I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Therapist with 16 years of experience working with youth and adults from diverse populations. I take pride in assisting clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, life transitions, grief and loss, and identity issues. Together we can identify what you want to experience and explore what is holding you back. We will work together to develop new tools that can assist you in breaking unhelpful patterns and getting on a path toward living the life you want. I offer appointments online throughout Texas and in person if you reside in the Brownsville area.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a personalized plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Having worked with clients of all ages for the past 15 years, I've developed a tried-and-true playbook for helping clients identify the root cause of their challenges and create a personalized plan that leads to measurable progress.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I have 15 years of experience working with clients of all ages. My clients are eager to improve, but don't yet have the tools needed to make this goal a reality.
About Erika Merla
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745 E St Charles St, Brownsville, TX 78520, Suite 11Appointments
Virtual & in-personMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients treat depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, panic disorders, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT teaches: Mindfulness: Being aware and present in the moment, instead of worrying about the past or future Distress tolerance: Managing difficult emotions without reacting in harmful ways Interpersonal effectiveness: Asking for what you need while maintaining respect for yourself and others Emotion regulation: Understanding and controlling your emotions
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy incorporates mindfulness practices that include present moment awareness, meditation, and breathing exercises. This therapy was formulated to address depression. Using these tools, the mindfulness-based therapist teaches a client to be in the here and now as well as break away from negative thought patterns that can cause a decline into a mood-disordered state; this therapy can help a person fight off a difficult frame of mind before it takes hold.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT is a type of mindful psychotherapy that helps you stay focused on the present moment and accept thoughts and feelings without judgment. Unlike other therapies that might try to eliminate negative thoughts or feelings, ACT encourages acceptance of them as part of the human experience.
Narrative
Narrative therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on helping individuals re-author their life stories by examining the narratives they tell themselves about their experiences. It allows people to separate their identity from their problems and create a more empowering perspective on their lives. Essentially, narrative therapy views people as experts in their own lives and encourages them to reframe negative narratives into more positive ones by working collaboratively with a therapist.