Marilyn Bryan DeBernardo, LMHC

Marilyn Bryan DeBernardo is a New York licensed mental health counselor with 25 years of clinical experience helping adults and families navigate addiction, mental health challenges, and relationship difficulties. She combines specialty training in substance use and gambling issues with certification to address co-occurring disorders, bringing practical skills and compassion to each therapeutic relationship. Marilyn holds the LMHC credential, which stands for Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and she is a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Use Disorder Counselor with a gambling certification (CASAC-G). She also holds a combined OMH and NY OASAS certificate known as IMHATT for working with clients who have both mental health and substance use concerns.

Throughout her career in the Capital Region she has focused on treating addictions, codependency, grief and loss, trauma, anxiety, and other stressors that affect daily functioning and relationships. Marilyn emphasizes building a collaborative therapeutic partnership that supports clients in identifying goals, developing coping strategies, and making meaningful changes. She also helps family members and loved ones who are affected by a relative's substance use or mental health condition.

Marilyn aims to be a catalyst for positive change and to connect clients with resources that match their needs. She encourages reaching out as a first step toward regaining control and working toward the life each person wants to achieve.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Care

Marilyn integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into her online practice to help clients clarify what matters most to them and build psychological flexibility. ACT uses mindful awareness and values-based actions to support people coping with anxiety, stress, and patterns that limit their progress.

She also employs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT is practical and skills-oriented, often used for anxiety, depression, and coping with life transitions.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Marilyn works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their goals, preferences, and presenting concerns. That collaborative exploration helps tailor sessions to what is most likely to be helpful.

Online therapy with Marilyn is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options allow clients to maintain continuity of care from different locations, fit therapy into busy lives, and choose the format that supports their engagement and progress.