We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Chapple a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer , thanks for joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

It was January of 2006 and I went with a group of clinicians that I was working with to hear Marsha Lineman speak about how to become a DBT therapist. I had been curious about DBT from a friend and mentor of mine and she had already begun some training. Dr.Linehan did not mince words..she shared the long, laborious process of forming a consultation team, getting trained, and the dedication it would take (ie client phone coaching 24/7). I knew almost instantly this was the therapy I was going to focus my life’s work on. It made sense to me. I had worked with emotionally dysregulated teens and adults for the 5 years I had been a practicing social worker. The research spoke for itself..suicidal, complex PTSD, borderline personality patients, etc had a therapy that would get them back to functioning again or possibly for the first time.. I went into this field to make a difference, and to help those living with deep suffering.. I was not scared by the intensity of work, in fact, I called my husband at the time on the way back from the symposium and said “I am going to be a DBT therapist”. Almost immediately, I got to work..started my consultation team and found a group practice that I could offer DBT treatment to. That decision created the PRISM program at Martha Fontana’s group practice that is now part of Ethos. DBT has given so much to me and the hundreds of clients I have treated through the years. The biggest gift is the gift of mindfulness. I live mindfully and therefore I live joyfully and with gratitude. It is a lifestyle that allows me to fully participate with my family, my friend, and my work. It also sparked my interest in becoming a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher which I am completing my two year program in January. At the Awakening Center we continue to offer state of the art therapies and now offer weekly meditation classes, meditation retreats, nature psychotherapy group, and other programming to teach mindfulness and offer healing within a community. It is a dream come true for me! I think the wisdom to follow your gut, even when the goal seems too hard is an essential one. Listening to oneself, without judgement, are the building blocks to trusting one’s path, and from there confidence is built. I think so often we have this inner critic that stops us from doing our passions. Maybe we have small kids, or it seems too arduous and complicated. I think it is the most important lesson because I have been able to build a career that I love and take care of my family, all because I listened and believed in what was possible..

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started The Awakening Center Houston with a dream and a goal of providing state of the art, evidence based therapies and programming that would bring people together to cultivate connection and joy. Just after covid and before my 50th birthday I was reflecting on the next 20-25 years of my work. What else did I want to do? There was no denying that the increase in anxiety and depression disorders have been on the rise and starting younger in age. Whether it is the increase in technology advances with the smart phone and social media, the increase in climate storms that hit Houston, and the pandemic that have brought more people into mental health treatment I am not sure, but there is no denying it. So in 2021 I set my goal to start more prevention type programming and to teach mindfulness practices to the Houston community and in area schools. Our Awakening Center continues to treat severe mood disorders, anxiety disorders, BPD, and complex trauma with individual and group therapies, plus DBT skills classes, AND…our practice also has programming to teach mindfulness meditation, host meditation retreats, and has a community emphasis for supportive healing. We are not a buddhist practice but we pride ourselves in being “Buddish” meaning we are a compassionate center offering all kinds of healing to the Houston community. If you like nature come join our nature psychotherapy group or our Spring Migration Birding trip in April. If you have a teen entering high school in need of tools and coping skills check out our summer Zen Zone Camp. If you are feeling alone in the world we have a like minded community here for you and you can find it in our book club, our Monday night meditations, Second Friday Meditation and fellowship. You can also join our biweekly community Sangha staring in February. Other programming coming in January, is our eight week recovery group for women who have experienced narcissistic abuse from a relationship, and a five week meditation course named “Anytime Anywhere Meditation”. Our tag line is that we are helping clients find the reset to live their best lives, and we are passionate about doing just that.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2011, I found myself in a terrible, fraught situation. With a five year old and twenty month old I had to leave my eleven year marriage. You do not leave your marriage with a child and a baby unless you have to. I was suffering inside and I had this experience of a client saying to me how grateful they were for me and how much the therapy had given them a life worth living. I was filled with sadness because I was helping clients achieve what I couldn’t build for myself. It was clear to me that I had to do the unthinkable and leave. It was my wise mind talking to me, and even though I was suffering so much, I was scared. I was a fighter and I was looking for every reason to stay while my own mental health and well-being deteriorated. Somehow I found my strength and found a house in the Woodland Heights for me and the kids. It didn’t take long before I was smiling, I was so overjoyed that I had rescued myself and my children from such a painful and abusive environment. The next several years were a struggle with child custody issues, my son’s learning differences and a need for a special school, but I found myself building a community for us, and using my pain to help others in similar situations. I practiced the DBT skills that I was teaching my clients, teaching them to my children too. I just kept grinding, working hard and following my path, listening to my voice. I remember my son saying to me early on”we have a pretty great life don’t you think, Mom?”. My resilience shined light on my children’s resilience. We have continued to build a life worth living together. It’s not without it’s bumps and setbacks but that too is life and we are stronger and more grateful having gone through it.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think my clients and my referral sources really know I really care about by clients, and that I will go to most lengths to help them. I am not just a therapist for them during that one hour session, but I am there for them any time they need me. . Most of my referrals come from my clients. I am extremely proud of that. I work hard to build close relationships with them so that I can go to the hard places and challenge them. I also work hard to learn as many tools as I can. Getting trained in evidence based therapies and a certified teacher teaching meditation I am well skilled in treating my clients so that they can get out of therapy and build the life they are meant to have.

Contact Info:

• Website: awakening center.org
• Instagram: awakeningcenterhouston
• Facebook: The Awakening Center of Houston
• Linkedin: Jennifer Chapple

Image Credits

Photo images by Peter Kelly