- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship conflict
- CBT and DBT skills
About Afsha
Afsha Merchant is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with seven years of experience working with adults. She focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. Afsha speaks English, Spanish, Hindi, and Urdu and accepts international clients.
She helps people manage relationship conflict and communication problems. She also supports those coping with attachment concerns, abandonment, adoption and foster care histories, and family of origin issues. Afsha works with people facing chronic illness, caregiver stress, body image worries, and the overlap between mental health and life transitions.
Afsha uses practical, evidence-informed approaches in sessions. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address unhelpful thinking and patterns. She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotion regulation and Somatic Therapy to connect physical sensations with emotions.
When relationship work is needed she integrates Gottman Method ideas to look at interaction patterns and improve communication. Solution-Focused Therapy is used to set concrete, short-term goals and track small changes. Sessions are collaborative, with Afsha and the person agreeing on priorities and next steps.
Her approach includes attention to culture and identity, and she helps clients bring those factors into therapy. People meet to talk through current problems, practice new ways of responding, and build coping strategies that fit day-to-day life.
Approaches used online and how they help
Afsha commonly combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills in online work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and testing thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy provides concrete skills for managing strong emotions, improving distress tolerance, and building better communication.She also draws on Somatic Therapy ideas when bodily sensations are part of the difficulty. Somatic approaches help people notice physical signals and use grounding or movement-based strategies to reduce overwhelm. Choosing the right approach is part of the process; Afsha works with each person to decide which methods match their goals and preferences and adjusts the plan as they learn what helps.
Confirm current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around work, school, or busy days by removing travel time and allowing for shorter check-ins when needed. They also allow continuity when someone is traveling or living abroad. Practical scheduling and session length can be discussed during the matching and intake steps so therapy fits everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English, Spanish, Hindi, Urdu
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, and depression, plus related areas like attachment issues and body image.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Sessions are collaborative and practical. She uses goal-focused work, skills practice, and attention to how feelings show up in the body.
How much experience does she have?
She has seven years of clinical experience working with adults on the concerns listed above.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and practices from Illinois.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Urdu.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She accepts international clients.
How does payment work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.