Courtney Merrill
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
In over two decades of professional experience, I have worked directly with hundreds of individuals and families navigating complex situations. I have also supervised dozens of therapists and other professionals and spoken at various conferences and events all over the US. In my own personal life, my professional world, and as a leader in community women’s groups, I have been moved by opportunities to connect with and support others, in particular as they confront all kinds of sensitive losses that lead to a lot of silent suffering. I am passionate about providing a space for an empathetic witness to these experiences, while offering professional, effective guidance and strategies to help you live more joyfully in a world where your loss exists.
Talking about grief is step one. We need our stories witnessed. Our pain and love matters.
— David Kessler
Infertility and Pregnancy Loss
Desiring to have a child and confronting complications, whether related to conception, carrying a child, or losing a baby, can lead to serious emotional distress. I can work with you, either individually or as a couple, with unique understanding, to help you address the specific grief associated with these losses.
Complicated Medical Diagnoses
When you receive a serious medical diagnosis, you suddenly find yourself navigating medical systems and appointments and making difficult decisions that impact your life, future, and family. Often your mental health takes a back seat. I can work with you and/or your loved ones to address the very real changes in identity, fears and anxiety about the future, and loss of security that come with these challenging times.
Divorce and Relationship Loss
When relationships come to an end, it can lead to a whole range of emotions, from devastation to relief. Among matters of financial insecurity, complicated legal and social questions, and changes to regular routines, many individuals also experience significant grief over the loss of the relationship or their hopes and expectations for the future. We can work together toward rebuilding.
I believe in the power of AND
One of my favorite therapeutic concepts is the dialectic. It asserts that two seemingly contradictory emotions can coexist. In other words, we can feel sadness AND joy. We can feel fear AND hope. We can feel grief AND gratitude. The work of grieving is not to forget or get over the loss. My intention is to help you find a way forward by acknowledging what is lost and building strategies to improve your life and relationships that still lie ahead.
“Grief is not a sign that you are unwell or unevolved. It’s a sign that love has been part of your life and that you want love to continue, even here.”— Megan Devine
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