Jennifer  Simmons
Zencare Vetted

Jennifer Simmons

She/Her/Hers

Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC
Connecticut Not Accepting Online
Durham Waitlist In-person
Updated October 18, 2022

Specialties & Expertise

  • Adolescent mental health
  • Anxiety
  • College & graduate student mental health
  • Depression

Professional statement

Jennifer Simmons is a Licensed Professional Counselor located in Durham, CT. She provinces compassionate mental health services. Many of her clients seek support as they transition into new life stages. This includes beginning or finishing college, starting a new career, moving to a new place, growing a family, or developing or ending a relationship. She helps her clients move past anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, grief, parenting issues, and more.

Jennifer believes that every one of her clients has the best intentions as they go through their daily routines and that they’re innately good people. She practices a strengths-based style of therapy, which leverages the client’s unique strengths in their treatment. She teaches clients about the connections between thoughts, feelings, and actions through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She also incorporates mindfulness practices in therapy sessions to increase the client’s self-awareness. Her style is empathetic and encouraging.

Jennifer earned her Master’s degree in Counseling from Central Connecticut State University. She has over 10 years of experience supporting clients, including working with college students as they navigate their academic and personal lives. She enjoys working with clients from diverse backgrounds and creates a safe, open-minded environment in her sessions.


Message to clients

Life can be challenging and sometimes those challenges can feel like more than we can manage on our own. Making the choice to begin working with a Professional Counselor is the first step towards opening our minds to the possibility that there is another option other than "just getting by". Working with a Professional Counselor allows us to share our emotional struggles in a safe and trusting space, and learn new ways to process, reframe and approach life stressors, trauma, anxiety and so much more.

Engaging in counseling is being kind to yourself. It is giving yourself grace and understanding. It is prioritizing your wellbeing.


Specialties

Adolescent mental health - Working with adolescents, teenagers, and parents on social, academic, and/or emotional challenges throughout teenage years; addressing anxiety, family conflicts, peer relationships, school stress, transition to college, social media pressures, self-esteem, hopelessness about the future, emotional disregulation

Anxiety - Coping with excessive worry, nervousness, or stress; intense discomfort in social settings (social anxiety); sudden and intense feelings of panic (panic disorder)

College & graduate student mental health - Specialized strategies for common issues of young adulthood, including school and career stressors, support around healthy relationships, existential concerns, drug or alcohol issues, eating disorders, and anxiety and/or depression.

Depression - Providing support and promoting healing of hopelessness, low motivation and energy, sadness, irritability, sleep disturbance, and loss of interest and pleasure in life




Clientele

  • Adults (24+)
  • Teenagers (13-18)
  • Young adults (18-24)

Insurance

  • Aetna
  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Cigna
  • Connecticare
  • HUSKY Health
  • Medicaid
  • United Healthcare

Out-of-pocket fees

  • Individual sessions: $100 (60min)
  • Sliding scale: $70 - $100

Location(s)

Online Sessions (Connecticut)
Not accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 10am- 7pm
  • Tue 10am- 4pm
  • Wed 10am - 4pm
  • Thu 10am- 4pm
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Durham practice
352 Main St , Durham, Connecticut 06422
Accepting new clients with a 2 - 3 week wait in-person
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 10am-7pm
  • Tue 10am-4pm
  • Wed 10am-4pm
  • Thu 10am-4pm
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Work and Education

Years of Experience: 12 years

InLight Professional Counseling Services, Licensed Professional Counselor, 2021 - 2022
Hartford Public Schools, District School Counselor Lead, 2016 - 2021
BetterHelp Online Counseling, Licensed Professional Counselor, 2020 - 2021
Hartford Public Schools, School Counselor Lead, 2014 - 2016
New Haven Public School, School Counselor, 2011 - 2014

Central Connecticut State University, MS Counseling, 2011
Southern Connecticut State University, BA Psychology, 2007


Licensure

Connecticut: 003733


Languages

English


Publications