Therapist profile
Merry Walensa, LPCC
LPCC in California - Relationships and Parenting
Continue with MerryAbout
- Grief and loss
- Self esteem
- Career planning
About Merry
Merry Walensa is an LPCC - Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor licensed in California with 17 years of experience. She focuses on concerns such as grief and loss, self-esteem, career questions, coping with life changes, stress and anxiety, and parenting. She also addresses addictions, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, sleeping problems, anger, depression, and compassion fatigue.
Merry offers an integrative approach that draws on several therapeutic styles. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and make practical shifts. She also works with client-centered methods and elements of emotionally-focused and dialectical practice to help people name feelings and build new ways of relating to themselves.
Her work can include conversations about spirituality and existential themes when those topics matter to the person in front of her. Sessions are conversational and straightforward. People can expect to talk about day-to-day challenges, develop skills for coping, and set small goals to move forward.
New clients are asked to schedule a video appointment first before other formats are considered. Merry recommends keeping appointments when possible and giving advance notice for cancellations. Costs vary by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
To begin, prospective clients select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session. Sessions are offered in English and Merry is not accepting international clients.
How sessions work
How her therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is about noticing thoughts and widening what matters to you. Online ACT sessions can help when worry or avoidance gets in the way of everyday life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and testing new behavior. In remote sessions CBT is often used to set simple experiments and practice skills between meetings. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and reflection so people can clarify values and choices; this approach supports conversations about parenting, grief, and life transitions.Choosing the method is part of the work. Merry will collaborate with the person to decide which approach or combination fits best based on needs, goals, and preferences. That decision can shift over time as priorities change or new challenges emerge.
New clients are asked to schedule a video appointment first, so confirm current session options before booking if you prefer a different format later. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Sessions can include practical skill work, paced emotional conversation, and goal-setting to help with parenting stress, grief, career decisions, or anxiety without requiring an in-person visit.
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 kinds of relationship and family concerns are addressed?
She works with relationship issues, family problems, communication difficulties, and intimacy-related concerns as listed in her specialties.
What is her general therapy style?
The approach is integrative and conversational, combining ACT, CBT, client-centered work, DBT skills, and emotionally-focused ideas to help people manage feelings and take practical steps.
How much experience does she have?
Merry has 17 years of professional experience providing counseling services in California.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an LPCC - Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor licensed in California.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
All new clients must sign up for a video appointment first; confirm current session options before booking if you prefer phone or chat after the initial visit.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to get started?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first video session to begin.
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 anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.