Mercedes Frierson

Have you ever felt hurt by the very place or person that was supposed to nurture your spirit?

Have you ever been told that if you just prayed harder, believed more, or had stronger faith, your pain would go away?

Are you navigating a major life transition—like divorce, starting a new career, returning to school, or becoming an empty nester—and wishing you had someone to process it all with?

Have you ever struggled with conversations about race, identity, privilege, or belonging—whether you're experiencing harm or trying to better understand your role in the world around you?

Or maybe you’ve always been curious about therapy but come from a background where seeking help was considered taboo?

If any of these resonate with you, you are not alone—and you are welcome here.

My role as a licensed clinical social worker is to be with you as you gain clarity, process experiences, and move toward the life you want to build.

I work with adults navigating a variety of life experiences, including:

• Life transitions such as divorce, career changes, returning to school, or becoming an empty nester
• Experiences related to race, identity, and belonging
• Faith and spirituality questions, including experiences of church hurt
• Personal growth, self-awareness, and purpose exploration
• Anxiety, stress, grief, and loss
• Workplace stress and leadership challenges

My practice, ACTION to Healing, stands for A Conversation That Invites Others iN to Healing.

I believe healing often begins with something simple but powerful: an invitation to have a conversation.

My approach is trauma-informed, culturally humble, and spiritually-open. I hold space for spiritual exploration when it is meaningful for clients. Therapy in my practice is spiritually open, meaning that your beliefs—whether rooted in faith, questioning, or personal spirituality—can be explored as part of your healing journey.

I also integrate several therapeutic approaches, including:

• Trauma-Informed Care
• Motivational Interviewing
• Strengths-Based Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) informed strategies
• Expressive Arts approaches
• Spiritual approaches

ACTION to Healing welcomes individuals from diverse racial, cultural, and identity backgrounds. I believe representation and cultural understanding matter. As a Black woman, I also understand the importance of having spaces where people can explore their experiences of identity, power, privilege, and marginalization with honesty and care.

In this first session we are building relationship because if there is 'no relationship', then there is 'no work' to be done.

Our first session is all about you inviting me into your world and me learning how to see the world through your eyes. I will ask you about what experiences motivated you to come to therapy, what beliefs shape who you are and how you show up in the world, what expectations you have of me as a partner in your healing journey, and what are your hopes for change that you would like to achieve.

My life’s purpose is captured in this statement:

“I am a social worker, an educator, and a pathway for people's healing and self-discovery.”

Healing often begins with a conversation. If you’re ready, I invite you to start that conversation.