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LMFT

Merry McKinnon, LMFT

  • Experience33 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Grief
  • LanguagesEnglish
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About Merry

Merry McKinnon is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) practicing in California with 33 years of professional experience. She has developed a broad clinical background working with anxiety, depression, grief, low self-esteem, and the day-to-day stressors that can interfere with functioning and purpose.

Background and approach

Merry notes a particular affinity for clients with ADHD and learning differences, and she often encounters related issues such as disorganization, social anxiety, isolation, and struggles in academic or workplace settings. Her work also includes experience with high-functioning Autism Spectrum presentations, Non-verbal Learning Disorder, and Auditory Processing Disorder.

Merry describes a relational treatment stance grounded in cognitive and behavioral ideas - she prioritizes a collaborative therapeutic relationship while helping clients surface strengths and examine self-concepts that contribute to motivational blocks or self-image distortion.

She emphasizes that change is possible at any stage and views therapy as an opportunity to uncover abilities and break habits that limit potential. Merry frames her role as a supportive partner on that path toward clearer goals and renewed engagement with life.

Evidence-Informed Approaches and Flexible Online Options

Many of Merry's interventions draw from cognitive and behavioral techniques that focus on changing unhelpful thinking patterns and building practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, and attention challenges. These strategies help clients develop concrete routines, improve organization, and reduce avoidance by practicing new ways of responding to stress.

She also uses relationally focused work that centers the therapeutic relationship as a vehicle for change, helping clients explore self-concepts, discover strengths, and address motivational blocks and self-image concerns. This approach is useful for people who benefit from a collaborative, reflective process alongside skills training.

Finding the right mix of techniques is part of the therapeutic process and will be shaped collaboratively. The therapist works with each person to identify goals, test approaches, and adjust methods over time so the work aligns with the client's needs and preferences.

Online therapy with this clinician is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexibility in how and when clients connect. These options can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity of care across locations within California, and choose a format that feels most comfortable for the individual.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
Merry works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, self-esteem struggles and ADHD as primary concerns, and also focuses on related issues like social anxiety, isolation, and life purpose.
What is the overall therapeutic approach and style?
The practice emphasizes a relational stance informed by cognitive and behavioral principles, aiming to build trust while exploring strengths and self-concept to reduce motivational blocks.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
The clinician brings 33 years of professional experience working with a wide range of psychological and neurodiverse presentations.
What credentials and licensure are held?
The practitioner is a licensed marriage and family therapist with the credential CA LMFT 29647 and practices in California.
Are sessions offered in any languages other than English?
Sessions are conducted in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are available for appointments?
Clients may choose from video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on what fits their needs and preferences.
How is cost handled for therapy with this clinician?
Fees vary by location and therapist availability and services are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyGriefSelf esteemDepressionADHD

Additional focus areas

Autism and Asperger SyndromeCommunication problemsGuilt and shameIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Social anxiety and phobiaYoung adult issues

Experience

33+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English