Dr. Mykal Merrill

I believe people make sense when you understand the full context of their lives — their relationships, culture, identity, environment, history, and the experiences that shaped them. I graduated from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2024, where my dissertation focused on adolescents’ experiences in therapy. Most of my training and clinical experience has focused on children and adolescents as young as 5, while also supporting individuals across the lifespan. I have worked in private practice, hospital-adjacent settings, and community mental health, giving me experience with a wide range of client needs. I support clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, family stress, parenting challenges, identity concerns, relationship issues, and the process of better understanding themselves.

My approach is collaborative, empowering, culturally responsive, and grounded in the belief that life’s challenges are shaped by both personal experiences and the world around us. In session, we may explore relationships, learning, parenting, life changes, identity, family dynamics, emotional patterns, and the stressors that affect how you move through the world. I believe therapy is a space to explore, process, and sit with difficult feelings while also identifying the strengths and resources you already carry. My style is approachable, thoughtful, and supportive. My goal is to help you better understand yourself, recognize your strengths, and build the confidence and tools needed to navigate whatever life places on your path.

A first session with me is focused on getting to know each other in a way that feels approachable, comfortable, and respectful of where you are. I will ask questions to better understand what brings you to therapy, your background, your relationships, your strengths, and how you experience the world. Whether you are seeking support for anxiety, depression, trauma, family concerns, parenting stress, life transitions, identity questions, or emotional overwhelm, we will begin by building a clear understanding of you as a whole person. My hope is that you leave the first session feeling heard, understood, and more comfortable beginning the work of exploring your life, your meaning, and the support you need moving forward.