Meet Mert Yildiz | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist & Founder of Lending Ears Therapy Services

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mert Yildiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mert, how does your business help the community?
I believe therapy helps the community by creating healthier individuals, relationships, and families. At Lending Ears Therapy Services, my work focuses on giving people a calm, nonjudgmental space to feel heard, understood, and supported while they navigate anxiety, stress, grief, relationship challenges, identity concerns, and major life transitions.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I see people not only as individuals, but as part of larger relational systems. When one person learns to communicate more clearly, regulate emotions, set healthier boundaries, or understand their story differently, that growth often extends beyond the therapy room. It can change how they show up with a partner, a child, a parent, a coworker, or themselves.

I also care deeply about making therapy feel human and accessible. Many people are nervous about starting therapy because they fear being judged, pathologized, or spoken to in a way that feels distant or overly clinical. My goal is to offer care that is compassionate, practical, and real. I want clients to feel respected as people first.

Lending Ears also reflects my own journey as an immigrant, clinician, and business owner. I understand how difficult it can be to build a life while carrying uncertainty, cultural transitions, family expectations, and personal pressure. Because of that, I try to create a space where people from diverse backgrounds can bring their full selves into therapy.

For me, the social impact of this work is not only symptom reduction. It is helping people feel less alone, strengthen their relationships, and build healthier ways of moving through the world.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the founder of Lending Ears Therapy Services, a psychotherapy practice based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I provide individual, couples, and family therapy, with a focus on anxiety, stress, grief, relationship challenges, life transitions, and helping people feel more grounded in their own lives and relationships.

My work is rooted in marriage and family therapy, which means I pay close attention to the systems people live in: their relationships, families, cultures, workplaces, communities, and the stories they have learned about themselves. I do not see therapy as simply giving advice or labeling symptoms. I see it as a collaborative process where clients can slow down, feel heard, better understand their patterns, and build healthier ways of responding to life.

Lending Ears was created from the belief that therapy should feel human, practical, and respectful. Many people come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, anxious, stuck in relationship patterns, or unsure how to move forward. My goal is to create a space where clients can be honest without feeling judged and supported without feeling spoken down to.

I offer both in person therapy in Fort Lauderdale and telehealth therapy across Florida. As the practice grows, my long-term vision is to build Lending Ears into a supportive group practice where clients can receive high quality care and newer clinicians can be trained and supported ethically. Becoming an AAMFT Approved Supervisor has been an important part of that next chapter.

At the heart of my work is a simple idea: people heal when they feel genuinely heard, understood, and supported in making meaningful changes.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting Fort Lauderdale, I would keep the trip relaxed, fun, and true to the city. I would definitely start with the beach. Fort Lauderdale Beach is one of the best parts of living here, and sometimes the best plan is just walking by the ocean, getting some sun, and letting the day slow down.

I would also take them to School of Rock Fort Lauderdale end of the season shows. Music has a way of bringing people together, and I love places that have community, creativity, and energy. They pick fun local spots which serves as a reminder that Fort Lauderdale is not only about the beach; there are also great creative spaces here.

For a night out, I would take them to a rooftop bar to enjoy the view, the weather, and the downtown energy. I’d also include The Wharf Fort Lauderdale because it has a lively outdoor atmosphere, food, drinks, music, and that social South Florida feel.

And honestly, at some point, we would probably end up at Chipotle. Not every great memory has to be fancy. Sometimes the best part of a trip is the casual meal after a long day, when everyone is tired, happy, and just enjoying each other’s company.

So my ideal itinerary would be a mix of the beach, music, a rooftop view, The Wharf, good conversations, and at least one very unglamorous but satisfying Chipotle stop.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would dedicate my shoutout to the people who helped me keep going during the years when the path was not clear or easy. My family, mentors, professors, supervisors, colleagues, and clients have all shaped the clinician and business owner I am today.

I also want to recognize the field of marriage and family therapy itself. My training taught me to see people in context, not just as individuals with symptoms, but as people shaped by relationships, culture, history, family systems, and the stories they carry. That perspective continues to guide the work I do at Lending Ears Therapy Services.

A special part of my gratitude goes to the clients who have trusted me with their stories. Therapy is built on courage and trust, and I never take that lightly. Their willingness to show up, be honest, and work toward change is a constant reminder of why this work matters.

Finally, as an immigrant and clinician, I carry deep appreciation for everyone who offered guidance, encouragement, and support during the long process of building a life and a practice. Lending Ears exists because of that support, but also because of the belief that people heal best when they feel genuinely heard.

Website: https://www.lending-ears.com

Image Credits
Khospace

Lending Ears Therapy Services