Mind Diagnostics is user-supported. If you buy through a link on the site, we earn a commission from BetterHelp at no cost to you. Learn More

LaVerne Merritt-Morrison, LMHC

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

LaVerne is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

4.5 stars
Clients are very satisfied with LaVerne. View 56 reviews
Speaks English
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in New York

Recent reviews

Laverne giving me exceptional support for what I need. Thank you!

Reviewed November 2024

Laverne is very knowledgeable, supporting, as well as challenging!

Reviewed November 2024

More about LaVerne

  • 20 years' experience
  • Female
  • LMHC

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

Specialties

Addictions LGBT Trauma and abuse Anger management Self esteem Stress Anxiety Relationship issues Family conflicts Intimacy-related issues Parenting issues Career difficulties Depression Coping with life changes Abandonment Antisocial personality Co-morbidity Codependency Drug and alcohol addiction HIV / AIDS Impulsivity Isolation / loneliness Narcissism Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Personality disorders Prejudice and discrimination Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling) Sex addiction Social anxiety and phobia Women's issues

Treatment Approaches

  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Motivational Interviewing

Licenses

LaVerne Merritt-Morrison's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1265737449.

  • LMHC · New York · 003287-1 · Expires September 2026

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.

Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.

Reviews for LaVerne Merritt-Morrison

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

4.5

56 reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: Great Helped Amazing Thank you Safe Wonderful Comfortable Recommend Understanding Attentive

Laverne giving me exceptional support for what I need. Thank you!

Reviewed November 2024

Laverne is very knowledgeable, supporting, as well as challenging!

Reviewed November 2024

Great therapist. Highly recommend.

Reviewed September 2024

LaVerne is great! She's really helping me get back on track!!

Reviewed September 2024

Compassionate, understanding, and able to give clients the tools they need to live a happier and healthier life

Reviewed September 2024

No matter what, LaVerne DOES care. She is one of the BEST therapists on Better Help.

Reviewed July 2024

Absolutely wonderful! Was an amazing listener and really helped me through some of my concerns. Attentive, authentic, and effective. Would recommend to anyone and everyone!

Reviewed July 2024

Clear understanding

Reviewed June 2024

She’s an amazing person and great at what she do

Reviewed April 2024

I have met with Laverne 3 times so far and I have found her to be useful and I can easily open up to her I am grateful for her to help me through my journey

Reviewed March 2024

Amazing person! Amazing therapist!

Reviewed February 2024

LaVerne is very attentive and knowledgable. She provides me with a good analysis of my feelings and emotions, as well as practical advise that I have been able to apply to my daily life. Would definitely recommend her!

Reviewed February 2024

So sweet. A great person to talk to, she really cares and has interesting and relevant suggestions and things to discuss.

Reviewed January 2024

LaVerne has helped me through so much. She offers direct, gentle guidance and helps me talk through my feelings. Talking with her feels like talking with a close confidant and friend who is also an unbiased expert in her field. I cannot image where I’d be right now without her help.

Reviewed June 2022

My therapist gets me. That’s most important.

Reviewed December 2023

She’s a straight shooter. Something I require and appreciate very much

Reviewed December 2023

LaVerne is an amazing therapist and great listener. I love the advice she provides and she's a great person to talk to.

Reviewed November 2023

Very professional and helpful! Thank you, LaVerne!

Reviewed November 2023

LaVerne has been so wonderful in helping me draw healthy boundaries with my family. I hope to have a better relationship with my mom in the future, and LaVerne is giving me tools to protect myself emotionally so that that can happen.

Reviewed September 2023

Ms.LavVerne always gives me the tough love that you need. She honest and uplifting. She tells you what you need to hear and not want to hear. And that has help me a lot

Reviewed September 2023

She helped me through so many problems I didn’t even know I have. Always takes her time with me and makes sure I’m okay. I’m so greatful that I got her as my therapist.

Reviewed August 2023

LaVerne has helped me find solutions to overcome issues surrounding addiction. She help identifies issues of what create urges and target ways to prevent it.

Reviewed May 2023

LaVerne is highly compassionate therapist. She's supportive and asks questions that help me to reflect on my perspective. Thank you LaVerne!

Reviewed May 2023

LaVerne is relatable and easy to talk to . She is great with her recommendations and observations and is mindful to keep reminding me that I get to make decisions for myself in this. She is fun and funny and I find I can share openly in a very safe and carefree way. I do love how sharp she is with her assessment of situations I describe and to try to navigate them in a different way in the future so that I feel better about them. She is super empowering.

Reviewed March 2023

So far, my experience have been great. Mrs. Morrison really challenges the way think about yourself, by connecting the issues you face. I’m really happy that she’s my therapist.

Reviewed April 2023

La Verne is a calm, cool, collected presence in my life. She helps to navigate my trauma by asking the right questions at the right time. she is currently laying out a road map of recovery for me with work i can do internally to finally find a sense of peace within myself. Big thanks to La Verne for helping me find security in my relationship with myself and others.

Reviewed March 2023

LaVerne has been nothing but a wonderful, caring, joyful and extremely charismatic person. A few months with LaVerne has really let me grow emotionally in such a tremendous way. She listens and communicates clearly, making the healing/growth process very tailored to you while also giving you the tools that she knows will help you long term. She also challenges your way of thinking, so that you can analyze your patterns and learn from situations that you've often found yourself in. I think that's a great sign of someone who knows how to help, rather than a therapist that is trying to see growth as fast as possible. For anyone that is looking for help and isn't quite sure where to start, LaVerne will make you feel comfortable and welcome. I can't thank her enough for how much she's helped me.

