LaVerne Merritt-Morrison, LMHC
Practical, experienced counseling for parenting concerns
Book with LaVerne- Years in practice
- 30
- Credentials
- LMHC
- Licensed in
- New York
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Addictions
- Focus
- LGBT
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
About LaVerne
LaVerne Merritt-Morrison is a licensed mental health counselor with three decades of clinical experience. She earned a master’s degree in clinical counseling with a focus on addiction and holds the LMHC credential in New York. LaVerne uses straightforward, practical work to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and substance concerns.
She combines a client-centered stance with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral techniques. That means sessions start with the person's goals and move toward small, doable changes.
Background and approach
Conversations focus on skills you can use between sessions, not just talk about problems. LaVerne has long experience helping people facing addiction and dual diagnosis and has worked in transitional housing with people who have chronic medical needs. She also addresses relationship strain, self-esteem, parenting worries, and the emotional fallout of life transitions.
In-session, she listens for patterns that get in the way and helps clients test different ways of thinking and acting. Motivational interviewing is used to uncover what matters most to the person and build motivation for change. Cognitive behavioral techniques help break unhelpful cycles of thought and behavior.
Her style is direct and compassionate. Sessions move at a practical pace and focus on tools that can be tried right away. People looking for help with parenting concerns will find a pragmatic, experienced counselor who centers their goals and daily realities.
What LaVerne works with
Everything LaVerne lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else LaVerne helps people with.
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Trauma and abuse
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Abandonment
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Midlife crisis
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
Approaches LaVerne lists
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approaches that translate well to online care
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person's priorities and uses listening and reflection to help them make sense of their situation. It helps people feel understood and clarifies what they want to change.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete tools to shift those patterns. It works well for anxiety, depression, panic, and many behavior concerns.
Motivational Interviewing is a conversational method that helps people find the drive to take steps toward change. It is often used when someone is weighing a choice about substance use, health behavior, or other big shifts.
Choosing the right mix of approaches is something she does together with each person. The therapist will listen to your goals, try methods that fit your needs, and check in to adjust the plan as progress is made. That collaborative process helps find what actually helps you in daily life.
Online sessions allow flexibility to fit counseling into a busy day. Video calls are useful for deeper conversation and visual connection. Phone sessions work when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging are options for brief updates, between-session support, or people who prefer writing. These formats make it easier to maintain ongoing work without long travel or rigid scheduling.
Questions people ask about LaVerne
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with a range of issues including addictions, trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, parenting concerns, and stress related to life changes.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is client-centered and practical, using motivational interviewing to build motivation and cognitive behavioral techniques to teach skills and change patterns.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 30 years of experience in counseling, with extensive work in substance use therapy, dual diagnosis, and transitional housing settings.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC, licensed in New York and practices from that state.
Are sessions available in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are accepted.
What session formats does she offer online?
She conducts sessions by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How are sessions scheduled and paid for?
Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time and cost varies with location and therapist availability; to begin, select the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire to schedule.
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