Denise Mercherson has been in practice 5 years and is licensed in Illinois. Denise lists stress, Anxiety, relationship issues and self esteem among 8 subjects on the BetterHelp roster.
Everything below is either quoted from Denise's own
BetterHelp listing, taken from public licensing records, or written by
Maker Therapy and labelled as such. Nothing here is an availability promise, a review, or a
rating.
5years in practice
8subjects listed
3approaches listed
01 · Who Denise works with
Denise works with stress, Anxiety, relationship issues and self esteem
Denise lists 5 specialisms and 3 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Denise chose to list first, which is the closest a listing
gets to “this is my actual practice”.
Specialisms
Stress, Anxiety
Relationship issues
Self esteem
Depression
Coping with life changes
Also experienced with
Communication problems
Forgiveness
Life purpose
02 · In Denise's own words
What Denise says about the work
Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.
I am licensed in Illinois with 5 years of professional work experience. I have experience in helping clients with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, motivation, self esteem, and confidence, & depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey.
Denise Mercherson, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026
03 · How Denise works
The 3 approaches Denise lists, in plain English
These are the clinical methods Denise lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not
Denise's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before
you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Denise runs a session.
Acceptance and Commitment TherapyACT
Rather than trying to argue a painful thought away, ACT works on loosening its grip and getting on with what matters to you anyway. Sessions spend real time naming your values, then building action around them while difficult feelings are still present.
Cognitive Behavioural TherapyCBT
Structured, present-focused work on the loop between what you think, how you feel and what you then do. Usually means noticing a thought pattern in the room, testing it against evidence, and practising something different between sessions. Among the most heavily researched talking therapies for depression and anxiety.
Dialectical Behaviour TherapyDBT
A structured skills-led adaptation of CBT built around holding two things at once: accepting yourself as you are and working to change. Teaches concrete skills for distress tolerance, emotion regulation and relationships. Developed for people whose feelings arrive at overwhelming intensity, and strongest-evidenced there.
04 · What happens next
From this page to a first session
Denise practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence,
written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of
Denise's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.
A questionnaire, not a booking form
BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from
therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Denise at this point.
Naming Denise specifically
BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Denise is a step you have to
take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch
afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to
Denise.
If the caseload is full
You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is
easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.
The first conversation
A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried,
what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.
If the fit is wrong
Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is
common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference
between a platform and a private practice.
05 · Practical details
Credentials and licensing
Credential
LCSW
Licensed in
Illinois
Licence
IL LCSW 149019311
Licence number
149019311
Licence expires
30 Nov 2027
NPI
1598293839
Years in practice
5
Gender
Female
Languages
English
International clients
Accepted
Listed since
15 May 2026
06 · Provenance
Where every line on this page came from
Denise's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography
are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 9 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.
The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are
written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.
Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Denise. There are no reviews
or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.
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