LaShonda Sims Duncan joined ESC August 2021. She is a licensed psychotherapist, registered yoga teacher, mindfulness coach, and entrepreneur from Louisville, Kentucky. Through her holistic mental health work, she empowers individuals to overcome personal obstacles and explore alternative ways to show up in the world. Self-compassion, grace, and repose are core principles that make up the heart of her work, as she teaches individuals to nurture and embrace their humanity. When LaShonda is not in session providing therapy or leading a mindful yoga class, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling the world, and taking naps when possible as a mom of two. LaShonda is on a mission to debunk stigmas surrounding therapy and mental health, encourage the incorporation of mindfulness into self-care routines, and promote all things wellness. She believes it is time for individuals to live the lives they’ve imagined.

In 2009, LaShonda graduated from Western Kentucky University with her Master of Arts degree in Education with a concentration in Marriage and Family Counseling. She is a National Certified Counselor licensed in both Kentucky and North Carolina as a psychotherapist. LaShonda holds a certification in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and has extensive training in mindfulness, meditation, and yoga.

Following graduation from Western Kentucky University, LaShonda launched her career in mental health services in Charlotte, North Carolina. After gaining all the experience available to her, LaShonda decided to travel abroad to Europe and Asia in support of the Department of Defenses’ mission to ensure the emotional wellness of military families. After years of living abroad, in 2016, LaShonda returned to Louisville and opened her own holistic mental health private practice: Sims Counseling & Consulting. LaShonda’s impact spans far beyond her private practice as she leads mindful meditation, yoga, and wellness workshops across the United States.

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