Marlene Merchant , LMHC

Marlene Merchant is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in New York who brings a focused, goal-oriented approach to therapy. With 10 years of clinical experience, she combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to help people build practical skills and make sustainable changes in their lives. Her LMHC credential indicates formal training and licensure to provide mental health services in her state.

Marlene works with adults, adolescents, and young children, and she has a history of serving people of color in low-income communities. She takes a holistic and empathic stance, centering clients' goals and aspirations while offering encouragement to those seeking therapy for the first time. Her style emphasizes collaboration and measurable steps toward progress.

She specializes in addressing eating and food-related issues, trauma and abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, depression, anxiety, and stress, while also supporting concerns related to relationships, family difficulties, grief, intimacy, sleep problems, parenting, self-esteem, career challenges, and coping with life changes. Additional focus areas include body image, communication problems, hoarding, obsessions and compulsions, and compassion fatigue.

Marlene is passionate about helping people strengthen self-care practices, reduce shame and guilt, and develop the tools needed to manage everyday challenges. She encourages clients to recognize their intrinsic value and works to foster greater joy, peace, and resilience as they move toward their goals.

Online Care Using CBT, Mindfulness, and Motivational Techniques

Marlene Merchant, LMHC, uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors; this approach is often useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many everyday challenges. Mindfulness Therapy is offered to teach present-moment awareness and stress reduction techniques that support emotional regulation and coping with difficult memories or cravings. Motivational Interviewing is used to explore ambivalence and strengthen a person’s own motivation to change, which can be particularly helpful for addictions, habit change, and maintaining recovery.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Marlene works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and personal preferences. She adjusts techniques over time so the work remains practical and relevant to the client’s life.

Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to attend sessions from different locations, accommodate work or family responsibilities, and maintain continuity of care while pursuing recovery and personal growth.