Merry Walensa, LPCC
Guiding people toward clearer, more livable stories
Details
| Name | Merry Walensa |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LPCC |
| Based in | California |
| Licensed in | California |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 17 |
About Merry
Merry Walensa is a California licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) with 17 years of experience. She focuses on helping people facing grief, relationship strain, low self-esteem, career setbacks, and major life changes. Her approach aims to make the first steps toward change feel more manageable and less overwhelming.
She combines several therapeutic styles to meet each person where they are. Narrative therapy helps people untangle the stories they tell about themselves and see other possibilities.
Background and approach
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) supports values-based choices when emotions feel heavy. Client-centered methods make room for whatever someone brings to the session without judgment. Merry also uses practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy when useful.
Those methods offer concrete skills for stress, anxiety, sleep problems, and managing strong emotions. She blends skill work with deeper conversations about meaning and purpose. Sessions often include talking through specific problems, practicing new coping skills, and identifying what matters most.
Merry notes that new clients should book a video appointment first before switching to phone or chat options. She asks that people try to keep appointments or cancel with advance notice as a courtesy. Her work is straightforward and collaborative.
The goal is to help people feel more capable in day-to-day life, whether they are coping with loss, addiction, parenting challenges, or career questions.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Relationship issues, Grief, Self esteem among the things Merry works with, alongside the areas below.
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Depression
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Divorce and separation
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Money and financial issues
- Postpartum depression
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Visually impaired
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Merry among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Merry among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Merry among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Merry among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Merry among the ways she works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Merry among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Merry among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Merry among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Merry among the ways she works.
- Internal Family Systems: Listed by Merry among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Merry directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Merry directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How narrative and skills-based work translate online
Merry blends Narrative Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in ways that suit online formats. Narrative Therapy helps people look at the stories they tell about themselves and consider alternate, more helpful narratives. This is useful for relationship concerns, identity questions, and feelings of stuckness. ACT focuses on values and accepting difficult feelings while taking meaningful action; it can help with anxiety, grief, and life transitions.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Merry works collaboratively to choose methods that match a person’s goals and preferences. She will check in about what helps most and adjust the focus over time so sessions feel relevant and useful.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls let people use visual cues and longer session work. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth or camera use is a problem. Live chat or text-based messaging supports brief check-ins, homework, or moments when a written conversation feels more comfortable. These options make it simpler to fit counseling into work, caregiving, or other daily schedules.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of concerns does Merry focus on?
Merry works with people dealing with grief, relationship and intimacy issues, low self-esteem, career struggles, addiction concerns, and a wide range of life changes and stressors.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She uses a mix of narrative, acceptance and commitment, client-centered, cognitive behavioral, and dialectical approaches. The work blends storytelling, values clarification, and practical coping skills.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 17 years of professional experience as a counselor in California.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She holds the LPCC credential and is licensed in California.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Appointments can be video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. New clients are asked to start with a video appointment first.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Merry are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Merry where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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