Business Details
20 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis Services in Berkeley, CA
Molly Merson, MFT is a licensed psychotherapist and psychoanalyst with nearly two decades of experience providing compassionate care for individuals navigating anxiety, grief, trauma, and systemic oppression. Our practice integrates decolonial praxis, liberation psychology, and trauma-informed approaches to help clients reconnect with their authentic selves. We specialize in working with marginalized communities, including queer and trans individuals, survivors of parental neglect, and activists seeking to reconcile personal growth with societal change.Our services include psychoanalysis, clinical consultation, and supervision for therapists, emphasizing ecological sustainability and social justice. With training from the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California and a master's in Social Clinical Psychology, we offer both in-person and telehealth sessions to clients in California and New York.
Services
Psychoanalysis
Clinical Consultation
Trauma Therapy
LGBTQ+ Affirming Care
Supervision for Therapists
Details
- Year established: 2006
Highlights and features
- 20+ years of experience in trauma-informed psychotherapy
- Specialized training in decolonial and liberation psychology
- Sliding scale fees for accessibility
- Offers both in-person and telehealth sessions
- Active member of APA Division 39 and WPATH
What people say
Deeply empathetic
Cultural competence
Safe space creation
Exceptional clinical insight
Trauma-informed approach
Services
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis helps clients explore unconscious patterns affecting their mental health through weekly sessions. This approach addresses anxiety, depression, and trauma by examining how past experiences shape current behaviors. Ideal for clients seeking long-term personal growth and deeper self-understanding through intensive therapeutic exploration.
Clinical Consultation
Clinical consultation provides therapists with expert guidance on challenging cases and professional development. This service includes analytical perspectives on countertransference, projective identification, and sociopolitical factors in therapy. Designed for mental health professionals seeking to enhance their clinical skills and navigate complex therapeutic relationships effectively.
Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy addresses the lasting effects of adverse experiences using evidence-based approaches. This service helps clients process intergenerational trauma, systemic oppression, and personal crises through a decolonial framework. Particularly beneficial for survivors of parental neglect, activists, and individuals navigating identity-related trauma in marginalized communities.
LGBTQ+ Affirming Care
LGBTQ+ affirming care creates safe therapeutic spaces for queer, trans, and gender nonconforming individuals. This service addresses unique mental health challenges faced by sexual and gender minorities through culturally competent practices. Focuses on identity exploration, systemic oppression impacts, and building resilience in non-heteronormative relationships.
Supervision for Therapists
Clinical supervision supports therapists' professional development through structured guidance and feedback. This service prepares clinicians for private practice while addressing ethical dilemmas, business development, and complex case management. Particularly valuable for early-career therapists seeking to strengthen their clinical foundation and cultural competence in diverse practice settings.
People
Molly Merson
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Molly Merson is a Berkeley-based psychotherapist with 20+ years of experience in trauma-informed care. She specializes in decolonial praxis, liberation psychology, and working with marginalized communities. Holds an MA in Social Clinical Psychology and serves as President of APA Division 39's Psychoanalysis for Social Responsibility section.
Questions
What therapeutic approaches do you use?
I integrate psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy, and trauma-informed approaches with decolonial praxis and liberation psychology principles to address systemic oppression impacts.
Do you accept insurance?
I don't accept insurance directly but can provide receipts for potential PPO reimbursement. Sliding scale options are available for qualifying clients.
What populations do you specialize in?
I specialize in working with queer and trans individuals, activists, survivors of parental neglect, and people experiencing systemic oppression related to race, gender, or socioeconomic status.
Are telehealth sessions available?
Yes, I primarily offer online therapy through secure video conferencing with limited in-person appointments available in my Berkeley office.
What is your cancellation policy?
Please contact me as soon as possible if you need to reschedule. I maintain a 24-hour cancellation policy for all appointments.
Do you offer consultation for other therapists?
Yes, I provide clinical consultation and supervision for therapists, focusing on countertransference, projective identification, and integrating sociopolitical awareness into clinical practice.
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