Reviewed January 2023

LaVerne is a great therapist, she is a professional with whom you feel open and safe. She offered me support and valuable techniques on how to deal with my OCD. She is LGBT+ friendly, which is a plus!

Reviewed January 2023

Laverne was the best therapist I’ve had to help me deal with addiction. She has tons of resources and is experienced. She always remembers what we talked about in the prior session. Definitely would recommend if you have any addictions in your life.

Reviewed January 2023

Laverne makes you feel heard and comfortable, absolutely the best therapist i’ve had. Thank you LaVerne

Reviewed December 2022

Fantastic therapist

Reviewed November 2022

She is a wonderful person and a very competent therapist.

Reviewed November 2022

Fantastic therapist, really listens to you and offers get advice.

Reviewed November 2022

She is very patient and kind when listening to me. She is also very supportive and helps provide strategies to implement into my daily life to help me

Reviewed November 2022

Took her time to get to know me and listen to my troubles, without judgments and while reassuring me I had a safe outlet. Great direction and prompts to help me make decisions that continues to result in growth and great progress! Thank you Mrs. LaVerne

Reviewed November 2022

She’s wonderful

Reviewed September 2022

Laverne makes you feel comfortable and provides a safe environment for you to share your thoughts. She uses the right tools to help you cope with anxiety and stress. Loved her approach.

Reviewed September 2022

My first session with LaVerne was really good, but the second one was amazing. I feel so blessed to be able to speak to her every week. Thank you LaVerne.

Reviewed September 2022

LaVerne is a wise therapist and I greatly appreciate her help!

Reviewed August 2022

I've only had one session with LaVerne so far, but she makes me feel wonderfully comfortable, and I very much am looking forward to my second appointment

Reviewed July 2022

She is very competent and kind and she has helped me change my life in a very positive way.

Reviewed June 2022

Laverne is nonjudgmental and I feel like I can be completely honest with her.

Reviewed May 2022

LaVerne takes her time listening to my concerns. I feel safe and heard when speaking to her.

Reviewed May 2022

Very good person to talk to and work with.

Reviewed April 2022

She is very kind, understanding, and knowledgeable. She pushes me and encourages me so much I appreciate everything she does!

Reviewed March 2022

LaVerne is amazing, I love her- and I think she’s an amazing therapist.

Reviewed March 2022

I’ve only had 3 sessions with LaVerne and I already see such a shift in my life. I’m able to see where chaos comes from and notice when I’m participating in it or allowing it to take up space. I’ve been exercising my boundaries without having to be forceful. I’m more calm and clear in my interactions with others. I couldn’t have chosen a better therapist!

Reviewed March 2022

Within moments of our first session, Laverne was warm, welcoming and gave me the assurance that she is a person who can help. She is real and intuitive and knew exactly what support I sought and what I needed to hear. She provides a healthy balance of listening, advice and resources.

Reviewed January 2022

I love doing therapy with Laverne! She is very kind, understanding, patient, and she has really helped me ever since starting therapy.

Reviewed January 2022

LaVerne has helped me through one of the most difficult times of my life! She helped me find hope and see the light at the end of the tunnel. She motivated me to keep fighting and to not give up all while being warm and easy to talk to. It has been a pleasure working with LaVerne she is truly talented and she is doing what she was put on this earth to do! I wish I can thank her in person.

Reviewed December 2021

I will be forever grateful for LaVerne. I was anxious about asking for help but she is so easy to talk to and has this incredible ability to keep things light and positive that I appreciate.

Reviewed December 2021

LaVerne is witty and kind. She understands my concerns and helps guides me to figure out what my deep fears and feelings really mean. She has real world experience and I appreciate and trust her knowledge.

Reviewed December 2021

LaVerne was responsive to my needs and let me explain upfront what I wanted to achieve through therapy. She is a good listener and very friendly. LaVerne gave me exercises to complete between sessions which allowed me to apply cognitive based therapy in my own experiences.

Reviewed December 2021

She is really good listener and offer constructive feedback for your issues

Reviewed December 2021

Empathetic and positive.

Reviewed November 2021

She is very attentive and listens well and has resources in terms of panic attacks

Reviewed November 2021

How was your experience with LaVerne?

Frequently asked questions

Does LaVerne Merritt-Morrison offer telehealth visits?

Yes. LaVerne Merritt-Morrison works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does LaVerne Merritt-Morrison speak?

LaVerne Merritt-Morrison speaks English.

How many years of experience does LaVerne Merritt-Morrison have?

LaVerne Merritt-Morrison has 20 years of experience.

Where is LaVerne Merritt-Morrison licensed to practice?

LaVerne Merritt-Morrison is licensed to practice in New York.

Does LaVerne Merritt-Morrison accept clients outside of the United States?

Yes, LaVerne Merritt-Morrison accepts clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does LaVerne Merritt-Morrison offer?

LaVerne Merritt-Morrison offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing.

How can I communicate with LaVerne Merritt-Morrison?

LaVerne Merritt-Morrison can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with LaVerne Merritt-Morrison?

Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video

When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.