- Practical coping skills
- Faith-informed option
- Trauma-informed care
About Rita
Rita Simmonds is a licensed mental health counselor practicing in New York who helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, and self-esteem struggles. She works with clients facing depression, addictions, relationship concerns, and life changes. Her style is compassionate and down-to-earth, aimed at helping people build stronger emotional coping skills and clearer direction.
Rita uses a mix of practical approaches tailored to each person. She draws on client-centered work to follow what matters most to the client. She also uses cognitive behavioral strategies to help change unhelpful thinking and dialectical behavior techniques to teach emotion regulation and distress tolerance.
Her background includes five years of clinical practice and a New York LMHC credential. Rita also incorporates EMDR when appropriate and when the client chooses that route. She offers a faith-informed stance for people who want to include Christian perspectives, and she keeps that approach always guided by the client's wishes.
In sessions she focuses on clear goals like improving communication, reducing anxiety, managing anger, and navigating grief or major life transitions. She pays attention to attachment and abandonment concerns, body image and identity questions, and issues that come with chronic illness or caregiving roles.
People who work with Rita can expect practical tools, calm listening, and collaboration on next steps. To begin, prospective clients use the Start Therapy process to match and schedule a first appointment.
How Rita’s Approaches Fit Online Therapy
Client-centered therapy focuses on the person’s experience and priorities, giving the client space to lead conversations and set goals. This approach helps when someone needs empathetic listening and support to clarify what matters most.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, involves identifying and testing unhelpful thoughts and learning new behaviors. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and everyday stress because it gives clear exercises and homework to practice between sessions.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, teaches concrete skills for managing intense emotions, handling conflict, and tolerating distress. It can help people who want better emotion regulation and steadier reactions in daily life.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Rita will work with each person to decide which methods feel most useful based on goals and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as things change.
Confirm session formats before booking since the profile does not list specific online options. Many people find remote sessions help fit therapy into busy schedules, allow shorter check-ins during a work break, or reduce travel time. Talk with the therapist during the matching process about the best way to schedule sessions that match daily life and goals.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Rita commonly help with?
She helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and many life changes.
What is her approach in sessions?
Rita blends client-centered listening with cognitive behavioral techniques and dialectical behavior methods to teach coping skills and improve emotional regulation.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years of experience working with clients in clinical settings and private practice in New York.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds a New York LMHC credential and practices in New York.
Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as specific session formats are not listed in the profile.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Rita?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.