Welcome!
I'm Meryl, a psychotherapist, and I feel deeply grateful that my work allows me to do what I love most: caring for others. Supporting people as they grow and heal at their own pace is a privilege I treasure every day.
I earned my Master's in Integral Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in 2022. My practice has been equally shaped by years of embodied training — including a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Yoga Tree in 2018 and NICABM’s Radical Self-Compassion program with Tara Brach. This work has deepened my understanding of the body-mind connection and shapes the somatic, present-centered quality I bring into the therapy room. Since then, I've continued to expand my knowledge and skills, because learning is one of my joys, and I believe it's essential for offering the best support I can.
California has been my home for over a decade, though I grew up in France in a French Jewish-Tunisian family. My bicultural background — alongside my practice of yoga and meditation — has given me a deep appreciation for empathy, cultural humility, and the many ways people experience the world.
Background & Qualification
Master’s in Integral Counseling Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS)
My graduate training at the CIIS grounded me in a rigorous, integrative approach to psychotherapy that honors the whole person—mind, body, and nervous system. CIIS emphasizes depth, ethics, and relational presence, shaping me into a thoughtful and well-trained clinician.
The Clinic Without Walls
My work at The Clinic Without Walls provided extensive hands-on experience supporting clients with complex trauma and relational wounds. This setting strengthened my ability to remain steady, attuned, and grounded in the face of intense emotional material.
Somatic Experiencing®
My ongoing training in Somatic Experiencing® allows me to work skillfully with the nervous system, supporting healing from stress and trauma. We work with the body’s innate intelligence, not against it. By listening and trusting, we release old stress and trauma, creating transformational change.
Internal Family Systems
My training in Internal Family Systems through PESI equips me to help clients understand and compassionately work with their inner parts rather than feeling overwhelmed by them. This approach supports lasting change by fostering self-leadership, clarity, and internal trust.
The International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT)
Through my training with ICEEFT, I am deeply grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy, a research-backed approach to strengthening attachment and emotional safety in relationships. This work helps couples move out of painful cycles and into more secure, connected bonds.
San Francisco Marriage and Couple Center
My training at the San Francisco Marriage and Couple Center immersed me in couples therapy and relational dynamics. Supported by experienced supervisors, I developed a deeper capacity to help partners find clearer communication, heal relational ruptures, and rebuild the trust between them.
Bay Area Couples Collective
My work with the Bay Area Couples Collective immersed me in collaborative, high-quality couples therapy alongside experienced clinicians. Being part of this community sharpened my clinical judgment and reinforced my commitment to ethical, effective relational work.
Blue Oak Therapy Center
My time at Blue Oak was formative. Working alongside skilled clinicians, I deepened my practice with a diverse range of clients, drawing on and refining my relational and somatic competencies. The combination of hands-on client work, supportive supervision, and peer consultation helped me grow meaningfully into the clinician I had always hoped to be.
Let’s begin.
The first step to starting therapy is a free initial consultation call. This is a chance for us to get to know each other and see if we might be a good fit. During that call, I can also answer any questions you have about therapy.
Complete this form and I will reach out to you via email in approximately two business days. You can also email me at therapywithmeryl@gmail.com.