Hi! I'm a Licensed Professional Counsellor (LPC) based in Tennessee but also serve clients in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Mississippi, and Utah. I received my Masters from the University of Tennessee and then my PhD in Counselor Education also from the university of Tennessee and have been practicing for 15 years. I help adults who may be struggling with LGBTQIA+ focused issues, mood disorder, addictions, and life transitions navigate their way to a place of healthy functioning.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
During our first meeting we will take time to get to know each other and decide if it's a good fit working together. I'll gather information on what led you to seek counseling, historical information concerning symptoms, any previous therapy, and also any familial information you think is important. I always provide space during the first session for you to ask any questions as well.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I believe my greatest strength is my authenticity, infusion of humor into session, and my unwavering faith in people. I'm often told that clients appreciate the warmth and support they feel both during session and how empowered they feel to implement changes between sessions.
About Amanda Simms
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
My theoretical orientation to counseling is primarily based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with influence from Reality Therapy. I believe that a person’s experience with the world is primarily influenced by the way they think about and perceive the world. If a person’s thinking is distorted, they will engage in behaviors which create distress for them or difficulties in navigating their day to day life in a healthy, well-adjusted manner. In my view, counseling works when we are able to work together to identify patterns in your thinking which are influencing your behaviors in such a way that creates difficulties for you. More than just identifying the problematic thinking, I believe that taking concrete action to change these thought processes and behaviors will allow you to lead a more fulfilling and healthy life. I pull on reality therapy, however, when examining your current disconnection from those in your life. I believe that people are inherently social creatures that need connection with others and that disconnection can also cause problems. My primary focus in counseling is on what action you can immediately take to begin seeing a difference in your life.
Reality Therapy
My theoretical orientation to counseling is primarily based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with influence from Reality Therapy. I believe that a person’s experience with the world is primarily influenced by the way they think about and perceive the world. If a person’s thinking is distorted, they will engage in behaviors which create distress for them or difficulties in navigating their day to day life in a healthy, well-adjusted manner. In my view, counseling works when we are able to work together to identify patterns in your thinking which are influencing your behaviors in such a way that creates difficulties for you. More than just identifying the problematic thinking, I believe that taking concrete action to change these thought processes and behaviors will allow you to lead a more fulfilling and healthy life. I pull on reality therapy, however, when examining your current disconnection from those in your life. I believe that people are inherently social creatures that need connection with others and that disconnection can also cause problems. My primary focus in counseling is on what action you can immediately take to begin seeing a difference in your life.
