Her Story
About Catherine
Catherine Sims brings 20 years of experience to the mental health profession. Coming from a family with a strong medical background, including a mother who worked as a shock trauma nurse, she initially pursued a path in healthcare as a nursing assistant before shifting her focus to counseling through a trauma-specific program. She launched a group practice in Washington and now concentrates on supervision and training for emerging clinicians while developing workbooks to simplify tasks such as treatment planning. Catherine is a member of the American Counseling Association and the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association. She attributes her success to the resilient attitude modeled by her mother and the support of those around her who encourage taking risks.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Catherine
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think it goes back to how I grew up. My mom we joke that on my mom's tombstone it's gonna say I can do that I can make that. That sort of why wouldn't I be able to do that attitude and why can't that be me attitude. And if you're somebody who is lucky enough to know that you can fail and people will still support you it makes that a lot less scary.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Find other strong women who are doing what you're doing or are in positions of authority or own clinics or are in leadership roles and learn from them. Find other women. When you see women in positions of leadership it applies for all marginalized communities.
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