Simone Kurtz-Dougherty

I’m a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with over 30 years of experience helping people navigate anxiety, trauma, life transitions, and identity-related stress. I work especially well with LGBTQ+ adults and others who may have felt misunderstood or unseen in traditional spaces.

My approach is collaborative and down-to-earth. We focus on what’s happening in your life right now, what patterns might be getting in the way, and what could help things feel more manageable. I use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) along with other practical tools, but therapy with me is never one-size-fits-all—we figure out together what actually works for you.

Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable individuals who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or tired of carrying things alone. Therapy can be a place to sort through what’s weighing on you, build new coping strategies, and reconnect with a sense of clarity and direction.

If therapy hasn’t felt helpful in the past, that doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. Sometimes it’s simply about finding a therapist whose approach and perspective are a better fit.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, practical, and grounded in respect for each person’s lived experience. I use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) along with other evidence-based approaches to help clients better understand the patterns, thoughts, and experiences that may be contributing to anxiety, trauma responses, or feeling stuck.

At the same time, therapy with me is not rigid or one-size-fits-all. I believe the most important part of therapy is the relationship we build together. I work to create a space where clients feel safe, heard, and able to speak openly about what’s really going on in their lives.

Together we look at what’s happening in the present, explore what may be getting in the way, and develop practical strategies that can help life feel more manageable. My goal is to help clients build insight, strengthen coping skills, and move toward the kind of life and relationships they want for themselves.

I view therapy as a partnership, where your perspective, goals, and feedback are central to the work we do.

The first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and see if working together feels like a good fit. We’ll talk about what’s bringing you to therapy right now, what you’ve been dealing with, and what you hope might feel different in your life.

You don’t need to have everything figured out or know exactly where to start. I’ll ask some questions to understand your history, current stressors, and what support might be most helpful. There’s no pressure to share more than you’re comfortable with.

By the end of the session, we’ll usually have a clearer sense of your goals and what our work together might look like moving forward.