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Kristen Sims
Kristen Sims uses a strength-based, solution-focused approach to foster empowerment and resilience in all clients.
Caring Minds Consulting, LLC is owned and operated by Kristen Sims who is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Mississippi, a National Board Certified Counselor, and a National Board for Certified Counselors Doctoral Minority Fellow. Caring Minds offers consulting, counseling services, professional development, program creation, and behavioral services to mental health agencies and school systems. Sims is an expert in special education, mental health disorders, program creation, and behavioral health assessment. Sims also specializes in LGBTQ+ issues in counseling as well as program development and implementation to meet the needs of diverse youth. Sims presents on numerous topics ranging from de-escalation and restraint strategies, mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, to Safe Zone (developed by Sims) LGBTQ+ professional development offering certification. Sims consults and trains on transgender and non-binary youth needs.
Licensure and Certifications:
Mississippi Licensed Professional Counselor
License #1914
National Board Certified Counselor
License #291969
Mississippi Department of Education approved Positive Behavior Specialist
Safe Zone Creator/Instructor
Former CPI: Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Certified Instructor
Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP)
National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Doctoral Fellow
Theoretical Orientations:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Solution Focused Therapy
LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapy
Education:
Mississippi State University
Doctor of Philosophy - Clinical Mental Health
Expected Graduation - 2024
Summa Cum Laude - 4.0
Mississippi State University - 2011
Masters of Science - Clinical Mental Health
Summa Cum Laude - 4.0
Mississippi State University - 2007
Bachelors of Arts - Communication (Journalism)
Schakouls Honors College
Summa Cum Laude - 4.0
Leadership Roles and Recent Awards:
Pascagoula Gautier School District
Whole Child Coordinator: 2021/2022 School Year
Lead Positive Behavior Specialist: 2018 - June 2022
Special Education Department Chair:
Lake Elementary 2019 - June 2022
District Strategic Planning Committee Leader:
Whole Child Education/Diversity 2021/2022 School Year
Gulf Coast Equality
President: October 2022 - Present
Vice President January: 2021 - October 2022
Fundraising Chair: January 2021 - November 2022
Marketing Chair: October 2021 - November 2022
Recent Awards
MS Governor’s Award Social Emotional Learning 2021
International Women’s Month Distinguished Honoree: March 2022
PREPS 2020 Creative Award “Exemplary Going the Distance SEL"
National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Doctoral Fellow: 2018
Presenting SEL card and activities to Special Education Directors
Leading the Whole Child and Diversity Committee during District-wide Strategic Planning
Leading the Whole Child Education/Diversity Strategic Planning Committee
Presenting SEL card and activities to Special Education Directors
Testimonials
Dr. Chase McCullum
School Psychologist/Consultant
"Kristen is the epitome of professionalism, compassion, and intelligence. She seems to have an uncanny ability to identify practical and effective solutions to some of the most difficult problems that students, families, and educators face."
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