Therapist profile
Merry Walensa, LPCC
California
LPCC in California - Relationships and Life Changes
Continue with MerryWhere Merry stands
- Credentials
- LPCC
- License
- LPCC, California / 322
- NPI
- 1457820821
- Experience
- 17 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- California
About
- Grief and loss
- Self esteem work
- Career planning
About Merry
Merry Walensa is an LPCC - Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California with 17 years of experience. She works with adults on concerns such as grief and loss, self-esteem, career challenges, stress, anxiety, addictions, and codependency-related patterns. Her approach is stated in straightforward terms: she helps people cope with life changes and build clearer direction when relationships or work feel overwhelming.
She uses an integrative approach that includes elements of existential thinking and spirituality when it fits the person’s interests. That means she will talk about values, meaning, and the choices people make, alongside more practical skills for handling emotions and behaviors. Techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy may be used to help people notice patterns and try different responses.
Merry also draws on client-centered methods, giving people space to say what matters and to be heard without judgment. She has experience with emotion-focused and dialectical ideas when relationships or intense feelings are part of the problem. Sessions often include discussion, reflection, and concrete skill practice aimed at daily life challenges.
Her work includes helping people set boundaries, cope with abandonment or separation, manage family stress, address intimacy-related issues, and handle chronic illness or loss. She notes practical expectations for new clients: a video session is required for the first appointment before phone or chat can be used. Merry values timely scheduling and asks for courteous notice if cancellations are needed.
She offers services in English from California and does not work with international clients. Costs vary by location and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To start, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How sessions work
How Merry’s approaches translate to online work
Merry commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Client-Centered Therapy in her sessions. ACT focuses on clarifying personal values and taking committed action, which can help when someone feels stuck or overwhelmed by relationships or life changes. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and reflecting so the person can organize their own thoughts and decide what matters next.She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to identify unhelpful thinking and try new behaviors. CBT tends to be practical and skill-focused, useful for anxiety, low mood, and patterns like people-pleasing or difficulty saying no. In online sessions these methods translate into talk, exercises, and home practice assignments you can use between appointments.
Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, and then try methods that fit those needs. You and the therapist will check whether the approach is working and adjust as needed.
The original biography requires a video appointment for the first session, after which phone or chat may be available. Confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when helpful, and reduce travel time so therapy is easier to maintain.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with adults on relationship strain, grief, self-esteem, career issues, stress, anxiety, addictions, and related life changes.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style is integrative and person-focused, combining existential ideas with practical methods like CBT and ACT to address thoughts, values, and behaviors.
How much experience does she have?
Merry has 17 years of professional work experience as a clinician in California.
What credentials and location details apply?
She is an LPCC - Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - licensed in California and practices from that state.
Which languages are offered and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are used?
New clients must sign up for a video appointment first; after that, phone or chat may be used. Confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.