Meet Jay

I'm Jay Simmons.

Child of God. Husband of Mouna. Father and step-father of five grown kids. And for 23 years, I served as a senior pastor—planting, preaching, shepherding, leading teams, and walking with people through birth, death, doubt, burnout, and beauty.

I've officiated weddings and buried spouses.
I've counseled ministry leaders in the quiet moments before they resigned.
I've sat across from couples whose marriages were hanging on by a thread—and I've seen hope rise.
I've watched twenty-somethings paralyzed by the pressure to “figure it out,” and helped them breathe again.
I've held space for the grieving, the burned out, the quietly unraveling.
Because I've been there, too.

I know what it's like to lead when your own soul is tired

To try and perform your way into belonging.
To feel the ache of calling and the fear of getting it wrong.
To lose love and wonder who you are now.

That's why I started The Way Soul Care, providing the presence I longed for in my own hardest season. A fellow traveler with a deep listening ear, a gospel-centered compass, and a few walking sticks for the road ahead.

How I Work

An Integrated Approach

My work is rooted in the way of Jesus—compassionate, courageous, and covenantal.

I draw from
  • Biblical Wisdom - anchoring everything in grace, truth, and the with-ness of God
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) - exploring the different “parts” of your story with gentleness and curiosity
  • Attachment Theory - helping you understand your relational patterns and unmet needs
  • Neurobiology - especially the work of Curt Thompson, integrating brain science and spiritual formation

I'm not a licensed therapist. I'm a pastor, companion, and guide—offering soul care that honors the complexity of being human and the sacredness of being known.