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LCPC

Afsha Merchant, LCPC

  • Experience7 years
  • LocationIllinois
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Relationship, and Trauma and abuse
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, and Hindi
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About Afsha

Afsha Merchant is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) based in Illinois. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship problems, and low self-esteem.

Background and approach

Her approach centers on listening without judgment and building a plan that fits each person's life. Afsha uses Internal Family Systems alongside other practical methods to help people understand their inner parts and change how they respond to hard feelings.

She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teach skills for managing strong emotions and changing unhelpful patterns. Sessions include straightforward techniques and chances to practice new ways of coping.

She pays attention to cultural background and identity, and she tries to make therapy relevant to each person’s values and daily life. That means she works on things like communication problems, attachment issues, body image, caregiving stress, and chronic illness concerns in ways that match someone’s context.

Afsha has seven years of clinical experience and holds an IL LCPC credential. She speaks English, Spanish, Hindi, and Urdu, which can help when language and cultural perspective matter in sessions.

To begin, people fill out a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first appointment. Afsha aims to make the first steps clear and simple for someone seeking support.

How specific methods translate to online care

Internal Family Systems helps people notice and communicate with different parts of themselves. Online sessions can guide you through gentle inner exploration and help you learn new ways to relate to fear, protectors, and wounded parts. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on spotting thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and practicing small changes that make daily life easier. DBT adds skills for handling intense emotions and improving relationships through clear, practical exercises.

Finding the right approach often happens after a few conversations. The therapist will work together with each person to pick methods that match goals, needs, and what feels most helpful. That collaborative process lets the plan adapt over time as progress is made.

Confirm the current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into busy schedules, skip travel time, and work on skills between meetings. It also allows sessions to happen across time zones for international clients. Licensed professionals can guide short skill-focused meetings or longer exploratory sessions depending on what someone needs.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Afsha help with?
She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship problems, and self-esteem struggles. She also addresses related issues such as attachment, body image, caregiver stress, and communication problems.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and nonjudgmental. She combines parts work with practical skills to help people manage emotions and change patterns.
What experience does she bring to therapy?
Afsha has seven years of clinical experience working with a range of emotional and relationship concerns. She applies that experience to tailor approaches to each person.
What credentials and region is she based in?
She holds an IL LCPC credential and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Urdu.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She accepts international clients. Confirm scheduling and time zone details when arranging sessions.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to start working together?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesGuilt and shameImmigration issuesIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyMoney and financial issuesMulticultural concernsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Gottman MethodSolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

7+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English, Spanish, Hindi, Urdu