- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
About Merry
Merry Walensa is an LPCC - Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California with 17 years of practice. She works with people facing relationship challenges, grief, self-esteem struggles, career difficulties, stress, anxiety, addiction concerns, and changes in life circumstances.
Merry uses a blend of approaches in session. She integrates Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and client-centered work. Sessions include talking through feelings, identifying patterns, and trying practical skills to manage strong emotions and difficult situations.
Her background includes long-term work supporting people through loss, motivation and confidence issues, and job-related problems. She also brings existential and spiritual perspectives into therapy when clients find those frameworks helpful. The goal is to clarify what matters to the person and to take small, workable steps toward those values.
Merry asks new clients to begin with a video appointment before considering other session types. She encourages keeping scheduled appointments when possible and giving advance notice for cancellations. Sessions are conducted in English in California.
Clients who prefer a conversational, skills-informed approach may find her blend of EFT, ACT, and CBT useful for addressing emotional patterns, communication problems, and practical life adjustments.
How Merry Uses EFT, ACT and CBT Online
Merry draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help people identify and name the emotional patterns that keep repeating. EFT work often focuses on how core emotions drive responses and close or open connections with others, which can help when relationships or intimacy feel stuck.She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and take committed action even when feelings are difficult. ACT emphasizes noticing thoughts and choosing behavior that aligns with what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to spot unhelpful thinking patterns and practice different ways of responding to stress and anxiety.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Merry will discuss which methods fit a person's needs, goals, and preferences and adjust the plan over time. Clients and therapist decide together what to try first and how to measure progress.
If you are considering online sessions, please confirm the available session formats before booking. The practice requests that new clients begin with a video appointment. Many people find online work helps fit therapy into busy days, allows shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduces travel time. The therapist will explain scheduling, session length, and any subscription billing details during the matching steps.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
Merry works with relationship issues, grief and loss, self-esteem, career and job problems, stress, anxiety, addictions, family and intimacy-related concerns, trauma and abuse, sleeping problems, parenting stress, anger, and depression.
What is her therapeutic style?
She mixes Emotionally-Focused Therapy with ACT, CBT, DBT, and client-centered methods. Sessions involve talking through feelings, noticing patterns, and practicing concrete skills.
How much experience does she have?
She has 17 years of professional work experience supporting people through grief, motivation and confidence issues, career concerns, and life changes.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an LPCC - Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California and practices in that state.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and paid for?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Confirm specific pricing and billing during the matching process.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session. New clients are asked to sign up for a video appointment first.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.