Marilyn Bryan DeBernardo, LMHC

Marilyn Bryan DeBernardo is a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 25 years of experience. She focuses on adults facing midlife shifts, stress, anxiety, addictions, and changes in work or family life. Her approach is practical and steady, helping people find next steps when life feels stuck.

She uses clear, straightforward talk to identify what matters most to each person. Sessions often look at patterns that keep problems repeating and teach tools to manage difficult feelings. Marilyn draws on several therapeutic styles to tailor work to each person’s needs rather than applying one fixed method.

Her background includes long experience supporting people through addiction, codependency, grief, trauma, and relationship trouble. She has also supported those navigating chronic illness, caregiving stress, blended family challenges, and major life transitions. That experience shapes a problem-solving, resource-oriented way of working.

Marilyn aims to build a collaborative relationship where goals are practical and measurable. People are invited to try new coping skills between meetings and bring back what did and did not work. She also helps connect people with community resources when extra support is needed.

Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients. Prospective clients are asked to complete a short questionnaire to begin the matching process and then schedule according to the therapist’s availability.

How therapeutic approaches guide online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify values and take small steps toward a life that matters to them, even when difficult thoughts and feelings show up. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical strategies to reduce anxiety and depressive patterns. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on understanding emotional responses and changing interaction patterns that contribute to relationship strain or intense emotional pain.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has helped or not helped in the past. Together they will try methods that fit the person’s needs and adjust the plan based on what is most useful.

The therapist’s biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available online options before booking. Many people find online work useful because it can fit into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and make it easier to keep regular check-ins. Other practical benefits include being able to use shorter sessions for quick check-ins, or selecting an audio-only meeting if bandwidth is limited. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, homework, and skills practice to the online setting to help clients make steady progress.