My name is Cheryl Simms I am a licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Substance Treatment Practitioner in the States of Virginia and North Caroline. I have fifteen years of experience in the counseling field. My specialties are addiction counseling, substance use disorders, anger management, depression, anxiety, grief and loss issues, child/adolescent, divorce, family therapy, parenting, play therapy, marriage & relationship, couple therapy, military community, PTSD, stress management, and trauma. I am an open-minded, non-judgmental, collaborative therapist that believes in meeting people where they are and finding the strengths inside each of us. I have experience with and strive to create a safe, inclusive environment for people with different backgrounds, believes, cultural, religion and sexual orientations.
Individual and Family Counseling:
Cheryl provides individual and group outpatient mental health services to children, adolescents, adults, families and couples. Her expertise includes a wide range of emotional and behavioral concerns including but not limited to: depression, substance abuse treatment anxiety, family and marital counseling. Provide specialized treatment in family issues, blended families, women issues, parenting, adoptions, coaching, substance abuse treatment, PTSD and trauma counseling.
Cheryl would assess the client’s needs as well as of the family members to gather data on their social, health, emotional and economic problems; assesses the needs and strengths of the individual and the family unit; works with the clients to formulate service objective and identify actions needed to solve personal problems such as those related to emotional needs, finances, home management, childcare and development, health, and education. She also works with children with special needs such as children with ADHD, mental health issues bi-polar and other chronic mental challenges. Due to her knowledge of the wider system, she coordinates services for children discharging for psychiatric hospital, with learning disabilities and serves as a liaison with health care professionals and any other resources in the community.
A particular interest of Cheryl is to work with pre-natal moms and teens with children to provide techniques that promoted bonding and attachment between the parent and the child or children.
Trauma and PTSD counseling:
Cheryl is trained in various modalities of trauma treatment and able to provide services to all age groups. Children (ages 3-12) Teenagers (ages 13-18) and adult male and female who have suffered from emotional, physical, sexual abuse and neglect in childhood.
She is also passionate about helping people with co-existing mental and substance abuse problems. She applies professional knowledge of social work/psychological principles, theories, and methods in treating a wide range of substance abuse problems of individuals and family systems. In addressing the trauma underlying the substance abuse while helping to cope with the symptoms, Cheryl provides a through out treatment for long-term recovery.
Up to 70% of adults will experience a traumatic event in their lives. 20% of those adults will go on to develop a trauma-related response or mental health disorder from these adverse events. The memories and emotions that stem from a traumatic event can be debilitating. They can trigger alcohol or drug abuse, and the distressing symptoms of a mental health disorder. Although trauma and trauma-related disorders and emotional problems can be debilitating, there is hope for victims. Different modalities of therapy can treat the distressing symptoms of trauma-related disorders. Cheryl will be able to customize treatment to your needs and particular trauma history.
As a therapist treating clients for over two decades, I understand that change is difficult and scary, even when you are aware that change is in a positive direction of release from negative emotions and unhelpful beliefs. I have learned how to help clients through the initial, anxious steps of beginning the work of therapy. How to overcome fears, hurtful memories, and negative beliefs about yourself, and move through stages of growth to achieve mindfulness, inner serenity and self compassion. How to let go of addictive and compulsive behaviors, and achieve personal and relationship success.
Education:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
October 2021
Master of Arts in Community Mental Health Counseling
Webster University – January 1999 to October 2000
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
Limestone College – August 1997 to December 1998
Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education
University of South Carolina – Beaufort, SCJanuary 1980 to October 1996
