Marilyn Bryan DeBernardo , LMHC

Marilyn Bryan DeBernardo is a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 25 years of clinical experience helping adults and their families navigate complex emotional and behavioral challenges. She draws on a broad background treating addictions and substance use concerns alongside co-occurring mental health disorders, offering practical support for codependency, relationship struggles, grief and loss, trauma, anxiety and other life stressors.

Her work spans individual clients as well as family members and loved ones who are affected by a partner's or relative's substance use or mental health issues. Marilyn emphasizes building a collaborative therapeutic relationship that focuses on realistic coping skills, clearer communication, and steps toward healthier functioning. She also assists clients facing challenges related to mood disorders, parenting, career transitions, ADHD, intimacy and self-esteem, and the varied impacts of life changes.

Marilyn encourages clients who feel stuck or overwhelmed to consider therapy as a way to regain a sense of agency and move toward personal goals. She aims to be a catalyst for positive change and to connect people with resources that support recovery and ongoing well-being.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Marilyn integrates evidence-informed methods to guide clients toward clearer goals and more effective coping. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people accept difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values and committing to actions that support a meaningful life; it is often useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and mood-related concerns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a warm, nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship in which the therapist listens closely and supports the client’s own capacity for growth, which can be especially helpful for relationship issues, grief, and self-esteem concerns.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Marilyn works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals and preferences, adjusting the plan over time as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility: clients can connect by video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging, making it easier to access regular support across schedules and locations. These remote options allow licensed professionals to maintain continuity of care and tailor sessions to each client’s day-to-day life.