Merry Walensa

Compassionate guidance for life transitions

LPCC California

Experience: 17 years in practice
Focus areas: Relationship, Grief, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Merry

Merry Walensa is a California-licensed LPCC with 17 years of clinical experience who works with people facing a wide range of life challenges, including grief, relationship strain, anxiety, depression, addiction, stress, and career concerns.

Background and approach

She helps clients navigate major transitions, grief and loss, self-esteem and motivation struggles, and intimacy-related or family difficulties, bringing attention to both practical coping skills and deeper meaning.

Her practice blends evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with acceptance-oriented and humanistic approaches, and she integrates existential themes and spirituality when it fits a client’s needs and values.

Merry emphasizes a nonjudgmental setting where thoughts and emotions can be explored safely and honestly, and she frames seeking change as a courageous step toward a more satisfying life. New clients begin with a video appointment before other formats are used, and she encourages reliable scheduling and courteous communication about cancellations.

Merry aims to support and empower people as they identify goals, develop coping strategies, and make practical changes aligned with their values.

Therapeutic approaches and online options

Merry commonly draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, stress, and behavior change. She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support people in clarifying values, building psychological flexibility, and taking committed action toward meaningful goals. These approaches can be useful for coping with grief, career transitions, relationship difficulties, and chronic life stress.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Merry works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She combines structured skill-building with empathic, client-centered dialogue and will adjust techniques as progress unfolds to find the most helpful path forward.

Online services include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which allow for flexibility around work schedules, caregiving responsibilities, and geographic constraints. These formats make it possible to maintain continuity of care during life transitions and to access regular support without travel, while keeping sessions aligned with an individual's routines and availability.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Merry address?

She works with a broad set of concerns including grief and loss, relationship and intimacy issues, anxiety, depression, stress, addictions, career difficulties, parenting and family problems, and coping with life changes.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Merry uses an integrative, client-centered approach that combines compassionate listening with practical strategies drawn from evidence-based therapies to help clients explore values and take meaningful steps forward.

What is her clinical background and experience?

She holds 17 years of professional experience working with adults on issues such as motivation, self-esteem, grief, career planning, and life transitions.

What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?

She is licensed as an LPCC in California with license identifier CA LPCC 322 and practices from that state.

Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?

Services are offered in English only and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

Which session formats are available for working together?

Therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, with new clients asked to begin with a video appointment first.

How are fees and subscriptions handled?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability, and sessions are accessed through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

Prospective clients should click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule an initial video appointment according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesGrief Self esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes

Also works with

Stress, Anxiety AddictionsFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementDepressionCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDivorce and separationFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMoney and financial issuesPostpartum depressionSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

17+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English