Jennifer Jo Dahle Merrill, LPC, NCC
A somatic, trauma-informed therapist helping adults reconnect with their inner wisdom, body, and sense of self.
Hi, I’m Jennifer Merrill, MA, LPC, NCC.
I’m a therapist in Austin, Texas working with adults and couples who want to feel more connected to themselves, their relationships, and the lives they’re creating.
Often, people come to therapy because they already know something isn’t working. You may recognize the patterns you keep falling into. You might understand where some of your anxiety, self-doubt, conflict, or emotional reactions come from. You may even know exactly what you should do differently.
But knowing isn’t always the same as changing.
That’s where I believe therapy can become particularly powerful.
My goal is to help you understand what has shaped you while also giving you tangible ways to respond differently. Therapy with me is not simply about talking through what happened. We’ll look at how those experiences continue to show up today; in your emotions, your relationships, the way you see yourself, and the choices you make and work toward meaningful, lasting change.
My Approach to Therapy
I believe healing happens through a combination of insight, experience, connection, and practice.
Understanding yourself matters. When you begin to recognize how past experiences, relationships, beliefs, and coping strategies have shaped you, your reactions can start to make more sense.
But insight is only part of the work.I also want therapy to give you something you can take with you when you leave my office.
That might mean learning how to regulate difficult emotions, communicate more directly, set healthier boundaries, interrupt an old relationship pattern, respond differently during conflict, or process an experience that continues to feel unresolved.
For some clients, our work involves exploring family-of-origin experiences or trauma. For others, we may focus heavily on present-day relationships, anxiety, self-esteem, communication, or a difficult transition. Often, these things overlap.
There is no single formula for therapy. We’ll figure out together what you need.
Connection is at the Heart of My Work
Again and again, I see how much of our emotional well-being is connected to relationships.
Our earliest relationships influence the way we understand ourselves. Difficult experiences can affect how safe we feel with other people. Conflict can leave us feeling unseen or misunderstood. Anxiety, trauma, grief, and depression can make us pull away when we actually need connection the most.
And sometimes the relationship we struggle with most is the one we have with ourselves.
Much of my work comes back to helping people create healthier connection—with their emotions, their needs, their partners, their families, and the people who matter to them.
Because when those relationships begin to change, life can start to feel different too.
Training & Credentials
I earned my Master of Counseling from Northwestern University and completed my undergraduate education at California State University, Sacramento.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas and a National Certified Counselor (NCC).
My additional training includes:
- EMDR Therapy
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Levels 1 & 2
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Relational Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Psychodynamic and Interpersonal approaches
I continue to integrate evidence-based approaches with the individual needs, experiences, and goals of each person I work with.
Ready to Begin?
Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation to ask questions, tell Jennifer a little about what you’re looking for, and determine whether Insight Counseling ATX feels like the right fit.
