About Denise
Denise Mercherson helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, low mood, or doubts about themselves. She speaks plainly and offers steady support as people sort through relationship strain, low self-esteem, and life transitions. Denise is a licensed clinical social worker - LCSW - practicing in Illinois with five years of experience.
Her approach begins with listening. She adapts conversations and plans to each person’s needs instead of using one fixed template.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on practical steps people can try between meetings and on skills that reduce emotional overwhelm. Denise draws on tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to spot unhelpful thinking and to build values-based action. She also uses elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for emotion regulation and clearer communication when feelings run high.
People who come to her work on clearer boundaries, small behavior changes, forgiveness, and finding more meaning in daily life. Denise aims to make each session feel respectful and compassionate, while helping people take real steps toward their goals. She supports clients through regular conversation, skills practice, and short assignments to try at home.
The work is collaborative: Denise helps people set goals and checks in on what is working and what needs adjusting.
Evidence-based approaches for online therapy
Denise uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help identify unhelpful thoughts and test them with real-life experiments. CBT is useful for anxiety, low mood, and small changes in daily routines. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice painful feelings without getting stuck and then take action toward values that matter. ACT can be helpful when someone wants clearer purpose or more consistent motivation.Choosing an approach is a team effort. Denise will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and life demands, then suggest techniques to try. She checks in regularly and adapts the plan based on what helps and what does not, so the work stays aligned with the client’s priorities.
Online sessions offer practical flexibility. Video calls let people use visual cues for relationship or communication work. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for brief check-ins, skill reminders, or low-key updates between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy days and to keep steady progress without extra travel.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 5 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English