Therapist profile
LaVerne Merritt-Morrison, LMHC
LMHC - Addictions and family concerns
Continue with LaVerneAbout
- Addictions focus
- Motivational interviewing
- CBT and client-centered
About LaVerne
LaVerne Merritt-Morrison is a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 30 years of clinical experience. She has a master’s degree in clinical counseling with a major in addiction counseling and long experience supporting people facing substance use and related concerns.
She works with issues such as addictions, trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, stress, relationship strains, parenting concerns, and intimacy-related problems. Additional focuses include codependency, attachment issues, impulsivity, obsessive-compulsive patterns, panic attacks, and issues tied to chronic shame or guilt.
Her practice draws on client-centered work, motivational interviewing, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Sessions focus on clear goals and practical steps. She helps people talk through what’s happening and try concrete skills to change patterns.
Merritt-Morrison has decades of experience with substance use treatment and dual diagnosis. She has also worked in transitional housing with people who have chronic medical conditions and holds a specialty designation in gambling-related problems.
People can expect straightforward conversations about current struggles, setbacks, and strengths. The clinician aims to identify manageable next steps and supports clients as they try different approaches. Her background emphasizes practical strategies for coping with life changes and the everyday demands of parenting and family relationships.
How sessions work
How therapeutic approaches shape online sessions
Client-centered therapy focuses on the client's perspective, listening to current concerns and responding to what matters most. It helps when someone needs a clearer view of their feelings and priorities.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions link together. It uses simple experiments and skill practice to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and shift unhelpful patterns.
Motivational interviewing helps people who feel stuck or unsure about change. It emphasizes exploring ambivalence and building internal motivation for next steps, which can be useful for addiction or behavior change work.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That choice can change as work progresses and new priorities appear.
Confirm the session formats available before booking, as they are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, shorten check-ins when needed, or avoid travel. It can also let someone continue care when they move or are located abroad.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with addictions, trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, relationship and parenting concerns, plus related areas like codependency and attachment issues.
What is her general therapeutic style?
Her style uses client-centered methods along with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy to set goals and try practical skills.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has practiced for 30 years, including extensive work in substance use treatment and dual diagnosis care.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and is based in New York.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
She accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English.
Which session formats are offered?
Please confirm current session format options before booking since session formats are not specified here.
How does payment work and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.