Rita Simmonds, LMHC - Therapist in New York

About Rita

Rita Simmonds is a licensed mental health counselor who helps people cope with stress and anxiety. She offers calm, steady support for depression, trauma, grief, and struggles with self‑esteem. Rita works with adults who want practical strategies and clearer emotional footing.

She combines straightforward conversation with tools that fit daily life. Sessions focus on building skills to manage overwhelming feelings and on making small, lasting changes. Rita also welcomes clients who want to explore how faith relates to their healing; any spiritual discussions are led by the client.

Book with Rita Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Background and approach

Rita uses several therapy approaches to guide work together. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people spot unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is offered for processing traumatic memories.

Client‑Centered Therapy creates a nonjudgmental space where the client sets the pace. Her practice pays attention to common life challenges like relationship strain, parenting stress, career shifts, and coping with illness or caregiver burden. Rita also supports people facing addiction, eating and sleeping problems, and issues around identity and belonging.

With five years of clinical experience and a New York LMHC credential, she practices from New York and conducts sessions in English. Rita aims to help clients feel more in control, more connected to themselves, and clearer about next steps for living well.

How therapeutic approaches adapt to online care

Rita blends Client‑Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and EMDR into online sessions to meet different needs. Client‑Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the client's lead so conversations online feel paced by the person in the room. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches concrete steps to change thinking patterns and behavior, which work well over video or phone with homework between sessions. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps process traumatic memories and can be adapted for remote work using guided bilateral stimulation methods when appropriate.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative. Rita will discuss goals, preferences, and past experiences to decide which methods to try first. She checks in regularly and adjusts techniques if something isn’t helping, so the plan evolves with the client's needs.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy schedules and different comfort levels. Video calls allow face‑to‑face interaction; phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check‑in is needed. Live chat and text‑based messaging support ongoing reflection between sessions and quick access to tools or coaching. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or treatment for chronic illness while keeping continuity of care.

Book with Rita Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Questions people ask

What kinds of concerns can be addressed in sessions?

Rita works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, self‑esteem, addictions, and related concerns such as body image, chronic illness, and life transitions.

What is the general therapy style and approach?

She uses a collaborative, straightforward style that blends Client‑Centered Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and DBT skills as needed to build practical coping strategies.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has five years of experience working as a mental health professional in clinical settings and independent practice.

What credentials and location apply to her practice?

Rita holds a Licensed Mental Health Counselor credential - NY LMHC - and practices from New York.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can people outside the United States work with her?

She does not accept international clients at this time.

What session formats are available for therapy?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text‑based messaging to match different preferences and schedules.

How are costs and scheduling handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

What this therapist works with

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Also listed

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 5 years
Licensed: New York
Languages: English

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