Miranda Simunic
I have worked in the mental health field for over 20 years, providing care across a wide range of settings, including in-home services, outpatient therapy, and community mental health. Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of working with children, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics, giving me a broad understanding of the unique challenges people face throughout life. Today, I specialize in working with high achievers who appear to have it all together on the outside but quietly struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, unresolved trauma, burnout, or the pressure of always being the one others rely on. I also enjoy supporting healthcare professionals, business owners, young adults navigating life transitions, and individuals who have left previous therapy feeling like something was still missing. Many of my clients already understand their struggles intellectually, yet still feel stuck emotionally. My approach goes beyond insight by integrating evidence-based, trauma-informed therapy with neuroscience, nervous system regulation, somatic techniques, and mindfulness to help create lasting change. Healing often requires more than changing your thoughts. It also involves helping your brain and body learn that you are safe. I believe therapy shouldn't end when the session ends. Together, we'll actively work toward your goals, and I often provide personalized worksheets, reflections, and practical exercises between sessions to help you apply what you've learned in everyday life. My passion for nervous system regulation is both professional and personal. My own journey with autoimmune illness deepened my understanding of the mind-body connection and reinforced my belief in the body's capacity to heal and recover when given the right support. My goal is to create a space where you feel deeply understood, challenged with compassion, and empowered to move beyond surviving toward a life that feels more grounded, connected, and authentically yours.
First session
Starting therapy can feel exciting, overwhelming, or even a little intimidating. That's completely normal. My goal is to help you feel comfortable from the moment we begin. Your first appointment is called an intake session. Think of it as an opportunity for us to get to know one another and determine whether we're a good fit. During this session, I'll ask a variety of questions to better understand your background, current concerns, relationships, medical and mental health history, strengths, and what has brought you to therapy. This information helps me develop a treatment plan that is personalized to you. Please know that you are always in control of what you choose to share. While I'll ask questions to help me understand your experiences, you never have to answer anything you're not ready to discuss. We will move at a pace that feels safe and comfortable for you. Building trust is an important part of the therapeutic process, and there is no expectation that you tell me everything during our first meeting. We'll also spend time discussing: What you hope to gain from therapy Your goals for treatment What's worked (and what hasn't) in previous therapy Any questions or concerns you have How we can work together to meet your needs best We'll review important practice information, including confidentiality, your rights as a client, office policies, scheduling, cancellations, fees, and what you can expect from me as your therapist. If you've been to therapy before and left feeling like something was still missing, I want to hear about that too. Understanding your previous experiences helps us build an approach that feels more effective and aligned with what you need. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all. I believe our work together should feel collaborative. We'll create a plan that fits your goals, your personality, and your nervous system, rather than expecting you to fit into a predetermined approach. You don't have to have everything figured out before you begin. You simply have to show up. From there, we'll take it one step at a time, together.
Strengths
I believe therapy should be more than simply having someone listen. My goal is to help you gain meaningful insight while also creating lasting change. I bring a balance of compassion, honesty, a little bit of humor, curiosity, and evidence-based strategies to every session so you feel both supported and challenged in ways that promote growth. My approach is collaborative, personalized, and active. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all model, I tailor treatment to your unique experiences, personality, strengths, and goals. Together, we'll identify the patterns that keep you feeling stuck, explore where those patterns developed, and develop practical tools that help you create lasting change. Many of my clients come to me after previous therapy experiences where they gained insight but still didn't feel different. They understand why they struggle, yet continue to experience anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, relationship challenges, or emotional reactions that don't seem to match what they logically know. My approach bridges that gap by integrating traditional talk therapy with trauma-informed care, neuroscience, and nervous system regulation. I believe lasting healing often requires working with both the mind and the body, not just changing thoughts. I also believe that therapy shouldn't end when the session ends. While our time together is important, meaningful progress happens by practicing what we've discussed in everyday life. Because of this, I often provide personalized therapy homework between sessions. This isn't "homework" in the traditional sense. It may include worksheets, journaling prompts, mindfulness practices, nervous system regulation techniques, communication skills, guided reflections, or practical exercises tailored specifically to your goals. These activities help reinforce new skills, increase self-awareness, and create lasting emotional and behavioral change. Our sessions are interactive and goal-oriented. We'll spend time exploring your experiences and emotions, but we'll also focus on developing practical strategies that you can apply outside of therapy. I view our work as a partnership, and we'll regularly check in on what's working and adjust our approach as needed. Clients often describe me as warm, genuine, down-to-earth, and easy to talk to, but also note they can never pull the wool over my eyes. I strive to create a space where you feel deeply understood.
Ideal clients
My ideal clients are ready to approach therapy head-on, do the work, and accept support. They are open to exploring the root causes of their struggles, practicing new skills between sessions, and creating lasting emotional and behavioral change. They value a collaborative, active, and trauma-informed approach that goes beyond insight to help them build healthier patterns, greater emotional regulation, and a more fulfilling life.
Treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Some examples include: Instead of asking, "How do I make these feelings go away?" we explore, "How do you build a meaningful life while making room for difficult experiences?" If you say a statement like, "I'm so anxious. I just want it to stop." I may respond with: "It sounds like your mind is trying really hard to protect you, but it's also keeping you from living the life you want."
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) helps you understand how your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and physical reactions are connected. In therapy, I help you identify unhelpful thinking patterns, examine the evidence for those thoughts, and develop more balanced, realistic perspectives. As you begin to think differently, you often experience healthier emotions and make choices that better align with your goals, leading to lasting changes in behavior and overall well-being. Common CBT thinking errors: All-or-nothing thinking: "If I make one mistake, I'm a failure." Catastrophizing: "This will ruin everything." Mind reading: "Everyone thinks I'm incompetent." Fortune telling: "I'll never get better." Overgeneralization: "I always mess things up." Emotional reasoning: "I feel worthless, so I must be worthless." Should statements: "I should never struggle."
Compassion-Focused
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) helps you develop a kinder, more understanding relationship with yourself, especially after trauma. In therapy, I use CFT to help you recognize that self-criticism and shame are common trauma responses rather than personal flaws. Through self-compassion exercises, compassionate imagery, mindfulness, and compassionate self-talk, you'll learn to soothe your nervous system, reduce shame, and respond to yourself with the same understanding and care you would offer someone you love.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT Tapping) combines gentle tapping on specific acupressure points with focused attention on difficult thoughts, emotions, or memories. Trained in EFT Tapping, I use this approach to help calm your nervous system, reduce the emotional intensity of distressing experiences, and create space for healthier beliefs to emerge. As emotional distress decreases, your brain becomes more open to processing experiences differently, allowing you to replace old, unhelpful beliefs with more balanced and compassionate perspectives.
Somatic
Somatic Therapy recognizes that trauma and stress are stored not only in the mind but also in the body. Trained in somatic approaches, I use body-based techniques to help you become more aware of physical sensations, regulate your nervous system, and safely release stored stress and tension. By strengthening the mind-body connection, you'll develop greater emotional resilience, feel more grounded in the present, and experience lasting healing beyond simply talking about your experiences.
Location
Virtual sessions
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Licensed in
- PennsylvaniaLicense CW017137