About

Jonathan Simons, Psy.D.

Psychotherapist, Woodland Hills, CA

Jonathan Simons, Psy.D. psychotherapist Woodland Hills CAI have been practicing psychotherapy in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles since 1992. A Los Angeles native and third generation Angelino, after graduating from the Business School at the University of Southern California, I worked in “Corporate America” for several years to gain vital, real-world experience. I then returned to graduate school, earning both a master’s degree (class valedictorian) and doctorate in clinical psychology. I bring to my practice a wealth of experience gleaned from working in a variety of settings with everyone from children to the elderly.

Since 1995 I have been the Director of Psycho-Social Services for the Grossman Burn Center, now at West Hills Hospital and approximately half of my practice is dedicated to treating those who have suffered traumatic burn injuries. The Grossman Burn Center is the largest private burn center west of the Mississippi River and it has been an honor to be affiliated these many years with this magnificent group of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.

I have often heard, from friends, other professionals, as well as clients and patients, “How can you deal with people in such pain going through such a horrible experience?”

There are many answers to this question, but my most genuine one is that we are all imbued with certain gifts and perhaps my greatest gift is patience. Many health professionals of all stripes find these kinds of injuries too drastic to handle, but it is a remarkable experience to help guide a patient through his/her darkest hours, only to see them emerge healthy and emotionally stronger. As such, prospective patients and clients often say, “If you can handle that stuff, surely you can handle my problem.”

While I often bristle at one´s lessening of his/her own issues in comparison to those of others, as our issues are deeply important to all of us, my response is indeed that this kind of work with burn patients has even deepened my patience and understanding of a myriad of issues.

I believe that psychotherapy is as much an art, if not more so, as it is a science. Certainly there is a scientific foundation to understanding personality structure and emotional/mental “disorders,” and this foundation allows me to understand what my clients bring into therapy. But as in any human endeavor, the actual practice of psychotherapy is an artful skill, one that the therapist may innately posses, but continues to hone over a lifetime of education and new experiences.

Drawing on various methods depending on my client´s needs, I offer help in dealing with such issues as:

  • Self Esteem/Personal Growth
  • Body Image
  • Marriage/Relationship
  • Family/Social/Occupational
  • Communication Skills
  • Posttraumatic Stress (PTSD)
  • Depression/Anxiety
  • Grief/Bereavement

Of course I work in a strictly confidential manner and provide a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere where your issues and concerns are given the careful attention they, and you, deserve.