Marlene Merchant , LMHC

Marlene Merchant is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in New York with 10 years of clinical experience. She works with adults, adolescents, and children in early childhood, often focusing on people of color in low-income communities and on clients navigating complex life challenges.

Her practice blends cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness therapy, and motivational interviewing, with an emphasis on clients’ individual goals and aspirations. She uses a holistic and empathic approach designed to be encouraging for people seeking therapy for the first time as well as those with prior treatment history.

Marlene specializes in supporting people who struggle with eating disorders, trauma and abuse, addiction, depression, anxiety, stress, relationship and family concerns, grief, sleep difficulties, and intimacy-related issues. She helps clients develop practical skills for long-term change, including strengthening self-care routines to better manage stress and anxiety.

Committed to the belief that everyone has value and deserves to experience joy and peace, Marlene brings passion and steady support to her work. She focuses on building skills that promote lasting improvement in daily functioning, coping, and overall well-being.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Marlene Merchant uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors - this approach is often useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and certain eating or compulsive behaviors. Mindfulness therapy is used to teach present-moment awareness and stress-management techniques - it can support emotional regulation, reduce rumination, and improve coping with trauma-related symptoms. Motivational interviewing focuses on strengthening a person’s own motivation to change and is especially helpful for addictive behaviors and ambivalence about making life changes.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Marlene works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and personal preferences, adjusting techniques as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, to maintain continuity across locations, and to access licensed professionals when in-person visits are difficult. The emphasis is on practical, effective care delivered in a way that fits each client’s life.