Melanie Simms (she/her)

LMFT 117919
Accepting Clients

I am a strengths-based, trauma-informed therapist for adolescents and young adults.

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Ventura, CA

Services
  • Individual
  • Couples
  • Adolescent/Teen

About My Clients

My clients are mostly teens and young adults (16-30) who are facing challenges and have determined they want something different for themselves and their future. My clients are often in school or in the early stages of their career. Common challenges include stress, anxiety, ADHD, childhood trauma, and relationships with friends, family or partners. My clients are on a path of discovering who they are, healing childhood wounds, and building goals for the future.

My Background and Approach

In my 10 years of practice as a therapist, I have worked in a variety of settings, serving many different clients and their unique needs. My background includes: school based counseling for special education students, advocacy and treatment for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, in home therapy with foster youth, and program management for an outpatient behavioral health program. Through these roles, I developed a passion for helping adolescents, college students, and young adults heal their childhood wounds and take ownership of their adult lives. I utilize techniques from a variety of theories, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and EMDR. I also heavily incorporate themes of self-acceptance and self-compassion into my work. As a therapist, I want to make sure my clients are benefiting from our work together, so if something isn’t working I encourage them to provide feedback so I can tailor my approach to better support their needs.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I believe that everyone is capable of change, but that it is only when we believe in our worth and treat ourselves with love that we are able to change. I believe that the bodies and brains that we have were not built for the world we currently live in. I believe that everyone grows up in an environment where their needs were not perfectly met. The ways we dealt with those unmet needs as children then become unhealthy coping strategies in adulthood. With conscious effort, reflection, and practice, we can heal those wounds and learn better strategies. I am pro-woman and pro-choice. I am sex positive and LGBTQ+ affirming. I believe black lives matter and no human being is illegal. I vote. I donate to causes I care about and organizations with missions that align with my values. I recognize and acknowledge the privilege I have in this world as a cisgender, white, heterosexual, able-bodied person.

Techniques I Use

Specialties
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Other Techniques
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Couples Counseling
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Feminist Therapy
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Person-Centered (Rogerian)
  • Trauma Therapy
  • Relationship Counseling

Issues I Treat

Specialties
Self-Esteem Sexual Abuse or Assault Women's Issues
Other Issues
  • ADHD Therapists
  • Anxiety
  • Body Image Issues
  • Burnout
  • Codependency
  • Depression
  • Domestic Violence or Intimate Partner Violence
  • Family Conflict
  • LGBTQ-Friendly Therapists
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Relationship Issues
  • Self-Esteem
  • Self-Harm
  • Sexual Abuse or Assault
  • Teen Issues
  • Women's Issues
Insurance Plans Accepted
  • Aetna
  • Optum
  • United Healthcare
  • UMR
  • Lyra Health
I offer online counseling in the following states:

At A Glance

  • Experience: 10 years of practice
  • Rate: $165/session

Info

Email Melanie
5450 Ralston St.
Suite 104
Ventura, CA 93003

Reach out to Melanie