- Client-centered care
- CBT and motivational work
- Addiction experience
About LaVerne
LaVerne Merritt-Morrison is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in New York with 30 years of experience. She holds a B.S. in Human Services/Counseling and a master’s degree in clinical counseling with a major in Addiction Counseling from Fairleigh Dickinson University. LaVerne has long worked with people facing addiction and related challenges, including panic disorder and panic attacks.
Her background includes extensive work in substance use therapy and dual diagnosis care. She also has experience in transitional housing settings supporting people with chronic medical conditions. This mix of settings shaped a practical, down-to-earth approach to helping people manage stress, anxiety, and life changes.
LaVerne uses motivational interviewing to support readiness for change and cognitive behavioral therapy to address unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Her practice centers on a client-centered stance - she listens first and adapts plans to each person’s needs. Sessions focus on clear steps people can try between meetings.
People who come to her can expect straightforward conversation and practical tools. She commonly helps with addiction, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, and issues such as guilt, shame, codependency, and obsessive behaviors. She also addresses anger, isolation, and career or parenting stresses.
Her training includes specialties in addiction and compulsive gambling work, and she has a long history supporting people with HIV/AIDS and other complex needs. LaVerne aims to help people feel heard and to build skills they can use every day.
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy means she focuses on what matters most to the person in front of her. She listens, reflects, and adjusts the pace and goals to each client's needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors; it often uses short exercises and take-home tasks to change patterns. Motivational Interviewing supports a person’s readiness to make changes by exploring ambivalence and building motivation in a respectful way.Figuring out the right approach is part of the work. She will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit best for their goals, symptoms, and daily life. That choice can shift over time as progress is made or new challenges appear.
The original profile does not list specific online session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Many people find online therapy easier to fit into work and family schedules, require less travel, and make it simpler to follow up on brief check-ins or skill practice. Licensed professionals can use online sessions to teach CBT exercises, guide motivational conversations, and support coping strategies for panic, anxiety, and addiction-related problems without promising a particular format.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with a wide range of concerns including addiction, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, stress, and panic disorder and panic attacks.
What is her style of therapy like?
She takes a client-centered approach, combining motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy to set practical goals and try concrete steps between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 30 years of professional experience, including decades of work in substance use therapy and dual diagnosis care.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing in New York.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, and international clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original profile does not specify session formats. Confirm current session options with the service before booking.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.