Mill Valley Therapy

Lilli Merritt, LCSW

Areas of expertise

I specialize in working with people in the areas of trauma, grief, boundary work, ADHD, LGBT issues, depression, anxiety, and self discovery. Please see the menu tab for a description of my approach in each area. I am a therapist for those who are truly ready for change and movement. I am active in the session, assisting in the process of facing and moving through. I use a combination of Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). All of these are “bottom up” therapies, helping to rediscover the deepest truths from a place of “felt sense”. I am a “true other” in session, authentically myself and deeply relational to heal the deepest wounds of attachment. I also use motivational Interviewing to assess readiness for change in the areas of addiction.

My general approach

“Therapeutic alliance” or the trust between a client and a therapist is the number one indicator of successful therapeutic outcomes. Above the emotional intelligence of the therapist or the client, above the education type of the therapist, even above the modality of therapy. I strive above all things to gain the trust of my clients. As in physical therapy, the therapist can have an excellent knowledge set, but can hardly do anything with that with out the honest feed back of the client. I make sure my clients have the space and explicit invitation to give honest feedback in the partnership toward healing and discovery. While I respect the need to create space and allow for silence, I also don't sit on the side lines. I am there to help you find out what it is that is "wrong" (or maladaptive) and provide evidence based modalities or paths out of that particular issue.

Taking the leap

Whether this is your first time in therapy or you are continuing your journey, reaching out is often one of the hardest steps and yet one of the most powerful on the road to change. I want to make that leap as easy as possible. See the menu for my rates and availability as well as topic sections for more detailed descriptions of my approach to specific issues. The next step is to give me a call or send me an email to schedule a 10-15 minute free phone consultation to see if we are a good fit.

"I can hold up the light, but you must walk." I am most interested in helping you walk through the pain and grow from it rather than sitting in it or avoiding it. I will always offer different paths out and provide background for my suggestions because I believe clients have a right to know how they are being guided and why.