Therapists in Mount Vernon-Hollywood-Montclair, Lexington, KY

Hello! My name is James Merrill. I believe that everyone is trying to do the best they can, but life can throw many challenges our way. In counseling, you will learn tools to manage difficult thoughts and emotions. We'll work together to find your personal values that will help you build a fulfilling life. My goal as a counselor is to help you build confidence in managing your mental health, whether life is peaceful or challenging.

At Mended, we aim to provide quality & professional care, support, and education to individuals & families throughout the Greater Lexington area. The Mended team operates with intentionality, adapting their services to the unique needs of each client, empowering them to make healthy changes, as well as promoting emotional & physical wellness.

I have been working with the members of our community for over eight years and have partnered with various agencies throughout the city to ensure success for my clients. Throughout my education and experience, I have found that the therapeutic approaches I favor, but not limited to, are Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I would like to utilize my experience gained throughout my career to empower clients from all age ranges with-in the Lexington community.

You are the expert of YOU and the answers you seek are within you. I believe my role is to guide you and to help clear away the obstacles to your Truth. Often we find ourselves trapped in maladaptive thinking and behaviors that we know are unhealthy, but we can't seem to find a way to change those behaviors or create new, healthy ones. In my 22 years of experience as a Mental Health and Substance Use Therapist I have developed a therapeutic orientation that blends the Eastern Philosophies (Tao, Buddhism) with Western Psychotherapies and I tailor my approach to meet your individual needs to help you explore, heal, and flourish.

With a humanistic/person-centered approach, I strive to understand intersecting identities and how they relate to individuals, couples, and families and their view of the world. I have worked with various clients and specialize in an empathetic, compassionate, judgment-free environment that includes work in addictions, depression/anxiety, life transitions, trauma, PTSD, grief/loss, co-dependency, and parenting concerns. I also work with individuals in marginalized/multicultural communities dealing with varying identity concerns. I am open and willing to use various evidence-based practices to meet the needs of the clients.

We believe self-acceptance is a key part to living a balanced, content life. As such, we believe that compassion, honesty, and being genuine is the way to achieve healthy relationships and lifestyles. We see ourselves and those with whom we work as humans striving to do our best, to grow, and to achieve. Whatever your beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, challenges, successes, and life experiences, we strive to create an accepting environment to encourage exploration to be accepting of who you are and to achieve your potential.

I'm always amazed by the transforming power that a safe relationship can have on a client. Providing a compassionate, supportive, and nonjudgmental atmosphere enables a person to begin processing their story and face the hidden obstacles that keep them stuck in life. It is a privilege to walk alongside my clients, offering a new perspective as we explore their strengths, and find hope and new meaning in their story. As a therapist, my mission is to provide the healing space and collaborative relationship that helps a person begin to take the necessary steps to achieve their therapy goals.

Do you struggle with overthinking, self-doubt, or have difficulty relaxing? Perhaps you are able to maintain a calm façade, but inside you worry something bad is going to happen or that people will think badly of you. Chronic stress and worry can come at the cost of your overall well-being. Please know you are not alone. No matter what your personal struggles, I offer a safe and compassionate environment that encourages positive change.

I believe one of the bravest things you can do is begin to understand your own story. Whether you are looking to explore your individual journey, strengthen a relationship, or navigate the messiness that life's greatest challenges can bring, I would be honored to accompany you on this journey. As your therapist, I will collaborate with you to gain insight and develop the necessary coping skills in order to create the change you've identified as meaningful in your life. My goal is to provide a different perspective on your problems and help you understand your emotions.

I believe that you have the answers to your questions and problems within yourself. My role as a therapist is to help you find those answers. You are the expert of your life and your role as a client is to educate me on your perspectives and experiences.

Hello! If you feel unsafe everywhere you are, lack trust in yourself or others, your sense of power/control is shattered, lack self-esteem, and feel distanced from intimacy, then I'd love to hear your story. If you had a childhood and are part of a culture then therapy would be great for you! Want to talk trash about the state of the world? I gotchu. Want to collaborate on solutions? Let's get it. My hope is that you leave our sessions feeling heard, empowered, and resilient. NOTE: I am only able to take clients on a three month or less basis at this time.

I fully believe in every individual's ability to heal from difficult life experiences. I also believe that people have a reservoir of untapped strength that enables them to work through these difficult life experiences, and make it through to the other side whole again. In the past eight years, I have worked with clients with depression, anxiety, loss/grief, substance abuse, self-doubt/shame, interpersonal problems, and have specialized in working with Veterans to help them heal wounds related to unimaginable trauma. I am certified in providing Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy, both specialized treatments for trauma.

Are you on a path in life you never planned and feeling overwhelmed? Raising a challenging child? Facing a life transition that is stretching you to your limit? Is relational conflict causing hurt and confusion between you and your child, partner or extended family? Perhaps you simply need a safe, supportive space to share and process your pain, and get back to a sense of well-being.

Hello! I'm a queer clinical psychologist who specializes in working with the LGBTQ+ community and treating Eating disorders, OCD, Anxiety Disorders, and Mind-body and Health psychology-related concerns. Given that our identities shape all of our life experiences, I strive to understand clients’ cultural backgrounds and integrate this into the therapeutic process. If you are struggling with navigating minority stress, gender and/or sexual identity development, anxiety, disordered eating, negative body image, or OCD and your mental health is not where you want it to be, you are not alone and I am here to help.

THE bravest thing we can ever do is ask for help. It can be hard scrolling through here, trying to find someone who may be a good fit for you. I've felt that, too (so have my clients). And what we've found is the pain points of our past still show up and affect us at work and home by trapping us in patterns that no longer serve us. When unaddressed, these patterns easily lead to overwhelming stress. At times, they may even lead to problematic substance use, burnout, and relationship issues. We all need support from time to time. We all need a sense of safety and a place to allow ourselves to be fully seen, heard, and valued.

Are you struggling to reconcile your life experiences with your spiritual beliefs? Have you experienced harm from those in your life who should have been your biggest supporters and protectors? Are you working to experience harmony in your closest relationships, continuing to repeat the patterns you are trying to escape? It would be an honor to walk alongside you on a healing journey. No matter your background or life circumstances, experiencing a life worth living is possible. I have experience working with pastors, women with sexual and childhood trauma, new and soon-to-be parents, and youth in the foster care system.

Virtual and in- person sessions being offered. I work with all ages, and families to address a wide range of emotional and behavioral problems. I discover and get to know each person individually. I base my counseling style on my clients needs, strengths and goals. I utilize multiple models in the counseling experience: Advanced Accelerated Resolution; ART, Cognitive Behavioral, Dialectical Behavioral and Play Therapies. I apply Therapeutic Art Techniques to the treatment process. I also have had real life experiences dealing and overcoming life stressors of my own. I offer Mental Health, ADHD and Parenting Assessments/ Classes.