Marilyn Bryan DeBernardo, LMHC

Marilyn Bryan DeBernardo is a New York Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 25 years of experience. She helps adults facing stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, depression, and major life changes. Her approach is practical and down-to-earth, aimed at helping people move from feeling stuck to finding options that work for them.

She often supports clients dealing with relationship and family concerns, parenting strain, attachment or abandonment issues, and the impact of trauma or loss. She also works with people facing substance use and gambling problems and related codependency or caregiver stress. Marilyn uses straightforward tools to address mood, coping, and behavioral patterns so daily life feels more manageable.

Her work draws on several evidence-based approaches. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior. Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques help build emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills. She also incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Client-Centered methods to clarify values and strengthen motivation.

Marilyn has a long history of counseling in the Capital Region and brings practical experience helping people navigate complex co-occurring issues. She aims to be a collaborator who points clients to useful resources and next steps. People who want a therapist that balances skill-building with empathy may find her style helpful.

If you are considering therapy for anxiety, addiction-related issues, grief, or life transitions, the Start Therapy button will begin the matching process so you can schedule based on availability.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Many clients benefit from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy because it focuses on clear steps to change thoughts and behaviors and can help with anxiety, depression, and coping skills. CBT often uses homework and short practice exercises that fit well into everyday routines.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers concrete tools for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improving relationships. These skills-based strategies can be practiced between sessions and are helpful for intense emotions and impulsive behavior.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit best based on needs, goals, and preferences. That choice can shift over time as progress and circumstances change.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm the available options before booking. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also makes connecting from other locations possible for international clients. Ask about format choices and scheduling when you complete the matching questionnaire.