LaVerne Merritt-Morrison
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
New York therapists accepting new clients
Jaime GrunfeldLMHC · 17 years experienceRelationship issues · Coping with life changes · Anger managementWork with Jaime
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About LaVerne
I have earned my B.S. in Human Services/Counseling. I graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University, with my master’s degree in clinical counseling with a major in Addiction Counseling, May 2004. In September 2006 I was grandfather in as a New York State, License Mental Health Counselor. On 3/31/16, I was grandfather in as a Master Addiction Counselor from the National Certification Commission for Addiction Counselor. I have 20 years’ experience of substances use therapy, 15 years’ experience with individuals with dual diagnosis, 5 years’ experience working in transitional housing with individuals with chronic medical conditions.
I am a Credential Alcoholism Substance Abuse Counselor. I attended Narco Freedom Institute for my 60-hour Compulsive Gambling Training, and I received my Specialty in Gambling Designation. I have obtained not only a theoretical base to go along with my practical knowledge of human behavior, but also, I have developed the skills necessary to help others to empower themselves. My approach to therapy is motivational interviewing along with cognitive behavioral therapy, most importantly I use a client-centered approach to meet the client where they are.
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Maya Angelou
What LaVerne helps with
- Addictions
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Intimacy-related issues
- LGBT
- Parenting issues
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
Show 21 more areas
- 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
How LaVerne works
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
What clients say
- “She’s wonderful!!!”
- “LaVerne Merritt is a fantastic therapist. We have conversations. It's not a "... and how do you feel about that," session. I would recommend LaVerne to anyone who didn't need a super structured, therapy by numbers relationship.”
- “She’s a great therapist. She always has great solutions to help with whatever your concerns are and is very personable and down to earth as well.”
Show all 15 reviews
- “So sweet and very knowledgeable!”
- “Empathetic, wise, caring, great listener, racially sensitive, lgbt ally, and is able to joke and kick back with you. She feels like a mentor, motherly figure, and is a loving black woman that you don’t get from typical clinical settings. I’ve stayed with her the longest than other practioners here.”
- “She’s real and respects me and listens.”
- “Very knowledgeable, she listens to you and is very patient and kind”
- “LaVarne is an amazing counselor, and is very real and down to earth. She’s very understanding and also not afraid to tell it like it is. I always look forward to my sessions with her.”
- “Fist time session and pleased with progress”
- “She’s a great therapist who listens to, discerns and advises patients accordingly.”
- “Very perceptive, professional and was quite helpful”
- “I like LaVerne very much and I think her way of helping will be beneficial to me!”
- “LaVerne is kind, calm, and supportive. I appreciate the homework she's given me to work on in between appointments. LaVerne is helping me learn more about myself, and to heal from past traumas.”
- “Very helpful in helping me understand myself.”
- “Very helpful in helping me understand myself.”
These reviews represent a few of the most recent positive reviews from the therapist's clients on BetterHelp. Some people's experience may be different.