Carlos Mercedes Meran

I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Ph.D. candidate in Mental Health Counseling at Pace University, where I also earned my master’s degree. My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and rooted in Person-Centered Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Positive Psychology. I believe that healing happens through genuine connection, curiosity, and compassion not judgment.

I have experience working with individuals and couples navigating challenges such as relationship concerns, co-dependence, self-esteem, and substance use, as well as a variety of mental health diagnoses. My research has focused on intergenerational trauma within Latin American communities, and I’m passionate about helping clients explore how culture, identity, and family history influence emotional well-being.

As a bilingual counselor who values authenticity and growth, I strive to create a space where clients feel seen and supported for who they are not just what they’ve been through. My goal is to help you reconnect with your strengths, build self-trust, and create meaningful change in your life.

I believe that everyone has the ability to grow, heal, and navigate life’s challenges even when it feels impossible. My role as your therapist is to walk beside you with empathy, honesty, and encouragement, helping you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your experiences.

Through collaboration and psychoeducation, I aim to empower you to recognize your strengths and use them as tools for change. I see therapy as a shared journey built on trust, acceptance, and compassion where progress comes not from perfection, but from self-awareness and growth.

In our work together, my hope is that you’ll not only learn to manage life’s difficulties, but also to truly thrive embracing your resilience and rediscovering the parts of yourself that have always been capable.

Your first session is all about getting to know you, your story, your goals, and what brings you to therapy. I take a conversational and compassionate approach, asking thoughtful questions to better understand who you are and what you need right now. There’s no pressure to have everything figured out or to share more than you’re ready to.

I want you to feel safe, accepted, and free from judgment from the moment we begin. This time is yours, and my role is to listen deeply, help you explore what’s been weighing on you, and start identifying what healing and growth could look like for you.

By the end of the first session, we’ll begin to outline goals and next steps together building a plan that feels collaborative, supportive, and uniquely yours. My hope is that you leave feeling heard, understood, and a little more hopeful about what’s ahead.