Business Details
20 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Therapist in Berkeley, CA
Molly Merson, LMFT is a licensed therapist and psychoanalyst with nearly two decades of experience providing psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and clinical consultation. Specializing in anxiety, grief, inner critic issues, and trauma, she offers a collaborative, empathic approach rooted in ecological practices, justice psychology, and decolonial praxis. Her practice focuses on helping clients reconnect with suppressed parts of themselves, navigate systemic challenges, and build resilience through deep self-exploration. With expertise in relational and trauma-informed care, she serves individuals, couples, and therapists seeking personal and professional growth. 
Services
Psychotherapy
Psychoanalysis
Clinical Consultation
Supervision
Online Therapy
Details
- Year established: 2006
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of experience in trauma-informed psychotherapy.
- Our approach integrates decolonial and social justice frameworks.
- We provide specialized consultation for therapists and clinicians.
- Our practice emphasizes relational and psychodynamic methodologies.
- We offer sliding-scale fees for financial accessibility.
Associations and certifications
- California Board of Behavioral Sciences (MFT License #52483)
What people say
Highly recommended
Sensitive and edgy
Profound transformation
Innate curiosity
Open-hearted embrace
Services
Psychotherapy
Individual psychotherapy addresses anxiety, grief, relationship issues, and trauma through a collaborative, empathic process. Clients explore suppressed emotions, challenge internalized systems of oppression, and develop resilience. This service supports adults, youth, and couples seeking relief from emotional overwhelm and self-criticism.
Psychoanalysis
Intensive psychoanalysis explores unconscious patterns through frequent sessions (3-5 times/week). This approach uncovers root causes of emotional distress, examines dreams and associations, and fosters profound self-understanding. Ideal for clients seeking transformative change in long-standing behavioral patterns and self-perception.
Clinical Consultation
Professional consultation assists therapists with challenging cases, countertransference, and practice development. Services include business strategy, marketing guidance, and clinical supervision for interns. This support helps mental health professionals expand their analytical thinking and cultural competence.
Trauma Recovery
Specialized trauma treatment addresses intergenerational, structural, and interpersonal trauma. The practice incorporates somatic awareness and decolonial frameworks to help clients navigate systemic oppression, rebuild self-worth, and process complex grief from personal or collective experiences.
Social Justice-Informed Therapy
Therapy integrates awareness of racism, gender systems, and economic disparities into clinical practice. This approach validates clients' experiences with marginalization while developing strategies to navigate oppressive structures and cultivate authentic self-expression.
People
Molly Merson, MFT
Licensed Therapist and Psychoanalyst
Molly Merson is a Berkeley-based LMFT with 20+ years of experience in psychodynamic therapy and decolonial praxis. She specializes in trauma recovery, inner critic work, and social justice-informed care. A graduate of New College of California's Social Clinical Psychology program, she also serves as a psychoanalytic candidate and clinical supervisor.
Questions
What issues do you specialize in treating?
I specialize in anxiety, grief, inner critic issues, trauma, eating disorders, and systemic oppression impacts. My practice supports clients navigating perfectionism, relationship challenges, and identity exploration.
Do you accept insurance?
I don't accept insurance directly but provide receipts for potential PPO reimbursement. Sliding-scale fees are available for financial need.
Are in-person sessions available?
Most sessions occur online via video or phone. Limited in-person appointments are available at my Berkeley office with advance notice for accessibility needs.
How do you approach social justice in therapy?
I integrate awareness of systemic oppression, racial equity, and gender diversity into clinical work. This includes examining how societal structures impact mental health and validating marginalized experiences.
Do you offer consultation for other therapists?
Yes, I provide clinical consultation and supervision for therapists, focusing on case analysis, countertransference, and practice development with a social justice lens.
What is your cancellation policy?
Please contact me directly for specific cancellation policies. I maintain flexibility while emphasizing mutual respect for scheduled appointment times.
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