LaVerne Merritt-Morrison , LMHC

LaVerne Merritt-Morrison is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in New York with three decades of professional experience helping people navigate addiction, trauma, relationship challenges, and mood concerns. She holds a B.S. in Human Services and Counseling and earned a master’s degree in clinical counseling with a major in Addiction Counseling from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2004. In September 2006 she was grandfathered as a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and on March 31, 2016 she received Master Addiction Counselor certification from the National Certification Commission for Addiction Counselors, a recognition of advanced training in addiction treatment.

Her background includes two decades of work in substance use therapy, extensive experience with dual diagnosis, and several years supporting people in transitional housing who live with chronic medical conditions. She also holds a Credential Alcoholism Substance Abuse Counselor designation and completed a 60-hour Compulsive Gambling training at the Narco Freedom Institute, earning a specialty in gambling-related issues.

Merritt-Morrison combines client-centered care with motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy to meet clients where they are and build practical skills for change. Her approach emphasizes collaboration, respect for individual experience, and strategies that address both symptoms and underlying patterns related to addiction, anxiety, depression, relationship and family concerns, and other life transitions.

She draws inspiration from the idea that the emotional experience of therapy matters deeply, aiming to help people feel understood while supporting tangible steps toward healthier functioning.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

LaVerne Merritt-Morrison draws on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing when working with clients online. Client-centered therapy focuses on building a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship that helps people explore their own goals and values and is helpful for issues such as self-esteem, relationship concerns, and coping with life changes. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) offers practical tools to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and can be effective for anxiety, depression, and many stress-related problems. Motivational interviewing helps people resolve ambivalence about change and is commonly used in work with addictions and behavior change.

Choosing the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. LaVerne assesses each person’s needs, goals, and preferences and tailors methods accordingly, combining elements of these approaches to create a plan that fits the individual. The therapist guides decision making while supporting client autonomy and engagement.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to access ongoing care from home or during busy periods, allowing consistent momentum in therapy while accommodating work, family, and other obligations.