- CBT
- Solution-Focused
- Medical advocacy help
About Frances
Frances Merz is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Jersey with 19 years of clinical counseling experience. She works with adults who want to change a life situation, solve a problem, or gain clearer understanding about personal circumstances. Her practice includes issues often faced by young adults such as career decisions, social anxiety, and adjusting to life transitions.
Frances uses a mix of counseling techniques rather than one fixed method. She selects approaches based on each person's needs and strengths. She has worked with people dealing with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, grief, sleep difficulties, and mood concerns including depression and bipolar disorder.
She also supports those navigating parenting challenges, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and seasonal affective disorder. Frances has experience helping people who are considering weight loss surgery or who are recovering after surgery, and she offers practical help with medical advocacy and preparing questions for health providers.
Frances prefers collaborative work and expects clients to take an active role in sessions. She does not use a one-size-fits-all plan; instead she adjusts techniques when something does not fit. She notes she does not provide marriage or relationship counseling online, and she does not offer online care for serious mental illness.
Her practice schedule is Monday through Thursday and she typically replies to messages within 24 hours. Prospective clients are asked to follow the platform's sign-up steps to begin the intake process.
How CBT and Solution-Focused Work in Online Sessions
Frances commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect. In practice this means identifying unhelpful thinking patterns, testing them with small experiments, and trying different behaviors to reduce anxiety or mood symptoms. Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on practical steps and small changes that move a person toward a specific goal. Sessions using this approach focus on strengths, what is already working, and building short-term strategies for concrete problems.Finding the right approach is something Frances does together with each client. She will discuss options, try methods, and adjust plans according to the client's goals and preferences. That way the work stays practical and relevant to everyday life rather than fixed to a single method.
The original biography does not list exact session formats, so confirm current online options before scheduling. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten commute time, and allow for focused check-ins during a break from study or work. It can also make it simpler to bring medical questions or paperwork into sessions when discussing medical advocacy or post-surgery concerns. Licensed professionals adapt sessions to help clients manage change and build practical coping skills.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
19+ years
Listed in
New Jersey
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, self-esteem, career issues, grief, sleep problems, and young adult issues among others.
What is her general approach in sessions?
She uses a mix of counseling techniques and chooses methods that match each client's needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy are part of her practice.
How much experience does she have?
She has 19 years of experience working as a clinical counselor.
Is she credentialed and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in New Jersey.
Does she work in languages other than English or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
The biography does not list specific session formats. Confirm current session options before booking.
How are sessions paid for and what about cost?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the 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.