Dr. Bonnie Wims is a Counseling Psychologist trained in London, England, where she established her private practice, Wims & Associates, specializing in aiding individuals and couples. Her professional journey solidified a mission: guiding those whose self-belief and perception of their potential hinder their pursuit of a fulfilling life. Beyond personalized client work, Dr. Wims crafts workshops and courses centered on identity and self-discovery within different cultural contexts. Upon returning to the United States, she transitioned seamlessly to online counseling, extending her reach to clients worldwide.

WHAT IS THERAPY ANYWAY?

Therapy is the effort to address a mental health concern or behavioral issue through communication and transparency within a therapeutic relationship.

Together we help you understand the story you tell yourself about who you are and challenge any inconsistencies and untruths that you believe because of what has happened to you.

Therapy is about tackling your unwanted or difficult feelings or behaviors by talking things out openly in a safe space with an empathetic and non-judgmental therapist. We align with you to explore the story you tell yourself about who you are. We dig into that story, questioning any parts that don’t quite add up or aren’t true because of what you’ve been through.

CALLED TO LEAD SUCCESS STRATEGIES FOR WOMEN: Essays from 18 inspirational women who are called to lead

The truth of who you are is not in what you are told or what you are taught, but rather the true nature of you is in what you choose.  Dr. Bonnie Wims

Growing up in an abusive and alcoholic house taught me at an early age how our pain drives our behavior, and if not examined it can be extremely destructive to ourselves and others. Taking active steps to choose to heal this pain for myself and others, is my life’s work. In this essay I explain how.

The Process

It all starts with a call, text, or email. Making the decision to begin therapy can be a difficult choice that we may avoid or put off. Most people report feeling some fear of the unknown and this can lead to nervousness. If you have never participated in therapy before it can feel scary and a bit mysterious.

Getting Started

Once you reach out, I will respond with an offer of either a free 30-minute consultation if needed or we can jump right into a 50-minute session if that feels right. After the initial consultation or first session we will talk about how we feel about working together. Do we feel we connected? Do you feel I heard you and validated your concerns? Do we have the beginnings of a plan as to how we may work together? If we both feel good about proceeding, we will work out a standing appointment each week that works within our schedules.

Engaging in Virtual Therapy

Working with a virtual therapist is helpful in a few ways. Our appointment times can be more flexible as I am not tied to the availability of an office space. This can lead to a more convenient meeting time for you without the need for a commute. Also, I work some evenings and weekends to allow for additional availability. It is helpful for you to find a private and comfortable space to meet me in with a good internet connection. I use a private and secure Zoom session for all video calls.

Investing In You

Once we agree to work together, I will bill you for the next session a day or two prior to the meeting. A session is typically 50 minutes, and my fee is $200 for each session. Once you have made payment (via Quickbooks or Paypal) I will send the link to the Zoom video meeting. All you do on the date and time of your appointment is to follow the link to the waiting room and I will bring you into the session at the appointment time. If you can’t make the session, please give me as much notice as possible (24 hours is preferred). I will try to be flexible to re-schedule you for the same week if needed but if this is not possible, payment for the missed session is expected. Every week we will discuss how we are doing and re-engage with your goals. It is critical that you feel we are working toward the solutions you are looking for and through transparency and consistency we will make our best effort.

Mutual Commitment

Many people ask me how many sessions they “need”. Although this is challenging to predict, I suggest we meet weekly for a month and then re-assess. I want you to have had enough time to experience our work together, but to also feel in control of the process. It is important to note that you are under the commitment to continue therapy. The sessions are your time, and you are in complete control over how many times we meet. Ending therapy can be another anxiety provoking time but together we will consistently speak about the end to get comfortable with the idea. When the time is right, and we feel we have completed our work for the time being, a last session is helpful to wrap up the work we have done together. Goodbyes can be difficult or awkward but learning how to end a relationship with honesty and respect is empowering and help clarify the change.

“A failure is not a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.”

“A failure is not a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.”

B. F. Skinner