Nicole Merhaut, LMFT

Nicole Merhaut is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who uses practical approaches to help people move past struggles. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy to address everyday problems. Nicole presents a calm, nonjudgmental presence in sessions.

Nicole earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Cal Poly Pomona in 2009 and completed a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy at Capella University in 2015. She later added certifications in Applied Behavior Analysis and Addictive and Compulsive Behaviors in 2016 and 2017. She has eight years of experience as an LMFT in Florida.

Before licensure she worked in community mental health roles including targeted case management and as a master level practitioner. That background informs her practical focus on skills, routines, and real-life problem solving. She has worked with people facing anxiety, depression, anger, and substance misuse issues.

Nicole helps people address a wide range of concerns including relationship and family stress, parenting and blended family issues, trauma and abuse, eating and body-image struggles, and challenges tied to chronic medical conditions. She also supports those dealing with work stress, compassion fatigue, and life transitions.

In sessions she uses CBT to look at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect and to build better day-to-day habits. She uses Solution-Focused work to set clear, achievable goals and focus on small steps toward change. Nicole invites each person to explain their goals so she can tailor practical strategies that fit their life.

How CBT and Solution-Focused Work Translate to Online Therapy

Nicole uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect, then helps people try small experiments to change unhelpful patterns. This approach is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and behavior patterns tied to addictions. Solution-Focused Therapy is goal-directed and concentrates on present strengths and future steps, which can speed progress when someone wants clear, practical change.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Nicole will talk with each person about goals and preferences, and together they will choose or adapt methods that fit those needs. The process is collaborative and adjusts as goals evolve.

Confirm session formats before booking so you know how meetings will take place. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, shorten check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also allows steady, regular contact that supports building new habits and keeping momentum toward goals.