Hello and welcome. Thank you for taking the time to read my profile and congratulations on taking a step forward on your recovery journey. My name is Katherine Simmons. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with a supervisory endorsement (LPCC-S) in Ohio. I graduated from Ashland Theological Seminary, so I am also able to provide Christian Counseling to those who wish it. I have worked in the mental health field for over 20 years mostly in community mental health agencies and so have years of experience providing services for those wanting to include their spiritual beliefs as well as those who do not. Additionally, I have experience with people from a wide range of backgrounds as well as diagnoses. I can help you work on the struggles you are facing and offer you a place you may come to feel is safe to explore your thoughts and feelings and make the changes you want to make.
In our first session, we will start with introductions, then identify some of your strengths and what you'd like to accomplish in treatment. From that information, we will develop a path to reach that desired end. In later sessions, we will work on the stepping stones (objectives) along that path so we move closer and closer to your goal.
I believe my strengths as a counselor lie in my counseling style which is fairly relaxed. I am person-centered. I respect people as individuals capable of making choices and as experts in their own lives. I honor people simply because they exist which leads me to be non-judgemental. I have been described as anointed, supportive, caring, empathetic, gentle, and compassionate. Yet, I also will ask the hard questions, make you think. I focus on identifying your strengths and helping you use them on your recovery journey. I define "recovery" as your making the changes you want to make AND your seeing your life as better.
Katherine Simmons, LPCC-S offers therapy covered by Buckeye Health Plan, Buckeye Health Plan (Managed Medicaid), CareSource and Medicaid - Buckeye Health Plan in Ohio.
I work with people to identify their strengths and ways to use those strengths to make wanted changes as quickly as possible. In doing so, we focus on present challenges. I've been using these techniques for several years after attending multiple trainings about this approach.
A standard approach for many counselors, CBT has many useful concepts to help people change how they think about situations, about how they think in general. I've used techniques from this approach for years having been taught it while I was in school for counseling.
I've attended multiple trainings in IFS and use it when mixed feelings seem to interfere with therapy progress particularly in situations involving trauma.
MI helps clarify one's belief in the probability and possibility of making change--can this change be made? Can I make it? I use techniques from this approach in an effort to spark and maintain the motivation to make changes one wants to make. It is another approach I've used for many years.