Edye Merzer, PsyD

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Transforming Lives Through Mental Health Support and Community Outreach

Edye Merzer, PsyD, a seasoned clinical psychologist with over three decades of experience, continues to make a significant impact in the field of mental health through her private practice and pro bono consulting work with human service organizations and projects. Since establishing her practice in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1988, Dr. Merzer has been a compassionate and versatile clinician, drawing from Relational, Psychodynamic, Family Systems, and Existential psychotherapies, alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness meditation practices.

Dr. Merzer’s extensive experience includes supporting trauma survivors and those navigating complex challenges related to class, race, LGBTQ+ identity, chronic health conditions, grief, and religious or spiritual issues. Beyond individual and family therapy, she leads support groups, provides couples counseling, and offers clinical supervision. Her holistic and inclusive approach reflects a profound commitment to fostering resilience and promoting healing across diverse communities.

Dr. Merzer’s educational journey began at Cornell University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations in 1979. Her desire to support and uplift others led her to obtain a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University in 1987, followed by a Doctor of Psychology Degree in Clinical Psychology from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology in 1994. 

Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Merzer has dedicated herself to providing compassionate mental health support across various settings, helping children, adults, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges. Her work spans individual and group therapy, clinical supervision, and psychological assessments, with a focus on those impacted by trauma, chronic health conditions, and social inequalities. Dr. Merzer’s approach is holistic, integrating mindfulness practices to foster resilience and promote healing. She has a special commitment to underserved and oppressed populations, bringing a unique depth to her practice through her awareness of social and cultural issues affecting mental health.

Before becoming a psychologist, Dr. Merzer had a distinguished career in the labor movement, working at local, regional, and international levels. She organized and educated members across multiple unions, including the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union in Colorado and Boston, the Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers International Union in Washington, D.C., and Local 26 of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees International Union in Boston. Dr. Merzer also contributed to the NFL Players Association’s “Unions for Youth” program in rural Massachusetts, bringing opportunities to inner-city youth. During her time with Local 26, she not only led organizing efforts and negotiated for workers’ rights and benefits but also developed an English as a Second Language (ESL) program and created an Employee Assistance Program to provide counseling support for members and their families.

In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Merzer is actively involved in several volunteer initiatives. She works with Love Has No Color, assisting Native Americans on the Fort Peck reservation in Montana, and serves on the Executive Board of the Embrace All Foundation, which raises funds for projects in Nepal. Furthermore, she is a member of both The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy and the Massachusetts Association for Psychoanalytic Psychology.

Dr. Merzer is deeply committed to making a meaningful difference in her patients’ lives, with a genuine passion for listening to their needs and offering compassionate support. Her dedication to fostering personal growth and enhancing community well-being is at the heart of her work as a clinician, educator, and advocate.

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