Chelsey Merchant

Compassionate, practical therapy for life’s challenges

LCSW Utah

Experience: 5 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Chelsey

Chelsey Merchant is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with five years of clinical experience who centers her work on practical, evidence-informed strategies and a respectful, client-led process.

Background and approach

She integrates cognitive behavioral techniques with client-centered principles to help people manage stress, anxiety, mood disorders, grief, trauma, and issues related to self-esteem and body image. Her approach emphasizes identifying unhelpful patterns, building coping skills, and strengthening personal resources so clients can navigate life transitions and complex emotional challenges.

Chelsey also offers support for concerns that include relationship and intimacy-related issues, LGBT and gender dysphoria questions, eating and food-related problems, dissociation, compassion fatigue, and post-traumatic stress. She works with people facing divorce, hospice or end-of-life stressors, seasonal mood shifts, and struggles with guilt, shame, or self-harm thoughts.

Chelsey frames therapy as a collaborative exploration where the client’s knowledge of their own life guides goal-setting and treatment choices, and she encourages those taking the first steps toward change to acknowledge the courage in beginning the process.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and testing the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In practice this often means learning specific strategies to reduce anxiety, manage mood symptoms, and change unhelpful patterns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship where the therapist follows the client’s lead and helps clarify goals and strengths. This approach supports building self-awareness and confidence while tailoring pace and focus to each person’s needs.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Chelsey works collaboratively with clients to determine which combination of methods best fits their goals, preferences, and life circumstances, and adjusts strategies over time as needs evolve. Clients and therapist jointly shape the plan rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model.

Online sessions using video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and life demands. These formats offer flexibility for people managing work, caregiving, or mobility limitations, while allowing therapists to deliver the same practical, skills-based work and supportive listening as in-person care.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does this therapist address?

Chelsey works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, self-esteem and body image issues, as well as mood disorders and relationship or intimacy-related challenges.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style blends client-centered listening with practical, skills-based methods such as cognitive behavioral strategies and DBT-informed tools to help clients identify patterns and develop coping skills.

What is her professional background?

She has five years of professional therapy experience working with diverse mental health concerns and focuses on a collaborative, strengths-based approach with clients.

Where is she licensed and what are her credentials?

She is a licensed clinical social worker with the Utah LCSW registration UT LCSW 10068245-3501 and practices from Utah.

Does she offer therapy in languages other than English?

Sessions are provided in English only, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are available with this therapist?

Clients can meet through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their scheduling needs and preferences.

How are fees and payment handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are delivered through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin working together?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule appointments according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Self esteem Depression

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

BDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBody imageDissociationDivorce and separationEating and food-related issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / loneliness Mood disorders Post-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

5+ years

Licensed

Utah

Languages

English