ABOUT MERRITT REID
After spending 15 years as an actor and filmmaker, Merritt Reid smoothly transitioned to the field of counseling, noting that “…the study of acting is essentially the study of people and empathy, which allows me to create strong therapeutic connections with my clients.”
Merritt’s counseling includes work with adults, children and adolescents, couples, and the reproductive and perinatal sphere. He specializes in spirituality and religion, which compliments his work in grief therapy and adult children of alcoholics.
Merritt has completed Level 2 of the Gottman method, which he combines with neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and building communication skills, to focus on managing conflict, building a foundation of trust, and creating friendship, intimacy, connection and passion. He is a Certified Bringing Home Baby Educator and works with new parents on navigating parenting and relationships. Merritt also uses concepts from books such as Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking when Stakes are High, in order to create the goals of Win-Win solutions and fostering connection.
Merritt was trained in perinatal loss and grief, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, through The Seleni Institute and Postpartum Support International (PSI). He helps families deal with the hardship and despair that can accompany issues such as infertility, miscarriage, traumatic birth, postpartum depression ,and anxiety.
In my free time I love to meditate, read, and do anything creative such as photography and playing guitar.
MERRITT REID’S APPROACH TO THERAPY
I work from an existential theoretical base with the goal first and foremost to understand my clients. The structure of my approach is about creating awareness, deepening understanding and education of the client and their situation, and then actively working towards change. Clients and I work together towards their therapeutic goals from an inside-out, holistic perspective.
I strive to create a warm, genuine, and authentic atmosphere that promotes empowering clients to achieve the best version of themselves. I believe everyone is unique and that what works for one person may not work for someone else. For this reason, I work with clients to make sure they resonate with the direction of their therapy and techniques utilized, as well as to facilitate autonomy and create prolonged lasting change.
EDUCATION
- Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Monmouth University
- Bachelor of Science in Physiology – Rutgers University
CREDENTIALS
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C)
- Certified in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement (CT)
PUBLICATIONS
- Reid, M. (2020). Acting theory applied to counseling: Stanislavski continues to contribute to psychic healing. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 15(2), 223- 234. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2019.1683110
- Reid, M. (2020). Ecospirituality In Nature is Nurture: Counseling and the Natural World. New York, NY :Oxford University Press.
