About Me
After receiving three B’s and one A as a first-semester freshman in college, I promptly decided to in major in Psychology, my A course. Even then I believed in emphasizing and leveraging strengths! I balanced out the rigid research-oriented curriculum with field placements at a federal prison for women, the VA Hospital, a child-guidance center, and one of the first community mental health centers in Virginia.
Fast forward a few decades. Today I manage a thriving behavioral health consulting business working with state and county behavioral health agencies, community mental health centers, providers, and purchasers. Every day I have the privilege of working with some of the smartest, nicest, and most committed people in the country as they help improve the lives of the people they serve.
A lot has changed, but one thing is still the same: I love what I do.
I absolutely believe that we can change the lives of people with mental illness and substance misuse. I know that when I help managers and supervisors do a better job, that their clients are served with more skill and compassion.
I get a kick out of taking complicated service definitions, Medicaid guidance, or clinical research and finding simple, easy ways to explain it so that front-line staff can deliver great services, document them easily, and spend their time with their clients—not worrying about audits.
And I really believe that public-sector behavioral health agencies should be great places to work – building on the strengths of the staff, modeling positive and healthy relationships, and sharing responsibility and accountability. I love helping teams and agencies become all that and more.
Being a great teacher and mentor is what I was born to be.
On a more traditional biographical note, I have a B.A. in Psychology, a M.S. in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Adult Education, and work experience in behavioral health, pediatric health, behavioral health advocacy, and more. Check out my resume for the details.
And When More is Better:
For larger projects or those that require additional expertise, I will build a team with partners from other national consulting groups. Our shared values, high standards of quality, and commitment to public behavioral health ensure that our clients meet their goals and emerge stronger.
Lee Ann Slayton
President, Slayton Consulting, LLC