Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Simmons.
Hi Michelle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Michelle Simmons began her journey in private practice in 2009, driven by a clear need she saw throughout the Denver metropolitan area: greater access to culturally responsive, gender-responsive, and relevant mental health services. From the beginning, her vision extended beyond simply providing therapy. She was committed to creating a space where individuals from marginalized and historically underserved communities could feel seen, understood, and supported.
That vision took on new urgency in 2020. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michelle witnessed a significant increase in individuals seeking mental health support, particularly within BIPOC communities. As a solo practitioner, she quickly realized there was a limit to how many people she could serve on her own. Rather than turning people away, she began thinking about how she could expand her impact.
That moment became the catalyst for transforming her solo practice into Michelle Simmons Counseling Group (MSCG), a group practice built around the belief that quality behavioral health care should be accessible, culturally responsive, and grounded in the needs of the communities it serves.
A major milestone in that growth came in June 2021, when MSCG obtained designation as a Community Mental Health Clinic through Colorado’s behavioral health regulatory system. In November 2023, the organization further expanded its capacity by receiving a substance use disorder endorsement, allowing MSCG to more comprehensively address mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders.
Today, MSCG has grown well beyond its beginnings as a solo practice. The organization provides a continuum of behavioral health services for children, adolescents, adults, families, and older adults, including individual, family and group therapy, substance use disorder treatment, DUI/DWAI services, trauma-focused treatment, assessments, case management, and community-based programming. Services are available to individuals seeking support voluntarily as well as those involved with the justice and human services systems.
At the heart of MSCG’s growth remains the same commitment that inspired Michelle’s work in 2009: meeting people where they are, reducing barriers to behavioral health care, and ensuring that individuals and families have access to services that recognize their experiences, honor their identities, and support meaningful healing.
What began with one clinician and a vision has evolved into a growing behavioral health organization committed to expanding its reach while remaining deeply connected to the community it was created to serve.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but I believe the challenges have shaped both me as a leader and the organization we are today. Growing from a solo practitioner into the founder and clinical director of a group practice required me to learn an entirely different side of behavioral health care. I went from being responsible primarily for my clients to managing employees, finances, compliance, billing, licensing, partnerships, and the overall sustainability of an organization.
One of the greatest challenges has been balancing our mission with the realities of running a business. We are committed to serving individuals and families who have historically had difficulty accessing quality behavioral health care, including Medicaid recipients and people involved with the justice and human services systems. That commitment is important to me, but it also means navigating complicated reimbursement systems, administrative requirements, workforce challenges, and the constant need to make sure the organization remains financially healthy while staying true to its purpose.
There have also been growing pains. Finding the right people, developing systems and policies, learning when to delegate, and recognizing that everyone who starts the journey with you may not be meant to continue through every stage of growth have all been important lessons. As an entrepreneur, I have also had to become comfortable making difficult decisions, taking calculated risks, and sometimes moving forward without having every answer.
At the same time, some of our greatest opportunities have come directly from those challenges. They have pushed us to become more innovative, intentional, and community focused. We have expanded our services, developed programs for children, families and older adults, strengthened community partnerships, and created opportunities to provide care outside of the traditional therapy office.
So, no, the road has not always been smooth—but it has been meaningful. Every challenge has reinforced why this work matters and has helped me become a stronger leader. I am incredibly proud that we have continued to grow without losing sight of the reason I started this work in the first place: making quality, culturally responsive behavioral health care accessible to the people and communities who need it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Michelle Simmons Counseling Group is a community-based behavioral health practice serving children, adolescents, adults, families, couples, and older adults. We specialize in trauma, substance use, co-occurring disorders, and working with individuals who may be navigating multiple systems, including human services and the criminal justice system.
What really makes us special is our team. We have intentionally built a diverse group of clinicians who bring different backgrounds, experiences, specialties, and perspectives to the work. Our collective skill set includes EMDR, CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, substance misuse treatment, therapeutic groups, assessments, case management, DUI/DWAI services, and specialized programming for children, families, women, and older adults. That diversity allows us to meet people where they are and provide care that recognizes the whole person.
I also think what sets us apart is that we don’t limit behavioral health care to the therapy room. We partner with schools, churches, community organizations, justice-system partners, and other organizations to bring services and resources directly into the community.
I am most proud of the impact we have been able to make while continuing to grow. We’ve created programs like Camp GLOW for adolescent girls and Silver Wisdom for women over the age of 60, expanded our services and community partnerships, and created opportunities to train the next generation of behavioral health professionals.
At the end of the day, I want us to be known for excellent clinical care, cultural responsiveness, and genuine connection to the communities we serve. We aren’t just providing therapy—we’re working to make healing more accessible.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I believe risk equals opportunity. Some of the greatest opportunities in my professional journey have come from being willing to step into something before I knew exactly how it would turn out. For me, taking a risk doesn’t mean being reckless—it means being willing to move beyond what is comfortable when I believe there is something greater on the other side.
One of my biggest risks was transitioning from a solo practice to a group practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were so many unknowns, but I also saw an overwhelming need for culturally responsive mental health services. I knew I could only serve so many people by myself, so growing the practice became a risk worth taking.
Since then, there have been many more—expanding our team, opening additional locations, developing new programs, pursuing grants, building community partnerships, and investing financially in the vision for MSCG. Not every decision has worked exactly as planned, but each one has taught me something.
I’ve learned that growth requires a certain level of discomfort. I try to approach risk thoughtfully, do my homework, seek wise counsel, and then trust myself enough to make the decision. I would rather take a calculated risk toward something meaningful than allow fear to keep me from an opportunity to grow, serve, and make a greater impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mrscounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourhealinginreach/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourhealinginreach/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-simmons-lpc-lac-acs-50b93394
