LGBT therapists in Arlington, MA

I am an LICSW Clinical Social Worker with experience in helping those with depression, ADHD, anxiety, and trauma. I incorporate ACT, CBT, and DBT modalities into my work and am a trained EMDR therapist.

I grew up in MA. I went to both public and catholic schools. I earned a 2nd degree black belt from Premier Martial Arts. I earned a BA in Psychology from UML. I worked at a group home for teenagers, then one for adult men with schizophrenia. I worked as a support and then a lead teacher at a day program for adults with developmental disabilities. There, I learned a lot about Behaviorism and ABA. I was then able to work as a clinician as I finished my graduate degree.

I earned my graduate degree at Fitchburg State University. I did my internship at the Community Health Center in Fitchburg. I worked in community mental health before venturing out on my own.

You may be feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or stuck in patterns that no longer feel aligned with who you are. Many of my clients are insightful, sensitive, and capable, yet struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment wounds, ADHD, or relationship challenges. You may be used to caring for others, masking your needs, or pushing through instead of feeling supported. You’re looking for therapy that feels safe, real, and validating — not judgmental or distant — and you want to better understand yourself, your emotions, and your relationships.

I offer relational, trauma-informed therapy grounded in attachment-based and emotionally focused approaches. I work collaboratively to help clients understand emotional and relational patterns, regulate their nervous systems, and build self-trust and healthier connections. My practice is affirming of neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ identities.

Therapy doesn’t have to feel cold or clinical. I offer a supportive, honest, and affirming space where you don’t have to mask or explain yourself. Whether you’re navigating trauma, relationships, identity, or emotional overwhelm, you deserve therapy that feels human, safe, and respectful of who you are.

I am committed to assisting people in identifying and meeting their personal goals through therapy. I am a masters level clinician with over 20 years of experience. Individual, family and DBT Skills Training groups are my specialties.

I’ve been working with women, children and families for over 15 years in individual counseling, group settings, and program development. My expertise lies in helping people understand their own emotional experience, to use words not violence, to cope, to reduce impulsive and compulsive behavior, to advocate for themselves.

I believe to live fully, we must feel. Intensely. Viscerally. Freely. To feel pride and pain, joy and frustration. To taste the freedoms of life, as well as its restraints. To reconcile thoughts, actions and emotions that are often at odds. To square all of this with culture, beliefs, and history. To live fully is when a sense of equity, equality and balance is awakened. To live fully is to gain perspective and know that you can weather all of it, and not be overcome by these complexities, but learn to integrate them, for a full life.

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.