Jennifer Slingerland Ryan, M.Ed., LPC-S

As a  psychotherapist and personal coach in the treatment of depression, anxiety, fear and anger, my mission is to bring peace to families who need balance. As the founder of I Choose Change, I’ve worked in the mental health industry for close to 15 years and have been in private practice for over almost 10 years.

My counseling technique is “cognitive behavioral therapy, sprinkled with a bit of spirituality.” The principles of  cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and Attachment Theory are what I most adhere to in my work with both individuals and couples. I believe that early relationships create a blueprint for ALL other relationships throughout the lifespan, and our job is to change early processing and belief systems that keep you feeling stuck. My clients will learn core principles of the change process, including:

• How early family relationships create a subconscious pattern of behavior in all other relationships throughout the lifespan (intimate, friends, co-workers, etc.)
• How thoughts, emotions, and actions are connected
• How early relationships create subconscious belief systems that drive everything we feel and do
• The role personality, intuition, and mindfulness play in the change process
• How homework and journal exercises between sessions make change happen more quickly
• How meditation, self-talk, role-playing, role rehearsal affect the change process

In my work as a  relationship counselor (pre-marital, marriage, life partners), I closely follow the same principles as outlined in attachment theory and cognitive behavioral theory, just as within individual therapy. I believe healthy individuals make healthy intimate partners. Often, relationship counseling starts as individual counseling so we can build a foundation for a healthy marriage.

Couples will often come to the consulting room ready to change their partner, but I encourage clients to think about their part in the marital discord. I’ll encourage reading to help facilitate the process:  Robert Karen’s “Becoming Attached” and  David Burn’s “Feeling Good Together”. Both of these books are incredibly useful for couples! (Take a look at my full selection of books in the  I Choose Change Bookstore.)

I’ve been a partner to my husband for over 16 years, a mom to 5-year old twins – my most important job, by far! We recently added another daughter to our Ryan family as well.  The balance between life roles (wife, mom, therapist, etc.) creates an unwavering desire to help others who are in need more harmony in their home.

Life experience combined with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University and a Master of Education in Counseling from the University of North Texas (a program ranked #1 in Texas and #15 in the United States according to US News and World Report) has prepared me for my work with many issues and concerns:

• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Anxiety and Phobias
• Relationship and Marital Concerns
• Parenting Concerns
• Grief and Loss Issues
• Stress Management
• Disorganization, General Unhappiness and Feelings of Low Self-Worth
• Career and Business Changes
• Anger Management
• Addictions

Most of my clients are very normal individuals who simply need a “tune up.”  I don’t like labeling because I think it boxes us in and gives us an excuse to behave in ways that don’t serve us positively.  Therefore, most of my relationships are in a life coaching capacity, as I believe they are very similar in nature.

Love the couch. Love yourself.©

Call I Choose Change / Allen Counseling Center to schedule your free consultation now:  214-547-1318

Please also check out the Supportive Change and  Change Retainer programs to see how to setup Video Counseling, Chat Sessions and Email Sessions.