Had a couple of sessions and so far so good. I'm getting exactly what I need from the sessions and really understand who I am as a person, and what I strive to be. It takes time and effort with Frances' guidance, but I know I can do it while being gentle on myself.
Frances Merz, LPC
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Frances is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 4.5 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Frances. View 13 reviews
- Great news, Frances is accepting new clients!
- She is normally fully-booked.
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in New Jersey
Recent reviews
Frances is GREAT! Great listener, asks great questions, and tailors her approach to find what will work for you. Highly recommend her!
More about Frances
- 19 years' experience
- Female
- LPC
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey with over 19 years of experience working as a clinical counselor. I believe that when individuals seek counseling it is because they want to make changes in their lives. They may want to improve a life situation, solve a particular problem, make a decision, or achieve a greater understanding of life or personal circumstances. I utilize a variety of counseling techniques from an eclectic collection of theoretical orientation, based on the needs and strengths of the individual client.
I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including low self-esteem/self-confidence, social anxiety, anxiety, parenting problems, career challenges , and everyday stress that we experience. I enjoy working with college students, as well as individuals trying to work through transitions in their lives. I do not work with marriage counseling, relationship counseling,, or serious mental illness online.
I am also interested in working with individuals who are contemplating weight loss surgery or are post weight loss surgery patients and are looking for a counselor experienced in this area.
I also like working with clients who need assistance with medical advocacy. This is when a client is having health issues and is not sure how to maneuver the medical field, brainstorm questions to ask medical providers, and to cope with the overall issues of dealing with a medical situation. I have been involved in medical field through personal experience since I was a teenager and have learned some helpful tips along the way that I would like to share with others.
Counseling is a joint effort, which can not be successful without your hard work, energy, and courage. I do not use a cookie cutter approach to treatment. Meaning treatment techniques are chosen based on your needs, strengths, and weaknesses. Not every approach works for everyone and I believe in being flexible so that my clients have the opportunity to get the most out of their time in counseling.
I look forward to be able to support and empower you in your therapeutic goals.
I look forward to working with you!
A note on my availability:
I want to let you know about my general availability for counseling. I think it is important to let my clients know when I’m available so they can know when to expect a reply to a message. I am available Monday-Thursday. I will usually return messages within 24 hours.
Specialties
Stress
Anxiety
Parenting issues
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Coping with life changes
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Sleeping disorders
Bipolar disorder
Depression
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Life purpose
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Social anxiety and phobia
Young adult issues
Treatment Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Licenses
Frances Merz's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1336598523.
- LPC · New Jersey · 37PC00409500 · Expires November 2026
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling allows you to receive care from a mental health practitioner via phone, video chat, or instant messaging. It is convenient for those who may have trouble getting to or would prefer not to have in-person therapy appointments. Starting at $65 per week, online counseling is generally more affordable than in-person counseling. A study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley found that online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy while being more convenient, affordable, and accessible.
Reviews for Frances Merz
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
Had a couple of sessions and so far so good. I'm getting exactly what I need from the sessions and really understand who I am as a person, and what I strive to be. It takes time and effort with Frances' guidance, but I know I can do it while being gentle on myself.
Frances is GREAT! Great listener, asks great questions, and tailors her approach to find what will work for you. Highly recommend her!
For the first two meetings are going great and I feel comfortable with Frances
Frances has such a sympathetic understanding to people and creates helpful solutions you can actually use. Very thankful for Frances getting me through some hand times. Thank you again!
Frances is an excellent counselor. She really listens to her patients and provides excellent advice and care. I would definitely recommend Frances to others.
Frances Merz's counseling has made it possible for me to look at myself without being too critical. From this I have been able to recognize patterns that can change. She provides me with easy prompts and questions to start to make those changes. Her approach feels very welcoming as if I am speaking with a friend.
Since day one she has been there to answer questions and concerns that I am having with myself and offer sound advice.
Frances has been great because she helps provide the exact techniques, strategies, mindsets I need to approach my obstacles. I can tell she's also very knowledgeable and has a great toolkit at her disposal. She's also great at follow ups, if she hasn't heard from me in a while, she will reach out. I like that very much. Thank you Frances!!
Frances Merz is wonderful to work with. She listens and can offer helpful tips as well as resources to further explore and resolve whatever issues you are dealing with. She is also very knowledgeable. I would highly recommend her as a counselor.
Thank you Frances! She helped me a lot during my long recovery before and after divorce. I felt like she helped me stand up again and see things in other way. I'm super grateful that she was very understanding and remembered pretty much everything I told her. That's what I appreciate the most. That way she can recall all your problems and help navigate through life's journey. Thank you a lot for your help!
I woke up this morning feeling so blue. Frances allowed me to realize things in a different light. I actually feel so much better now. Thank you Frances Merz!
My counselor is always very on point and helps me work through all my struggles with goals and confronting my feelings. I feel much better emotionally through her counseling.
Frances is very supportive and prompt with her feedback. She helps me to ask the right questions of myself so that I can become more aware of the ways I tick and so that I can strategize techniques for improving my emotional well-being.
Frequently asked questions
Does Frances Merz offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Frances Merz works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Frances Merz speak?
Frances Merz speaks English.
How many years of experience does Frances Merz have?
Frances Merz has 19 years of experience.
Where is Frances Merz licensed to practice?
Frances Merz is licensed to practice in New Jersey.
Does Frances Merz accept clients outside of the United States?
No, Frances Merz does not accept clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Frances Merz offer?
Frances Merz offers clients Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
How can I communicate with Frances Merz?
Frances Merz can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Frances Merz?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.