Merry Walensa, LPCC - Therapist in California

About Merry

Merry Walensa is a licensed professional clinical counselor who works with people facing life transitions and emotional challenges. She helps with grief, self-esteem, stress, anxiety, addictions, and career concerns. Parents looking for guidance around parenting and family-related issues will find practical support and straightforward conversation.

Merry keeps sessions down-to-earth and focused on small, clear steps people can try between meetings. She draws on 17 years of professional experience as a California LPCC.

Background and approach

That background includes supporting people through loss, motivation struggles, and changes at work. Merry blends practical strategies with attention to values and meaning. She also incorporates spirituality and existential ideas when clients want to consider life purpose and deeper questions.

In sessions she aims to offer a nonjudgmental space where feelings and thoughts can be named. The work is collaborative: clients bring their priorities and Merry helps translate them into doable goals. She emphasizes courage, self-compassion, and steady progress rather than quick fixes.

New clients are asked to start with a video appointment before switching to phone or chat if preferred. Appointments use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time and vary with location and therapist availability. Her practice communicates in English and operates from California.

People who want clear, practical guidance grounded in values-driven work often find her approach helpful. She supports growth through a mix of cognitive tools, acceptance-based practices, and emotion-focused conversation.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking committed action toward them. It helps when people feel stuck, uncertain about purpose, or overwhelmed by painful thoughts and emotions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behavior and teaches practical skills to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) pays attention to emotions and how they shape connections, which can help with relationship concerns and intense feelings.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Merry treats finding the best method as a team effort. She will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels useful, then try strategies together and adjust as needed.

Online sessions offer flexibility for busy schedules and different needs. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation, while phone, live chat, and text messaging can support check-ins or ongoing coaching between meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy into daily life and to keep momentum when challenges arise.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Merry address?

Merry works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, self-esteem, career issues, and parenting and family matters.

What is her general therapy style?

Sessions are collaborative and practical. Merry mixes tools for thinking differently with acceptance and emotion-focused conversation.

How long has she been practicing?

She has 17 years of professional experience as noted in her profile.

Where is Merry licensed and located?

She is a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) in California with license number CA LPCC 322.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

What formats are available for sessions?

Therapy can be done by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, with new clients asked to start with a video appointment.

How are fees handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working together?

Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Relationship issues
Grief
Self esteem

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 17 years
Licensed: California
Languages: English

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