Rita Simmonds

Compassionate, evidence-informed therapy in New York

LMHC New York

Experience: 5 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Rita

Rita Simmonds is a licensed mental health counselor based in New York who helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, low self-esteem, depression, and a range of other emotional challenges.

Background and approach

With five years of clinical experience and EMDR training, she emphasizes compassionate, client-centered care that meets each person where they are. Rita integrates evidence-based methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy alongside EMDR and existential perspectives to tailor treatment to individual needs.

Her practice attends to a wide variety of concerns including relationship and intimacy issues, addiction, eating and sleeping difficulties, parenting and caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, and questions of life purpose and identity.

She also offers a Christian-informed approach for clients who wish to include faith in their work, ensuring that spiritual elements are guided by the client. Rita aims to foster greater emotional resilience, improved communication skills, and healthier coping strategies through collaborative work that honors each client’s values and goals.

How Rita’s Approaches Translate to Online Therapy

Rita uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors, which can be especially useful for managing anxiety, depression, and stress. She also incorporates EMDR techniques for those addressing traumatic memories and distressing events, using guided processing to reduce the intensity of painful recollections. Client-centered therapy is another cornerstone of her work, emphasizing empathetic listening and collaboration so clients feel heard and able to steer the pace and focus of sessions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process; Rita will explore a client’s goals, preferences, and presenting concerns to determine which combination of methods fits best. She adapts techniques to meet individual needs and balances structured skills work with space for reflection and meaning-making as needed.

Online therapy with Rita is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing flexible scheduling and access from different locations within her service area. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care while fitting sessions into busy lives, and they support ongoing work on skills, trauma processing, and emotional regulation in ways that integrate with each client’s daily routine.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Rita help with?

She works with a broad set of issues including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related problems, and a range of other emotional and life challenges.

What therapeutic approaches does she use?

Her practice blends client-centered therapy with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), EMDR, and existential techniques depending on the client’s needs and goals.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has five years of clinical experience working with clients in New York and has completed EMDR training to add to her therapeutic toolkit.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

Rita holds the credential LMHC and is licensed in New York with license number NY LMHC 016428. Her practice is based in New York.

Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?

She does not currently accept international clients, and her practice is focused on serving clients in New York.

Which session formats are available?

Sessions are offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.

How are sessions paid for and what does cost look like?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What steps are involved in getting started?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Self esteem Depression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationForgivenessGuilt and shame Impulsivity Isolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersNarcissismPanic disorder and panic attacks Post-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSelf-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

5+ years

Licensed

New York

Languages

English