IFSTherapists

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LPCC

Merry Walensa, LPCC

  • Experience17 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasRelationship, Grief, and Self esteem
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Merry

Merry Walensa is a licensed professional clinical counselor in California who brings 17 years of therapeutic experience to her work.

Background and approach

She focuses on helping people navigate relationship challenges, grief and loss, low self-esteem, career difficulties, and life transitions while also addressing stress, anxiety, addiction concerns, trauma and abuse, depression, and intimacy-related issues. Her practice blends evidence-informed approaches with an inclusive, existential perspective that can incorporate clients' spiritual concerns when relevant.

Merry emphasizes creating an open, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore difficult feelings and thoughts and build practical skills for coping with chronic pain, communication problems, codependency, and other complex life circumstances. She also supports people facing end-of-life and hospice-related concerns and those wrestling with guilt, shame, or questions of life purpose.

Merry invites clients to take courageous steps toward a more fulfilling life and offers support and empowerment throughout the process. New clients are asked to schedule a video appointment initially before using phone or chat options, and sessions are offered through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

Bringing relational and skills-based therapy online

Internal Family Systems (IFS) offers a way to explore internal parts and their roles within a person, helping people understand conflicting emotions and find more harmony among inner experiences. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and learning to accept difficult thoughts while taking committed action toward a meaningful life. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard, and collaborating with the client to foster self-directed growth.

Merry approaches online work collaboratively, helping clients discover which combination of approaches fits their needs and goals. She partners with each person to identify priorities, experiment with different techniques, and adjust interventions so the therapy feels useful and aligned with personal preferences.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. This range of formats makes it easier to keep continuity of care during life transitions and to access consistent support from California-based licensed professionals without travel.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Merry commonly address?
Merry works with a broad range of issues including relationships, grief, self-esteem, career challenges, coping with life changes, stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and intimacy-related problems.
What is her therapeutic style and approach?
She uses an integrative, client-centered approach drawing from Internal Family Systems, ACT, CBT, DBT, and existential ideas to combine practical skills with deeper psychological exploration.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 17 years of professional work experience working with a variety of concerns in clinical settings and independent practice.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
Merry holds the LPCC credential and is licensed in California with license CA LPCC 322.
Does she offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Services are provided in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available for working together?
She meets with clients via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, with the requirement that new clients schedule a video appointment first.
How are costs and scheduling handled?
Costs vary by location and therapist availability and sessions are delivered through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved in getting started?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesGriefSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementDepressionCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDivorce and separationFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMoney and financial issuesPostpartum depressionSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

17+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English