Marilyn Bryan DeBernardo , LMHC

Marilyn Bryan DeBernardo is a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 25 years of experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, and relationship struggles. Her style is direct and compassionate, aimed at helping people make practical changes in daily life.

Marilyn focuses on common problems like depression, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, and parenting strain. She also supports people coping with ADHD, bipolar disorder, eating concerns, anger, and major life changes. Many clients come for help with family conflict, communication problems, and substance use concerns.

Her work blends evidence-based approaches. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to shift unhelpful thinking and behavioral patterns. She also draws on acceptance and commitment ideas to help people clarify values and take meaningful action.

Marilyn incorporates emotion-focused and dialectical skills when relationships and strong emotions are central concerns. These methods help people manage intense feelings and improve how they connect with others. Sessions are straightforward and paced to match each person’s needs.

She offers online options and works with people in New York and internationally. Sessions use video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Getting started involves a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a session based on availability.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It can be useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions where someone wants clearer direction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on changing thinking and behavior patterns that keep problems going, and it often helps with depression, anxiety, and coping skills in daily life. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on emotions in relationships and can aid when connection and attachment issues are causing distress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Marilyn will discuss goals and preferences with each person and suggest which methods to try first. Together they decide what fits best and adjust over time based on results and comfort.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls let people use visual cues for deeper discussion. Phone sessions are an option when bandwidth is limited or a camera-free check-in is preferred. Live chat and text-based messaging suit brief updates, skill practice, or times when typing is easier than speaking. These formats make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules and to continue care across locations.