Grief counselors and therapists in Valrico, FL

Hello! I’m a counselor and I am bilingual in English & Spanish with specialized training in substance use prevention and treatment, and I support individuals, couples, families, children, and teens as they navigate life’s challenges. Many of the people I work with are dealing with depression, anxiety, stress, or difficulties with emotional regulation, and my goal is to offer a space where you feel genuinely understood and supported.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 26 years of experience. I have been providing mental health services to clients in Florida since 2013. I value building supportive relationships with both clients and professional colleagues.

I earned her bachelor’s degree from Catawba College in1993, where I double majored in Sociology and Clinical Psychology. I completed my Master of Social Work degree from Barry University in Florida in 1996.

Hi there! I’m so glad you found your way here, I’m Merlyn. What drew me to therapy wasn’t theory, but the quiet moment when someone feels safe enough to exhale, speak their truth, and realize they were never too much to be understood. Healing isn’t about fixing yourself; it’s about understanding the parts of you that had to fight, protect, and survive.

I also provide Christian-integrated counseling for women who share this faith, helping you explore your struggles through both science and Scripture, where psychology and God’s truth work together beautifully. This blend honors both emotional and spiritual healing, creating space for restoration that feels whole and grounded.

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Florida and the founder of Merlyn Asencio Psychotherapy & Wellness, LLC. I specialize in working with high-functioning women, the ones who appear composed, capable, and self-aware, yet feel anxious, disconnected, or exhausted on the inside. As the creator of The Merlyn MethodTM, I combine attachment-based EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and narrative therapy to help you reconnect with your voice, rebuild confidence, and experience peace that lasts beyond the session.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience providing individual and family therapy to children, adolescents and adults. My clinical background includes work with anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, foster care youth, and individual navigating high-stress life transitions.

As a bilingual therapist (English and Haitian Creole), I am especially passionate about supporting individuals and families within multicultural communities where mental health may be misunderstood or stigmatized. My goal is to create a space where you feel heard, respected, and empowered to grow.

I believe that meaningful therapy begins with a genuine human connection. My approach is warm, collaborative, and tailored to each client’s unique experiences and goals. I am passionate about helping individuals navigate life’s challenges while building resilience, self-awareness, and lasting change.

I earned my masters degree from Temple University and my doctorate degree from Rutgers University and have experience working with diverse populations across a variety of clinical settings. Throughout my career, I have supported individuals facing a wide range of mental health concerns and have developed specialized experience in working with trauma and its lasting effects. I understand how traumatic experiences can impact emotional well-being, relationships, self-esteem, and daily functioning, and I strive to create a safe, supportive environment where healing can occur.

My treatment areas include trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief and loss, life transitions, relationship concerns, self-esteem, and emotional regulation. I utilize evidence-based approaches such as CBT, TF-CBT, Motivational interviewing and Attachment Based treatment to help clients process difficult experiences, develop effective coping strategies, and move toward their goals.

I work with children, adolescents, young adults and families and am committed to providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed care. My goal is to help clients feel empowered, understood, and supported as they navigate their healing journey and create meaningful, lasting change.

My name is Benjamin Howell, and I'm the founder of Tranceform Wellness. At Tranceform Wellness, we believe that mental health care should be accessible to all. Our mission is to increase healthcare availability by providing high-quality psychiatry services at affordable rates. Our practice is able to provide a full suite of services, including telehealth medication management appointments and therapy services.

My approach to mental health care is collaborative, compassionate, and evidence-based. I believe in treating the whole person — not just symptoms. Every patient receives individualized care tailored to their personal goals, medical history, and life circumstances.

Life can be a lot. Between juggling work, friends and family life, anxiety and sadness can sneak up on you. Therapy isn’t about lying on a couch while someone silently nods, it’s about having a real convo with someone who gets it. Together, we’ll work together out how to quiet the noise, boost your mental health, and build habits that make life feel less like survival mode and more like you actually living it. Life throws curveballs — and when we don’t fully process them, they can sneakily pile up as stress, anxiety, or that heavy feeling you just can’t shake. That’s where therapy comes in.

My mission is simple: create a space where you can express yourself, shake off the weight you’ve been carrying, and explore who you’ve been, who you are, and who you want to become. A safe zone for real talk and growth. EMDR (a way of helping your brain re-file old memories so they don’t keep hitting the panic button), systems theory, person centered theory.

Therapy with me isn’t about lying on a couch in awkward silence. It’s modern, collaborative, sometimes even a little fun — because growth doesn’t always have to feel heavy. I’m open-minded yet structured and here to make the process feel less like a chore and more like a genuine reset.

For insurances I do not accept: Out of network provider: 4 questions to ask insurance representative: Does your plan include "out-of-network" coverage for mental health? What is your annual deductible for mental health benefits? What is your co-insurance? (What percentage does the plan cover?) Is there a limit on sessions?

Do you constantly worry? Do you overthink plans and solutions to worst-case outcomes so that you feel prepared? Does everything have to be done perfectly? Do you have difficulty handling uncertainty? Do you fear making the wrong decision? Do you feel restless? Having difficulty with sleep? Do you move from relationship to relationship? I specialize in helping those suffering from anxiety, including health care professionals and veterans. You don't have to continue suffering. As a seasoned therapist, I can help empower you to stop the cycle of worry and anxiety, find your sense of purpose, become the best version of yourself, and reclaim your life.

Viktor Frankl said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation -we are challenged to change ourselves." He really knew what he was talking about. Each life transition inevitably forces us to navigate "stormy waters." If the challenge has become overwhelming, reach out and give me a call at 423-342-6422. Now seeing clients in Connecticut, Florida, South Carolina, and Texas.

True healing isn't just about managing symptoms — it's about addressing the whole person.

I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who believes that lasting stability and happiness require working on three levels: your physical experience, your emotional patterns, and your spiritual wellbeing. When all three are addressed together, real change becomes possible.

I work with clients to identify what's getting in the way of the life they want — and build the tools, insight, and coping strategies to actually get there.