Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Miller, LCSW-S.
Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
From very early on, I was immersed in the world of social work. My granny was a civil rights activist, and she didn’t just talk about justice, she lived it. Even as a kid, I was right there with her at NAACP meetings, walking neighborhoods handing out political action flyers, and helping with voter registration drives. Care, advocacy, and responsibility weren’t abstract ideas in my family. They were everyday practices. I also grew up watching my family constantly care for people on the most intimate levels, so in many ways, social work was already in me before I ever chose it.
Before entering the field formally, I worked as a dispatcher for State Troopers, police, fire, EMS, and 911. It was an intense, high stress environment, and surprisingly, I thrived in it. I earned commendations from first responders and top performance awards, and without realizing it at the time, I was learning how to stay regulated in chaos, think clearly under pressure, and hold space for people on the worst days of their lives. That was trauma work long before I had language for it.
After finishing my degrees and earning my licenses, I worked across a wide range of settings with many different populations. Those experiences helped me understand what truly lights me up, supporting people who have been through really hard things and helping them make sense of themselves again.
Eventually it became clear that I was being called to build something of my own, and I transitioned into private practice.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road, though parts of it truly have been. There were seasons where I had clarity, direction, and access to opportunities and connections I never could have orchestrated on my own (hey there Jesus). In those moments, the path felt steady.
Other seasons felt very different. If you’ve ever driven from Texas into Louisiana, you know the exact moment you cross the border because the road suddenly feels like you’re driving on train tracks. That’s what certain stretches of my journey were like.
I finished my master’s degree and obtained my initial license right before the world shut down due to COVID. Around the same time, I was pregnant with my first child. Navigating a brand new professional identity, a global pandemic, and working from home with a newborn was intense. Shortly after that came the 2021 Dallas winter storm (snowmageddon as I like to call it), which added another layer of stress and uncertainty. I became pregnant again not long after and was laid off at seven months pregnant.
Eventually, I landed what felt like my dream job, only to realize that the cost to my work-life balance was unsustainable. This job was literally the reason I became a social worker…it was the ultimate goal…end game. Letting go of something I had worked so hard for was difficult, but it was also clarifying.
Starting and running my own practice has been the ultimate form of on-the-job training. I’ve had to learn the business side of things that social work school doesn’t teach, from operations to boundaries to sustainability.
Despite the ups and downs, and there have been many, every stage unfolded exactly how it needed to and exactly when it needed to. Each challenge refined my values and ultimately led me to build a practice that truly reflects how I want to live and work.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My practice was born from a lineage of women who turned care into culture. My granny fed people, body and spirit. My mother created home wherever she stood. My sister carried resilience and reflection. What began at our family table became a belief that healing happens best where people feel safe, seen, and welcome. The Place is the continuation of that legacy, shaped into a modern space for meaningful, sustainable healing.
At its core, The Place specializes in trauma-focused, neuro-informed care for adults. I work with people who have experienced complex or chronic stress and are ready to move beyond survival into regulation, self-trust, and wholeness. My clinical style is laid-back, warm, and fun (jokes will be cracked), while still being deeply grounded in science and evidence-based practice. Comfortable and competent can exist in the same room, and that balance is what I’m most proud of.
The practice operates as an integrated ecosystem with three connected branches:
Therapy and psychological assessments provide individualized, trauma-informed care.
The Place Academy offers training and supervision for developing clinicians, focusing on both clinical skill and professional identity. The Academy also serves corporations and organizations by working with leadership teams to identify and mitigate mental health threats, as well as providing wellness workshops for teams.
The Legacy Program is a newer extension of the practice, designed to expand access through client assistance and paid internships for emerging clinicians. This work continues to grow through thoughtful partnerships with individuals and organizations who believe in collective healing and sustainable access to care.
What sets The Place apart is that these elements are not separate. Therapy, education, and access work together to create a full cycle of impact. Clients receive care that lasts, clinicians are equipped to lead with integrity, and communities gain expanded access to quality mental health services.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lessons I’ve learned are obedience and authenticity. I’ve come to trust that when I feel called or led toward something, my role is to move, even when I can’t yet see how the outcome will unfold. Obedience has taught me that clarity often comes after action, not before.
Authenticity has been just as essential. I trust that my heart for people shows up in the work I do, whether or not a formal therapeutic relationship ever develops. Even in brief encounters, I want people to walk away feeling visible, cared for, and lighter than when they arrived. That matters to me.
Ultimately, I’ve learned that success isn’t just about building something that looks good on paper. It’s about moving in alignment, staying true to who God created me to be, and allowing the work to be an extension of love, presence, and purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theplacepsych.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theplacepsych/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theplacepsych/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-miller-lcsw-emdr-tr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theplacepsych
Image Credits
Sophie K. Hunter
