their emotional world. Emotions are meant to be felt and they can give us very valuable information.

I view therapy as an organic, here-and-now process, and I view the therapeutic relationship as the key to progress and change. As our therapeutic relationship progresses trust is developed, creating a space for emotional exploration and growth. My main goal is to help you develop a sense of curiosity about how and why you think and react in the way that you do.

I thoroughly enjoy getting to know each of you and understanding how you experience yourself, others, and the world around you. Once we have learned more about each other, we will work collaboratively throughout the therapeutic process. I will challenge maladaptive patterns of thinking and relating and offer alternative perspectives. I do not make decisions for you, as you are the one who has to live with your decisions, whether the consequences are positive or negative.

Initially, I always recommend weekly therapy sessions so we can use that momentum to create change. As therapy progresses, the frequency of sessions will change. I am an out-of-network provider and I know that therapy can be expensive. I hope you can recognize the value in investing in yourself and your emotional health and well-being, which also impacts your physical health. I look forward to hearing from you!

- Jennifer