Dara Felker-Merritt

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with dual master's degrees in Social Work (MSW) and Human Services with a Counseling specialization, I bring more than 23 years of experience providing comprehensive mental health services across a variety of clinical, educational, and community-based settings. My extensive background has equipped me with the knowledge, skills, and compassion needed to support individuals facing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and psychological challenges.

In addition to my outpatient therapy practice, I serve full-time as a School Social Worker, where I work closely with students, families, educators, and community partners to promote mental health, resilience, and academic success. This role enhances my understanding of the complex factors that influence emotional well-being across the lifespan.

My clinical specialties include trauma therapy, the treatment of anxiety, depression, behavioral concerns, and adjustment difficulties. I am committed to helping clients develop effective coping strategies, strengthen emotional regulation, and achieve meaningful personal growth.

I am certified in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and utilize a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches tailored to each client's unique needs, including TF-CBT, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Through a collaborative, strengths-based approach, I strive to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients can process difficult experiences, heal from trauma, build resilience, and work toward lasting positive change.

During our first session, we will take time to discuss your concerns, explore your strengths, and identify the goals you hope to achieve through therapy. Together, we will develop a collaborative treatment plan focused on your unique needs and determine how I can best support you in reaching your goals. My approach is client-centered, ensuring that therapy is tailored to help you build the skills, insight, and confidence needed to create meaningful and lasting change.