At a glance
- Credentials
- LMHC
- License
- LMHC, New York / 016428
- NPI
- 1689551145
- Experience
- 5 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- New York
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
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- Motivational interviewing
- Client-centered care
- Practical coping skills
About Rita
Rita Simmonds is a licensed mental health counselor based in New York who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and grief. She focuses on practical steps people can take to feel steadier and more able to handle everyday challenges. Rita aims to make therapy straightforward and approachable for people who are worried or overwhelmed.
She uses motivational interviewing to support people who want to make changes but feel stuck. Rita also draws on client-centered methods that prioritize each person’s goals and experience. Cognitive behavioral ideas are used when helpful to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try new behaviors.
Rita pays attention to how past relationships and attachment shape current struggles. She also addresses issues like addiction, body image, sleep problems, parenting strain, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and compassion fatigue. Sessions include talk work and practical skills you can use between meetings.
Her practice welcomes people interested in integrating their faith into therapy; this is led by the client rather than imposed. Rita works with both women and men on life transitions, identity questions, and relationship and intimacy-related concerns. She aims to help people build clearer communication and stronger self-regard.
With five years of experience and the New York LMHC credential, Rita blends pragmatic tools with a calm, collaborative stance. Prospective clients who want to explore change can expect a supportive space to set goals and try out new ways of coping.
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How these approaches translate to online therapy
Motivational interviewing is a collaborative way to talk through ambivalence and build motivation for change. Online sessions can use this approach to help people set clear, achievable goals and plan small steps toward them.
Client-centered therapy focuses on understanding the person’s perspective and working at their pace. In remote sessions this often means the therapist listens closely and follows what matters most to the client while offering gentle reflection and support.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. Used online, CBT frequently includes short skill practice between sessions and concrete exercises you can use in daily life.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Rita will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That selection can shift over time as progress is made and goals change.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Many people find online therapy easier to fit into a busy schedule, lets them check in from a quiet spot, or makes it simpler to have shorter, focused sessions during a break. Licensed professionals can guide practical next steps and help adapt tools so they work in everyday life. -
Areas of expertise
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHDAdditional focus areas
AbandonmentAttachment issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersNarcissismPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSelf-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesTherapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyExperience
5+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Rita help with?
She works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, self-esteem, addictions, and relationship and intimacy-related issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and practical, using motivational interviewing and client-centered work to help clients set goals and try manageable changes.
What background and experience does she have?
Rita has five years of clinical experience supporting people through life changes, attachment concerns, and issues like caregiver stress and chronic illness.
What credential does she hold and where is she located?
She holds the New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor credential and practices in New York.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what does cost look like?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on the therapist's availability.
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Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers