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MM Portrait of Marlene Merchant

Marlene Merchant

Compassionate, skills-focused care for life challenges

LMHC New York

Experience
10 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Marlene

About Marlene

Marlene Merchant is an LMHC based in New York who centers her practice on practical, skills-based work rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy. She draws on CBT alongside mindfulness therapy and motivational interviewing to help clients identify patterns, build coping strategies, and take concrete steps toward personal goals.

Background and approach

With a decade of clinical experience, she focuses on issues such as eating and food-related concerns, addiction, trauma and abuse, depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep difficulties. Marlene also supports clients facing relationship and family problems, grief, parenting challenges, intimacy-related issues, self-esteem and life-purpose questions, and conditions like obsessive-compulsive tendencies and dependent personality features.

Her approach emphasizes collaboration and skill development so people can manage day-to-day demands and work toward lasting change. She welcomes English-speaking clients in New York and accepts international clients, offering video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and preferences.

Therapeutic Tools for Online Change

This practice emphasizes cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness therapy to support online work. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, helping with issues like anxiety, depression, obsessions and compulsions, eating-related concerns, and stress. Mindfulness therapy teaches present-focused awareness and grounding skills that can reduce reactivity and improve emotional regulation for those coping with trauma, grief, or chronic stress.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with clients to clarify goals, try strategies, and adjust methods based on what feels most useful and practical. Together they will choose techniques that match the client’s needs, preferences, and day-to-day life so therapy feels relevant and actionable.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility and accessibility. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, continue work during life transitions, and maintain momentum between sessions while using evidence-informed tools to practice skills in real time.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?
Marlene works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma and abuse, eating and food-related problems, depression, relationship and family difficulties, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping problems, parenting, self-esteem, career concerns, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She uses cognitive behavioral therapy as a central framework and integrates mindfulness therapy and motivational interviewing to help clients develop skills, change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and increase motivation for change.
What is her clinical background and experience?
She has ten years of professional experience working as a mental health counselor and focuses on practical, goal-oriented interventions to support lasting change.
Where is Marlene licensed and based?
She holds the credential LMHC and is licensed in New York under the registration NY LMHC 011677-01.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.
What formats are available for sessions?
Clients can meet through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their needs and preferences.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
To begin, 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, AnxietyAddictionsTrauma and abuseEating disordersDepression

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Body imageCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational Interviewing

Experience

10+ years

Licensed

New York

Languages

English