Chelsey Merchant, LCSW

Utah | Online sessions in Utah | English | Book with Chelsey »

Compassionate narrative therapy and practical tools

Details

Name	Chelsey Merchant
Credentials	LCSW
Based in	Utah
Licensed in	Utah
Session format	Online
Languages	English
Years in practice	5

About Chelsey

Chelsey Merchant, LCSW, draws on Narrative and client-centered ways of working to help people make sense of hard experiences. She keeps sessions practical and conversational so people can notice what matters and try new ways of responding. Chelsey aims to create a calm, nonjudgmental space for people to tell their stories and find strengths to build on.

She has five years of clinical experience and is licensed in Utah as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Background and approach

Chelsey helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, and low self-esteem. She also supports concerns around body image, eating and food-related issues, and mood disorders such as bipolar and seasonal affective disorder. Chelsey works with people who are exploring intimacy, relationship and sexual identity questions including gender dysphoria and LGBT matters.

She also addresses guilt and shame, dissociation, self-harm thoughts, and isolation or loneliness. Her practice includes more specific areas like BDSM and kink, hospice and end-of-life counseling, and the stresses of career change. In sessions she blends Narrative therapy with tools from cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior approaches when helpful.

She uses mindfulness practices for grounding and emotion regulation. Chelsey tends to focus on what a person wants to change right now and practical steps to get there. To begin, she asks people to share their story and goals so together they can shape a plan that fits.

Chelsey encourages small, steady steps and checks in often about what is or isn’t working.

What this therapist works with

Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief among the things Chelsey works with, alongside the areas below.

Approaches listed

Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Chelsey among the ways she works.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Chelsey among the ways she works.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Chelsey among the ways she works.
Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Chelsey among the ways she works.
Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Chelsey among the ways she works.
Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Chelsey directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.

Narrative Therapy in this listing

Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.

If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Chelsey directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.

Online session options

How narrative and skills-based work translates online

Online sessions often use Narrative Therapy to help people reframe their experience and notice new possibilities in their story. That approach focuses on how events and relationships are described and looks for strengths and exceptions to difficult patterns. Chelsey also uses client-centered methods to keep the work guided by the person's priorities and pace, paying close attention to their concerns and goals.

She may bring in cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and try small behavioral experiments. Mindfulness practices are also used to help with grounding and emotion regulation during and between sessions. Together these approaches are chosen collaboratively so the treatment fits a person's needs rather than following a fixed plan.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility for different schedules and needs. Video calls work well for a fuller conversation and nonverbal cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text are useful for ongoing support, quick skill practice, or when typing feels more comfortable than speaking. These options help make it easier to attend sessions and keep the work consistent.

Common questions about this listing

What concerns does she help with?

Chelsey works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, and self-esteem issues. She also supports people with body image, eating issues, mood disorders, relationship and intimacy-related concerns.

How would you describe her therapy style?

She uses a Narrative and client-centered approach that invites people to tell their story. She pairs that with practical techniques from CBT, DBT, and mindfulness when useful.

What is her professional background?

Chelsey has five years of clinical experience working with a range of mental health and life challenges. She emphasizes collaborative, strength-based work.

Where is she licensed and practicing?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, licensed in Utah.

Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?

Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

What formats are available for sessions?

Sessions can be held as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or through text-based messaging.

How does payment work and what does it cost?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I get started with Chelsey?

Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Contacting this therapist

Sessions with Chelsey are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Chelsey where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.

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