Dr. Cynthia Simmonds (Dr. Cindi) originally trained as a research scientist at the University of Chicago where she earned her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees. Dr. Simmonds’ main research focus was on language development, working with typical and atypical populations. In addition, she studied the dysfunctional attitudes of hospitalized adolescents and collaborated on medical ethics research. While research was her main focus, she also developed an interest in clinical work and completed externships in Cognitive Therapy and Neuropsychology. She ran the Pediatric Neuropsychology clinic at Wyler Children’s Hospital and collaborated with other clinicians to follow High-Risk Infants in a developmental clinic at the University of Chicago. For many years, Dr. Simmonds served as an adjunct professor of Child Development and Psychology at two local community colleges.
Dr. Simmonds enjoys working with both children and adults addressing challenges related to depression and anxiety. She also works with couples and families. When working with parents, she focuses on developmentally appropriate expectations and clear communication. She enjoys helping individuals with ADHD and autism develop routines in order to thrive and succeed. As a homeschool mom, she assists homeschooling parents to choose a curriculum, to provide social outlets for their children, and to balance life between being a parent and a teacher. Dr. Simmonds also enjoys helping parents of children with disabilities navigate through their child’s unique needs.
In addition to providing therapy services, Dr. Simmonds offers psychological evaluation services. She is able to test children and adults for a variety of conditions, including Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disorder, learning disabilities, as well as mood and anxiety disorders. Her research focus on typical and atypical language development, as well as a firm foundation in typical development, is an asset when assessing individuals for these disorders. Dr. Simmonds collaborates with other healthcare providers to develop the most effective treatment plan and intervention strategy. Her goal is to look at each individual as a whole person and develop a comprehensive plan to allow them to reach their full potential and meet their goals.
In her free time, Dr. Simmonds raises children, dogs, and chickens. She enjoys gardening and preserving food. As an avid baker and cook, she enjoys providing healthy food for her family. She also enjoys a number of needle crafts, including embroidery, cross-stich, chicken scratch, knitting, and crocheting.
