- Practical coping skills
- Addiction support
- Values-focused work
About Marilyn
Marilyn Bryan DeBernardo is a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 25 years of experience. She helps adults who are stressed, anxious, grieving, or struggling with addiction find clearer ways to cope. Her language is straightforward and practical, aimed at people who want concrete steps and steady support.
She uses approaches that focus on values, present-moment work, and changing unhelpful thinking. Sessions tend to include talking through problems, learning simple skills, and practicing small changes between meetings. The goal is to help clients feel more in charge of daily life and relationships.
Marilyn has long experience in addiction-related care and works with people affected by substance use, gambling issues, and codependency. She also supports those facing trauma, depression, parenting strain, relationship conflict, and the stress of major life changes, including coping with natural or human-caused disaster.
Her style is collaborative: she helps people set realistic goals and chooses methods that fit each person. Therapy often blends acceptance-based work, cognitive strategies, and emotion-focused conversations so clients can respond differently to hard situations.
Clients can expect steady, practical guidance and referrals to other resources when useful. She practices in New York and offers services in English, including arrangements for international clients. To begin, clients follow a short matching process and then schedule sessions based on availability.
Therapeutic approaches and how they work online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying what matters to a person and taking small steps toward those values. It helps with anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes by teaching acceptance of difficult thoughts while building committed action. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts influence feeling and behavior and teaches practical skills to shift unhelpful patterns. It is useful for anxiety, mood problems, and managing stress. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people notice and talk about painful feelings so relationships and self-understanding can change; it is often used when emotions keep getting in the way of connection.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals and preferences and then suggest which methods to try. Clients collaborate on plans and adjust the approach as progress is made.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking, since formats are not specified in the profile. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when time is tight, and reduce travel time. Many people find that remote sessions allow more consistent follow-through with homework and skills practice between meetings. Ask about current session options when you schedule so arrangements match your needs and daily routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Credentials
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Marilyn commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and family issues, grief, trauma, eating and intimacy-related concerns, and coping with life changes among other areas.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is collaborative and straightforward, combining acceptance-based methods, cognitive techniques, and emotion-focused conversations to teach practical skills and new ways of responding.
What kind of experience does she bring?
She has 25 years of counseling experience, including long work with addiction, codependency, grief, and trauma-related issues in the New York region.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and practices in New York.
In which languages can I speak with her?
Sessions are offered in English and arrangements can be made for international clients.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified in the profile.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.