Ursula Merritt, LCSW

Ursula Merritt is a licensed clinical social worker with 11 years of experience based in North Carolina. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, anger, self-esteem struggles, addictions, relationship troubles, and life changes. Ursula focuses on practical, goal-oriented work that fits into everyday life.

Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth. She listens first to understand what matters to each person, then offers straightforward tools and steps to try between sessions. The work tends to be concrete - tracking thoughts and behaviors, testing small changes, and building on what works.

Ursula aims to create an affirming space for people of diverse identities and backgrounds, including LGBT clients. She pays attention to how culture, values, and personal history shape current struggles and choices. The priority is to treat each person with respect and tailor support to their situation.

She uses approaches grounded in evidence, drawn from short-term and solution-focused methods. That means sessions often focus on clear goals, measurable progress, and practical coping strategies for day-to-day problems. People can expect a mix of talking, skill practice, and planning between sessions.

Ursula works with clients to build emotional resilience and clearer decision making. The aim is steady, manageable change rather than quick fixes. She helps people move from feeling stuck to having tools they can use when life gets hard.

How evidence-based approaches work online

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. Online CBT sessions often include identifying unhelpful thinking patterns, testing new behaviors between sessions, and tracking progress. It is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems.

Motivational interviewing is a conversational style that helps people find their own reasons for change. A therapist listens for strengths, explores ambivalence, and supports the small steps someone is ready to try. This approach can be useful for addictions, motivation issues, and readiness to change.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has helped in the past, then choose or blend methods that match the client's needs. This shared process helps make therapy practical and relevant.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which give flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. Video is useful for a full session feel, phone may work better when bandwidth is limited, and chat or messaging can support brief check-ins or coaching-style notes between meetings. These options help people fit therapy into busy lives and keep consistent progress.