Meri Levy, LMFT
Psychotherapy for Parents and People in Pain
Specializing in Prenatal and Postpartum Depression/Anxiety
Are you feeling stuck? When you’re depressed, anxious or overwhelmed, it feels that life is always difficult. Taking the time to work through challenges in therapy improve your life in ways you never imagined. I am a therapist who helps clients manage anxiety and break through depression. I also work with couples to help them communicate and parent more effectively. My style is warm and nonjudgmental, and I work collaboratively with a wide range of clients. Using insight-oriented psychotherapy and mindfulness techniques, I will help you find a way to stop feeling stuck and move forward.
I have personal and professional experience working through depression and anxiety. I help clients examine thoughts that are holding them back, and learn new ways to cope with anxious feelings. I work collaboratively with medical professionals for clients taking antidepressant medication, and help clients find alternatives to medication when they choose to do so.
I’m also a parent of three children. I enjoying working with single parents and couples who are learning to establish boundaries and parent effectively. Sometimes improving parents’ self-care is as important to the well-being of the family as improving parenting skills.
Other areas I address as a therapist include grief and loss, chronic pain, life transitions and postpartum stress. I lead a postpartum depression support group called the Postpartum Emotional Recovery Circle, which meets at my office in Lafayette.
Education/Training
I earned my B.A. from Tufts University, an M.A. in Economics from New Mexico State University, and a Masters in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University.
Bio
I am a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern and Coach-Parenting™ Certified Coach. I offer individual and couples therapy, as well as parenting support and coaching to a wide range of individuals and families. I see clients at my office in Lafayette, California, which is in the San Francisco East Bay Area. I also lead a postpartum support group called the Postpartum Emotional Recovery Circle.
My early career was in the field of public policy until after the birth of my first two children. Then I founded and Directed The Nurture Center, a store and resource center for new parents in Lafayette, CA for eight years before beginning my training as a Marriage and Family Therapist. I am a Certified Lactation Educator, and have years of experience leading new parent support groups and helping new parents with feeding, sleep, infant care and the sometimes challenging transition to parenthood. I am now the mother of three children, ages 11, 14 and 17, a survivor of postpartum depression and anxiety, and I have parented a spirited child who has grown into a wonderful young man, so I’ve been there!
In addition to psychotherapy services and support groups, I offer workshops regarding the prevention, identification and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and am available as a speaker on topics relating to maternal mental health.
Memberships
I am a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, East Bay Chapter. In addition, I am a member of Postpartum Support International, and the Mt. Diablo Family Resource Network. I am a Topic Expert on Postpartum Depression on www.GoodTherapy.org.
Payments Accepted
Cash, check or credit card
License:LMFT 88213
Helpful Links
 Postpartum support international:
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The best blog on the internet relating to postpartum mood and anxiety disorders:
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Practice Areas/Issues Treated
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Therapy
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Loneliness
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Anxiety and Panic
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
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Caregiver Issues
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Online / Teletherapy
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Depression
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Pre and Postpartum Mental Health
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Divorce
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Relationship Issues
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EMDR
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Self-Esteem Issues
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Family Conflict
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Stress Management
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Grief and Loss
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Women's Issues
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Life Transitions
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Work and Career Issues
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Licenses/Certifications
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EMDR Part 1 and 2 (EMDRIA)
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Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
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