Jennifer Preston

Jennifer is the Chair for the Counseling Department, and also serves as the PhD CES program Coordinator. Jennifer grew up in Southern California, and after graduating from Whittier College with a degree in psychology, she moved to Kansas City. She lived and worked there for 8 years, earning a master's degree from Avila College in Counseling Psychology, along with an NCC certification and LPC. She spent 7 years doing clinical work, with a focus on diverse and socially marginalized individuals. Jennifer worked as a therapist in a domestic violence shelter, then moved to working at a children's shelter, then on to a state hospital and finally an alternative school. The bulk of her clinical work was with women and/or children who experienced violence and trauma. After having her oldest child, she moved to Oregon to attend Oregon State University and where she earned a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. Upon graduation (and the birth of her second daughter), Jennifer's first faculty position took her to Minnesota. Jennifer spent 9 years teaching in the counselor education department at Minnesota State University, Mankato, prior to joining the department at Saybrook. She currently resides in Winston-Salem, NC.

Jennifer's areas of teaching interest have included:

Counselor Education and Supervision - Introduction to the profession

Teaching and adult pedagogy

Grief and loss

Qualitative Research Methods

Practicum/Internship

Her research focus is similar to her clinical focus. She has published in the areas of addiction treatment for women, LGBT ally development for K-12 schools, LGBT homeless youth, and women's mentoring. She has tended towards qualitative research, from a feminist and critical theory lens, often employing non-traditional research methodologies. She currently runs a research team looking at abusive behavior in higher education.

Finally, Jennifer has an interest in Psychedelic Integration work and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and has completed certifications to become a practitioner of this work.

Jennifer has been an active member of the following associations:

American Counseling Association (ACA)

Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)

Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender issues in Counseling (ALGBTIC)