Cortney Merritt , MD, LCSW-C

Cortney Merritt, MD, LCSW-C, focuses on practical, evidence-based care for people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and grief. She offers a calm, straightforward presence and helps clients build coping skills and self-compassion. Cortney highlights women's issues as one area of focus, including sexuality and identity concerns.

She aims to create an affirming space where people can talk through what matters most to them. Sessions often focus on clearer communication, managing impulses, and reducing isolation. Cortney works with individuals who are navigating life changes, wrestling with guilt or shame, or rebuilding after trauma.

Her approach is collaborative and person-centered. She listens for each person’s strengths and practical needs, then uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide skill building and problem solving. The work is paced to the client’s comfort and goals.

Cortney brings five years of clinical experience and combines medical and social work training to address emotional and behavioral concerns. She emphasizes building resilience, self-love, and a clearer life purpose over time. Cortney avoids jargon and focuses on simple, usable tools.

People often come to her wanting help with low mood, persistent worry, or relationship communication problems. She supports exploration of sexuality and identity when those topics come up, and helps people reduce loneliness and reconnect with their values.

Evidence-based approaches and online care

Two evidence-based techniques Cortney uses include brief skills-focused work and trauma-informed strategies. Skills-focused work teaches practical tools for managing anxiety, low mood, and stress, such as breathing and behavioral experiments to reduce worry. Trauma-informed strategies help people process difficult experiences at a pace they can handle while reducing shame and isolation.

Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't helped in the past, then adapt methods to fit those needs. Clients and the therapist check in regularly to see what is working and make changes together.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy schedules and varied needs. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text-based messaging provide shorter check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or travel routines while still using evidence-based methods.