Meredith Simmons

I love helping clients get unstuck. We become stuck for a variety of reasons: we become stuck because of previous trauma we hold in our bodies; we become stuck because we believe things to be true about ourselves that are not true; we become stuck because we’ve outgrown old coping strategies; we can also become stuck when we suppress emotions or tell ourselves that certain feelings are not OK.

We can even get stuck in our “thinking brain” (the prefrontal cortex), so I use a trauma-informed approach called Brainspotting to access healing at the deepest subcortical level, the “feeling brain.” I am also influenced by Experiential Therapy, Attachment Theory, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) as I help clients identify how they are stuck and what it means to be free.

I see adults of all ages for a variety of reasons, but especially enjoy navigating life-transitions, battling inner perfectionism, building self-esteem, and processing trauma and grief. I also enjoy couples’ therapy and specifically helping partners get unstuck by better understanding each other, communicating more effectively, and increasing emotional and physical intimacy. I love assisting clients as they transition to parenthood and utilize The Gottman Institute’s And Baby Makes Three to tailor therapy to the clients’ individual needs. As a certified facilitator of Prepare Enrich, a premarital assessment tool that uses evidenced based skills to foster healthy relationships in 8-10 sessions, I offer premarital therapy to clients to address areas of growth such as: communication, conflict resolution, sexuality and affection, relationship roles, family and friends, parenting, and stress management.

I am open to integrating clients’ faith into the therapeutic process upon their request. I identify as a Christian and believe we are all spiritual beings. Spirituality is a vital part of life, and what that means is different for everyone. I approach my clients’ beliefs, culture, and customs with curiosity and respect.

I also know that faith, family, and culture don’t just shape what we believe; they shape how we understand ourselves, including our sexuality. So much of that understanding comes from what we were taught growing up, and those messages can leave behind shame, doubt, and a quiet sense that something is wrong with us. It is a privilege to walk alongside clients as they process religious hurt and/or sexual shame, and to witness the freedom they find as they embrace their true selves.

Prior to becoming a therapist, I received my Bachelor’s degree in English from Washington and Lee University in 2001 and hold a Masters’ degree from Mercer University’s School of Medicine. I currently work under direct supervision of Erika Pluhar, PhD, Eds, LMFT, LPC, CST-S.

Personally, I have been married for over twenty years and have four children. I understand the balancing act of juggling a career, a marriage, children, friends, and family. I value the wisdom and humility I have acquired though both lived and clinical experience.