Find a therapist in Amherst, MA — covered by insurance

I earned my Bachelor of Nursing from University of Connecticut (Go Huskies!) before moving to Boston to start my career in bedside nursing in 2019. After serving as an RN and Director of Nursing at a residential treatment center, I earned my PMHNP at Regis College to specialize in mental health. Since then, I’ve gained diverse experience providing cutting-edge ketamine therapy in outpatient clinics and managing complex cases in inpatient psychiatry. Now, I’m bringing that clinical expertise—along with post-graduate training in CBT—to my full-time private practice, where I provide comprehensive, compassionate care for patients navigating anxiety, depression, OCD and ADHD in the South Boston area.

I am a clinically trained psychotherapist practicing in NJ, NY, MA, and PA. I work with individuals, couples, and families across all ages—from children and teens to college students and busy professionals. I also have experience supporting married couples facing marital challenges.

Feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or emotionally exhausted? Maybe anxiety has you constantly overthinking, past experiences still affect your daily life, or you're navigating grief, depression, burnout, or a major life transition. Whatever brought you here, you don't have to face it alone.

Hi, I'm Brianna, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with a Doctorate in Health Science. I specialize in helping adults navigate anxiety, trauma, grief, depression, burnout, and life transitions with compassion, practical support, and evidence-based care.

I believe therapy is most effective when you feel genuinely seen, heard, and accepted. My goal is to provide a warm, judgment-free space where you can better understand yourself, build on your strengths, and develop practical tools to help you move forward with greater confidence and resilience.

Taking the first step isn't always easy, but you don't have to do it alone. I'd be honored to support you on your journey toward healing and growth.

I’m Amanda, and I became a therapist because I believe everyone deserves a place where they can show up exactly as they are. I bring warmth, authenticity, and even a bit of humor into the room when it feels right. I want you to feel genuinely seen—not judged—and supported in whatever you’re working through.

I’ve been in the counseling field for over 15 years and hold a PhD in Counselor Education from the University of Tennessee. My experience ranges from private practice and telehealth to correctional mental health, hospitals, and leadership roles in community programs. A. Simms Resume copy

I work with adults experiencing mood challenges, anxiety, identity concerns, life transitions, and LGBTQIA+ experiences, as well as individuals who are justice-involved or adjusting to major life changes. My approach integrates CBT, ACT, and Reality Therapy, giving us room to explore both deeper patterns and practical skills.

Clients describe me as encouraging, steady, and real—someone who helps them feel grounded and capable while taking meaningful steps toward a more balanced and authentic life.

I have worked in the field of psychology for over 25 years and hold two Master’s degrees as well as a PhD in Neuropsychology. I provide psychotherapy for individuals across the lifespan and specialize in the treatment of mood disorders, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

I also work with individuals who are navigating major life stressors such as divorce, career transitions, and other significant changes. In addition, I help clients address concerns related to anger management, chronic stress, and the psychological impact of health issues.

My goal is to support clients in developing effective coping strategies, gaining insight, and making meaningful changes that improve their overall well-being and quality of life.

Rooted in my graduate training at the University of Rhode Island, I developed expertise in both general clinical and health psychology. I developed a programmatic line of research in health promotion (adoption and maintenance of multiple health behaviors including exercise, smoking cessation and nutritious eating) with a particular focus on exercise motivation as a gateway to adopting other health behaviors.

During my internship and postdoctoral training at VA Connecticut and VA Boston, respectively, my research evolved towards integrating health behavior change (e.g., exercise adoption and maintenance) with veterans suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain and PTSD. As I learned more about the biopsychosocial model of these medically and psychiatrically complex disorders, my ultimate goal became to help veterans better manage their pain and PTSD symptoms, utilizing health behavior change as a complementary component of their overall treatment program. With this approach, the ultimate goal was to help them improve their overall quality of life and well-being, long-term.

My patient oriented research experience, over the past thirteen years, directly informed my approach to my clinical work with individual patients. In fact, I worked for Newton-Wellesley Eating Disorders and Behavioral Medicine for the past fifteen years. As part of this work, I focused on helping individuals suffering from the full continuum of eating disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder) to sustain their recovery long-term and achieve "recovery maintenance" through establishment and achievement of additional life goals and to move beyond their "eating disorder" identity to a "whole person" identity to create a more meaningful life post-recovery. Additionally, as part of this practice, I treated patients suffering from anxiety, PTSD, chronic musculoskeletal pain and depression as well as veterans from the community.