Meet Simone Watkins

Simone Watkins, M.Ed., LPC, NCC
Ph.D. Candidate, Counselor Education and Supervision
(She/Her/Hers)

Simone Watkins, M.Ed., LPC, NCC


(she/her/hers)

Email: simone@insideoutrecovery.com

Simone is dedicated to helping individuals achieve insight, growth, and healing through fostering an open, non-judgmental, and compassionate environment. Her approach is integrative, collaborative, and authentic, prioritizing the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for wellness and transformation.

As a psychotherapist specializing in life transitions, betrayal, trauma, relationship challenges, and mood disorders, Simone integrates evidence-based practices with a strengths-based approach to empower clients in their healing journey. Her work is informed by the revolutionary insights of Polyvagal Theory, which provides a clear map for understanding how the nervous system responds to stress and facilitates healing.

Simone has trained in Deb Dana’s Polyvagal-Informed Therapy model, adapting Stephen Porges’ research into practical interventions that help clients regulate their nervous systems, process trauma, and find safety within themselves. Through this framework, she guides clients to:

  • Develop a personalized “healing map” based on their nervous system’s patterns.

  • Build emotional resilience by co-regulating with her grounded presence during sessions.

  • Learn self-regulation techniques to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease.

Whether clients are facing short-term struggles or engaging in a longer therapeutic journey, Simone’s work focuses on creating safety, fostering connection, and supporting transformative growth.

She has spoken at national and international conferences on empowering wellness & joy during adversity and topics related to racial trauma. As an experienced clinician, she has worked with adolescents and adults in various settings, providing:

Individual Therapy | Group Therapy | Intervention | Acute Therapy | Couples Therapy

Her clinical expertise includes:

Trauma | Depression | Betrayal & Relationship Challenges | Addiction & Recovery Support | Life Transitions | Adolescent Challenges | Parental Support & Empowerment

Simone is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor. She earned a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from DePaul University and is a PhD candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at Adler University. She is deeply invested in trauma research, specifically exploring the long-term impact of trauma and early-to-late-stage interventions that support nervous system regulation.

Simone is passionately committed to empowering clients with the support and skills they need to live fully, recognize their resilience, and master self-advocacy. She holds a core belief in her clients’ potential—even when they struggle to see it for themselves—helping them move from doubt to self-belief and healing.