From Anne, LCSW-S

One of my first loves (unless you count Neil Diamond) is books. It feels like a welcome inheritance from my grandmother, to my mother, to me, and now to my daughter. I don’t know how to live better than any human, but through a life devoted to reading, listening to, and telling stories, I do know how to derive a cohesive narrative that helps us make meaning of our lives. Throughout my continuing education, I’m learning that love and compassion, though hard-won through facing our and each other’s pain, are at the heart of my understanding of justice and just relationships: putting our human potential first while acknowledging that we all make mistakes and need to lovingly hold ourselves and each other accountable so we can do better next time.

Some key cultural components of my identity that I believe are relevant in my practice are my whiteness, motherhood, being a cisgendered woman married to a loving white man, being raised upper middle class, a daughter, and a friend. I am an “Okie” in my blood though I’ve not lived in Oklahoma City since I left for college. In much of my heart, I am a New Yorker, having pursued my professional passion and established my beautiful family there for 12 years (hence I maintain a license there). Houston is starting to feel like a home 5 years later as I see my efforts to build community, even amid a pandemic, pay off.

I first worked in public relations, then publishing, until I finally followed what was most true. I got my Master’s in Social Work in New York City. Then I pursued intensive training in couple and family therapy, specifically exploring how issues of power, privilege, and oppression play out in relationship dynamics. My vision for my life and my practice is grounded in the pursuit of justice as I understand it. As my son’s beloved Spider-Man espouses, with great power comes great responsibility. I believe it is our human responsibility to use the power of our imaginations to cultivate a more just world. I believe that starts with us.

From Bere, Clinical Intern:

In English…

I am a first-generation Mexican American woman and I use she/her pronouns. I am bilingual and fluent in both Spanish and English. Being part of an immigrant family has shaped my worldview and led me to pursue a master's degree in social work, and I am currently in my last year. Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to advocating for women and children impacted by various forms of violence, including domestic violence, intimate partner violence, family violence, and sexual assault.

My approach is deeply rooted in my clients' needs. I focus on building a strong therapeutic alliance to provide support and empowerment tailored to each individual's journey. My ultimate goal is facilitating impactful and lasting change, empowering those I work with to reach their objectives.

En Español…

Soy Mexicana Americana de primera generación. Me identifico como ella/ella. Soy bilingüe y hablo español e inglés. Soy parte de una familia inmigrante ha moldeado mi visión del mundo y me ha llevado a obtener una maestría en trabajo social, que actualmente estoy en mi último año. A lo largo de mi carrera, me he dedicado a abogar  a las mujeres y los niños afectados por diversas formas de violencia, incluida la violencia doméstica, la violencia de pareja, la violencia familiar y la agresión sexual.

Mi enfoque está profundamente arraigado en las necesidades de mis clientes. Me concentro en construir una alianza terapéutica sólida para brindar apoyo y empoderamiento adaptados al viaje de cada individuo. Mi objetivo final es facilitar un cambio impactante y duradero, empoderando a aquellos con quienes trabajo para alcanzar sus objetivos.

From Cordie, Clinical Intern:

Hello! My name is Cordelia (she/her), but you can call me Cordie. I am a native Houstonian, and I have dedicated my career to improving mental health, especially for youth, adolescents, and young adults. I have a deep personal connection to the efficacy of therapy and a strong belief in its power to help people heal and grow. I earned my degree in Human Developmental and Family Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin and am in my final year of graduate studies in social work at the University of Houston.

My work with the Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network for the past four years has shaped my deep commitment to clients facing mood disorders, depression, and anxiety. I take a social justice-centered approach, focusing on how our environments and experiences influence mental health. I create spaces where clients can freely express themselves, discover their needs, and make meaningful, lasting changes in their lives.


If you're looking for a supportive and empathetic partner in your mental health journey, I’m here to help!

Why Just Us?

"Just Us" is a multiple entendre:

  • part calling out justice as being at the heart of the practice. Learning to disrupt power-based relationships in favor of equity-based relationships;

  • part emphasizing the safety of “just you and me”;

  • part acknowledging that, no matter what we’re doing here on this earth, it’s just us here so we might as well love and support ourselves and one another.

Just Us offers a caring and inclusive space where you can freely explore the intricacies and richness of your story. The focus on familial and cultural contexts of each person's journey increases our capacities for understanding, including across differences.

With a reputation for being empathetic, warm, highly skilled, and a disruptor of the status quo, Anne Slater practices leading JustUs in her integrity, with a commitment to help people clear a path toward a more loving, more just way to live.