About Rita
Rita Simmonds is a licensed mental health counselor who helps people in New York manage stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, and problems with self-esteem. She works with individuals facing depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, and life transitions. Rita aims to make therapy straightforward and practical so parents and busy adults can apply what they learn quickly.
Rita uses a mix of approaches chosen to match each person’s needs. She draws on client-centered work to build a steady, respectful relationship.
Background and approach
She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. Rita also brings dialectical behavior strategies to teach skills for managing strong emotions. She offers EMDR for people who want a structured option to address traumatic memories.
Rita frames therapy around clear goals and small steps so progress feels manageable. She also welcomes clients who wish to fold spiritual or Christian perspectives into sessions when that fits their values. With five years of clinical experience as an LMHC - Licensed Mental Health Counselor - Rita keeps sessions practical and collaborative.
She helps people set short-term goals for sleep, mood, anger, or coping, and then tracks small changes each week. The focus is on building routines that reduce overwhelm and improve daily functioning. Rita provides talk therapy as well as coaching-style guidance for career, life purpose, and parenting stress.
Sessions emphasize problem-solving, communication skills, and tangible strategies clients can use between meetings.
Approach options for online work and what they do
Rita commonly uses client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and EMDR in online sessions. Client-centered therapy means the conversation centers on the client’s concerns and choices, helping people feel heard and supported while they identify what matters most. CBT focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to change mood and daily routines. EMDR is a structured approach used to process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity over time.Choosing which approach to use is part of the work together. Rita will listen to goals, try a few techniques, and adjust based on what helps most. The process is collaborative so clients can give feedback and steer the plan toward what feels useful and realistic.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs. Video lets people use visual cues and fuller conversation, while phone calls can work when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief check-ins, coaching-style guidance, or when a shorter interaction fits into a busy day. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work, childcare, or other commitments.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Body image
- Cancer
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Coaching
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Eating disorders
- Family conflicts
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 5 years
- Licensed
- New York
- Languages
- English