My goal as a psychologist is to help you feel better.

I provide a caring environment to clients who come from all walks of life. The common thread among all of us is a desire to change and improve our lives so that we are happy, prosperous, and secure. I will help you see your life and life choices through a new lens, offering you the opportunity for life improvement. Bringing awareness to life is the starting point of change.

 

I have a pragmatic therapeutic approach to life’s problems. One of my deepest desires is to help you reduce your suffering and improve your life. We will engage in work that is challenging but rewarding. I use a variety of techniques in therapy so that your work is tailor-made to your needs.

​

I will introduce you to cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness techniques, psycho-dynamic models, acceptance and commitment therapy, and humanistic approaches to help you make sense of your life and reduce your stressors. Above all, I want to see you as a person and build a healthy relationship with you. I work with adults of all ages and genders. I work with individuals and offer group psycho-therapy at times. Occasionally, I work with older adolescents who seek out my services with their parent’s consent.

 

I have particular interests and expertise in the following topics.

 

* Anxiety

* Depression

* Healthy Relationships

* LGBTQ+/Coming Out/Identity

* Addiction/Compulsivity

* Grief

* HIV/AIDS

* Aging

* Academic and Workplace Issues

​

I also have considerable experience in helping clients manage other types of mental health issues like bipolar disorder, schizo-affective disorder, or personality disorders.

 

Depending on your needs, our work may be in conjunction with a psychiatric professional as sometimes medication is an important aspect of overall well-being. If medication is necessary, I will gladly work with your psychiatric professional so you get the best care possible.

​

Below, you will find a list of some of my qualifications and activities over the last 20 years of my career. These are important markers for some people to seek out and know about me. In the end, though, these qualifications are simply the minimum requirement. I believe that the wisdom, experience, and compassion I bring to a therapeutic relationship is the key to helping you have a prosperous and productive therapeutic experience.

​

Dr. Simonsen’s qualifications include:

 

• Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Texas

• Pre-doctoral internship training at Emory University Counseling Center in Atlanta

• Fully licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists

• Member of Texas Psychological Association

• Past President and Member of the Texas Psychological Association Board of Trustees

• Past-President of the Dallas Psychological Association

​

If you have questions or need additional information, feel free to contact me via our contact form.