Access and Empathy: Navigating Mental Health Barriers

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In this conversation, Lacy Simmons, a licensed psychotherapist, shares her journey into mental health, focusing on her work with the unhoused population in Los Angeles. She discusses the intersection of mental health and homelessness, the barriers individuals face in accessing services, and the importance of trauma-informed care. Lacy emphasizes the need for compassion, understanding, and the recognition of humanity in those experiencing homelessness. She also highlights the significance of boundaries in therapy and personal life, and the evolving landscape of mental health treatment, advocating for greater accessibility and inclusivity in mental health services.

Lacy Simmons is a licensed therapist and clinical social worker in Los Angeles, California. One of her professional areas of focus includes working to support the mental health and recovery of unhoused Angelenos as they transition from street homelessness into permanent supportive housing. Additionally, in Lacy’s private practice she is known as “The Boundary Therapist” and works with adults on understanding the importance of establishing healthy boundaries in all aspects of their lives. Lacy uses multiple treatment modalities to address trauma recovery including EMDR.