Max Merritt, M.A.

Licensed Professional Counselor
Intensively Trained DBT Clinician
Staff Therapist

“We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. Consequences give us the pain that motivates us to change.” ― Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

Since 2016 Max has counseled in both a school-based setting and in an agency setting where he worked with clients from ages 5 to 75. Since joining the Summit in 2019, Max has also had the honor of working with many Asian-American clients and once worked as a youth pastor for a Korean church in Huntsville, Alabama.  He has helped clients address many concerns related, but not limited to ADHD, anxiety, depression, suicide, anger management, addiction, divorce care, pre-marital, marital and relationship counseling, trauma, bullying, self-esteem, and career counseling.  Max counsels largely from a Cognitive Behavioral and Person-centered Therapy orientation and has also studied Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Solution-Focused Therapy.

Max’s motto when it comes to working with children and adolescents is “kids are people, too”.  Max believes that children and adolescents have unique perspectives and experiences that should not be discounted or brushed aside simply because they are young.  Max believes it is important to be able to enter their world, to show genuine interest in their ideas, hopes and dreams, just as he would an adult client.

In his down time Max likes to read, exercise, attend concerts, spend time with family, volunteer at his church, and play his acoustic and bass guitar.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, Southeastern University of the Assemblies of God
• Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Regent University

Licensure, Certifications and Professional Affiliations

• Licensed Professional Counselor, Georgia
• Intensively Trained DBT Clinician
• Staff Therapist

Online Presentation

• Normal Teenage Angst vs. Emotional Distress: Recognizing the Signs of Anxiety and Depression
  River Trail Middle School partnered with Summit Counseling Center to lead a panel discussion on “Normal Teenage Angst vs. Emotional Distress: Recognizing the Signs of Anxiety and Depression”. Panelists included Max Merritt, Summit Counseling School-based Therapist; Renee Bartley, Claire Graff, and Matthew Peterson, River Trail School Counselors; and Rachel Kitchens-Cole, FCS Social/Emotional Social Worker.
• Summit Counseling Virtual Event – January 14 at 7 PM – YouTube
  Johns Creek UMC partnered with Summit Counseling Center to lead a panel discussion on “Hope in the Midst of Loss”. In this unprecedented time, our normal is no longer normal. Loss has taken on many new shapes and forms. Some of us have experienced the loss of a friend or family member and find ourselves grieving without the support of our community due to social distancing. Others are experiencing the loss or disruption of our jobs, social isolation, and moreover the loss of a “normal routine” as we knew it. Join our partners at The Summit for a discussion on recognizing our loss, processing our grief and practicing self-care moving forward.