Merritt  Stewart
Vetted

Merritt Stewart

She/Her/Hers

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW Specialties Insurance & Fees Locations
New York Accepting Online
New York Not Accepting In-person
Updated October 5, 2023

Specialties & Expertise

  • Trauma
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • College/work
  • Couples/marital counseling
  • Parenting

Professional statement

Merritt Stewart is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 25 years of experience as a practicing therapist in New York City. She specializes in working with individuals who are experiencing anxiety, depression and trauma. One particular area of expertise is working with those who have histories of sexual abuse/assault. She sees those who report having unsatisfying interpersonal (familial, intimate, etc.) relationships, difficulty managing stress and who lack emotional stability. 

Clients who visit Merritt often report having unhealthy relationships and repeating patterns of behavior that are not serving them well. They often present with many of the following concerns: sleep and eating disturbances; low self-esteem; addictive behaviors; self-harm; excessive worry/rumination; depressed mood; anxiety/panic attacks; post-traumatic stress.

Merritt’s approach is trauma-informed and psychodynamic, while also grounded in evidence-based treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  She will work with you to identify areas of concern and assess strengths. Her clients report feeling more content and fulfilled in their personal lives and careers. Her warm, compassionate persona ensures a non-judgmental space where clients are able to be authentic and experience tangible growth. Her practice is open to young adults, couples and adults across the lifespan. She frequently works with college and graduate students.


Message to clients

Beginning therapy is both courageous and empowering. You are making an investment in yourself that will benefit your health, relationships, career, and overall sense of well-being. Do you wish to address specific problems and challenges or more long-standing concerns? Is it difficult to identify your needs, but only know that you want to feel better? You are not alone. We will work collaboratively to assess your needs and achieve your treatment goals.

I believe that successful therapy addresses both current symptoms and underlying causes. Our current moods, behaviors and functioning are the results of a combination of past experiences, genetics, and social/environmental stressors. By not examining or giving expression to our unique histories, we allow traumas to build up over time, resulting in negative thought patterns, self-destructive behaviors and emotional pain. Therapy can assist you with integrating your life experiences, by altering negative patterns of thinking and behavior, improving coping skills and reducing emotional distress.

I employ an integrative approach to treatment, adapting to the unique needs of each client. I believe that you are the expert on you and that therapy is a collaborative process. Oriented in trauma informed care, I utilize psychodynamic, family systems, strengths-based, interpersonal, relational, humanistic, and CBT modalities. I offer a safe, compassionate and judgement- free space for us to explore your concerns.


Specialties

Trauma - Coping and healing after traumatic events, including childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault and/or interpersonal violence (includes: creating safety; identifying triggers; validating and normalizing trauma responses; building and strengthening adaptive coping skills)

Anxiety - Managing excessive worry, fear, social anxiety, panic attacks

Depression - Providing support and working toward a more stable mood and affect

College/work - Navigating the transition to schooling or a new job, managing interpersonal conflicts, coping with anxiety and stress

Couples/marital counseling - working on identifying habitual, reactive patterns of engagement, enhancing effective communication, reducing conflict

Parenting - Supporting parents as they adjust to all stages of parenthood




Clientele

  • Adults (24+)
  • Parents
  • Young adults (18-24)

Insurance

  • Aetna
  • Aetna Student Health Insurance
  • Cigna
  • Columbia University Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna)
  • FIT Student Health Insurance (Aetna)
  • NYU Student Health Insurance (Wellfleet / Cigna PPO)
  • New School Student Insurance (United Healthcare Student Resources)
  • Optum
  • Oxford Health Plans
  • United Healthcare
  • United Healthcare Student Health Plan
  • Wellfleet

Out-of-pocket fees

  • Individual sessions: $200 (50min)
  • Initial session: $250 (60min)
  • Couples sessions: $300 (60min)

Additional session information

Out-of-network billing options

This provider can support you in getting reimbursement from your insurance company if you are seeking out-of-network reimbursement. Here are the out-of-network billing options they provide:

  • Super billing
Payment options
  • Credit Card
Session frequency

Frequency of sessions this provider offers to see clients once you are an established client.

  • Weekly

Location(s)

Online Sessions (New York)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 9-6
  • Tue 930-7
  • Wed 10-7
  • Thu 9-4
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

New York practice
244 WEST 74TH STREET, 8B, New York, New York 10023
Not accepting new clients in-person
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 9-630
  • Tue 930-630
  • Wed 1030-730
  • Thu 9-4
  • Fri Closed
  • Sat Closed
  • Sun Closed

Work and Education

Years of Experience: 27 years

Private Practice, 2017 - Present
Victim Services Program, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Therapist and clinical supervisor, 2008 - 2020
Post Graduate Center for Mental Health, FFS clinician, 2007 - 2009
Child Sexual Abuse Treatment and Prevention Program, KHCC, Therapist, 2002 - 2004
JBFCS, Therapist, 1998 - 2002

Hunter College School of Social Work, MSW, 1997
Tulane University, BA, 1993


Licensure

New York: 070596


Languages

English