Benta Sims, LPC
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), licensed by the Virginia Board of Counseling, and my private practice is located in Falls Church, VA. I received my MA in Counseling Education from Virginia Tech. My personal journey with postpartum depression and anxiety and recovery led me to change careers to become a counselor. With my many life roles of wife, daughter, sister, friend, and mother of 3 young adult children, I combine my own personal life experiences with my professional work and training experiences, to bring an optimistic, hopeful, collaborative, non-pathologizing, and respectful approach to working with my clients. I enjoy growing and learning through working with my clients; I am honored to listen to each of their amazing stories.
Clinical Experience and Therapeutic Approach
My clinical experience includes working in a variety of settings. Prior to establishing my own private practice, I worked as an elementary school counselor in Fairfax County and worked as a Counselor-in-Residence at The Center for Well Being (now Sunstone Counseling) in Falls Church, VA. I have worked part-time as a Mental Health Therapist on the psychiatric floors of Inova Mt. Vernon and Inova Fairfax Hospitals.
For eleven years I led support groups for mothers experiencing pregnancy and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD), and birth trauma. When working with pregnant and postpartum clients, I will make home visits for clients on bed rest or otherwise housebound. I offer trainings to professionals about recognizing and treating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
I enjoy working with adult individuals and couples. While listening to clients’ stories, I encourage them to discover and build on their strengths. When working with clients, I use a range of techniques and treatment methods, based within a theoretical orientation of cognitive-behavioral, and mind/body techniques, depending on the unique needs of the client. I bring an interactive, hands-on approach individually tailored to help each client attain the personal growth that they would like to achieve, using a range of techniques, therapies, and treatment methods. I have participated in a number of trauma-informed therapist trainings, and I am completing my EMDR certification. I meet each client where she or he is, and help each to attain the personal growth that they desire.
When working with couples, I draw from trainings I received in Emotion Focused Couples Therapy, Gottman couples therapy, and I am a Certified Imago Relationship Couples Therapist.
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
Professional Trainings Attended
Education
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And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
~Anais Nin |