Meet Your Therapist

Dr. Merrill Berger

PhD, LPsy
Clinical Psychologist
Relationship & Intimacy Specialist

Therapeutic Specialties

Betrayal Trauma

Couple or Marriage Therapy

Communication

Couples Conflict

Couples Sex Therapy

Infidelity

Family Therapy

Individual Therapy

ADHD/ADD

Anxiety

Chronic Illness

Chronic Pain

Depression

Grief & Loss

Trauma & PTSD

Populations

Adults

Chronic Health Conditions

Disability

LGBTQIA+

Neurodivergent

Dr. Berger is a distinguished clinical psychologist, with over 25 years of experience helping clients heal from trauma, chronic illness, relationship difficulties, and complex family dynamics. She is dedicated to fostering a secure and compassionate environment that supports healing for individuals, couples, and families. Dr. Berger helps each client explore and understand themselves more deeply, fostering self-compassion and acceptance of both strengths and imperfections. Her approach centers on building a strong therapeutic relationship where you feel safe, understood, and comfortable sharing your story.

Life can bring deeply painful and unexpected experiences such as infidelity, illness, or trauma. Dr. Berger draws on extensive experience to help clients truly heal from painful experiences, navigate life’s challenges more effectively, deepen self-understanding, and rediscover hope and connection. She honors each person’s unique story and its role in the healing process. Together, you’ll explore the narratives that have shaped your life, bring awareness to old patterns and create space for growth and meaningful change.

Dr. Berger listens attentively to each client’s unique concerns and works collaboratively to uncover the patterns or challenges that may be keeping them stuck. She tailors therapeutic approaches to individual needs, utilizing evidence-based practices including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). For couples, she uses the Gottman Method and trauma informed care.

In her work with couples, Dr. Berger recognizes that relationship struggles often stem from early experiences with attachment and trust. She helps couples break out of defensive and conflictual communication patterns, guiding them toward deeper understanding, empathy, and connection. Her work emphasizes understanding each partner’s background and fostering healthier, more supportive relationships. Her work also focuses on rebuilding trust and creating the safety needed for relationships to thrive. She is at home in a practice at PBH that specializes in addressing the difficult issue couples face, including infidelity.

Dr. Berger’s decision to become a clinical psychologist was shaped by her own family’s experience with therapy prior to her parents’ divorce. Witnessing the contrast between everyday family dynamics and the honesty and validation she experienced in therapy left a lasting impression. It continues to inspire her dedication to providing a space where clients feel understood, supported, and empowered to heal.

About Dr. Berger

Dr. Berger began her career as a pediatric psychologist, supporting children and families coping with medical challenges. She quickly saw how illness and stress can affect relationships and became passionate about helping couples and families navigate life’s transitions with care and resilience.

Her postdoctoral training at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School focused on assessing and treating children who had experienced sexual abuse. This experience led her to work closely with the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court, where she advocated for children caught in high-conflict divorces. Witnessing the emotional impact of separation on families inspired her dedication to helping couples strengthen their relationships before they reach a breaking point, as well as supporting divorced and separated parents in building healthy, cooperative co-parenting relationships.

Dr. Berger has also devoted much of her career to public service and crisis response. Trained in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), she has supported survivors, journalists, and first responders following major events, including the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing and the 2001 World Trade Center attack, and has served as a volunteer evaluator for survivors of torture seeking asylum in the U.S.

Most recently, as an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, she founded and led the First Episode Psychosis Clinic and later specialized in supporting healthcare providers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education & Credentials
  • PhD in Clinical Psychology from University of Southern California
  • Washington State Licensed Clinical Psychologist
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts Licensed psychologist health care services provider