Meryl S. Heyliger, Ph.D.

Dr. Meryl Heyliger is a Licensed Psychologist dedicated to helping her clients enhance their life experiences. She assists adults, children and their families in changing behavior and mindset for improved functioning in work, school, and in relationships with others. Dr. Heyliger provides psychological evaluations and therapy to clients ranging from early childhood through adulthood. In a collaborative setting, she provides parent support and teacher consultation to address behavior and learning needs in classrooms to ensure that intervention strategies are developed and implemented effectively.

Dr. Heyliger brings compassion, hope and a belief that her clients can access their personal power to navigate life events. She helps consider possibilities to determine what choices promote or limit growth and attainment of goals. Using techniques that focus on shifting behavior, thoughts and feelings, and using mindfulness practices, issues can be resolved toward the client’s desired change.

Prior to beginning her private practice work, Dr. Heyliger gained significant experience working as a school psychologist, performing evaluations of learning and behavior and assisting both parents and teachers in helping with children’s development. The evaluations assisted with educational placement and diagnosis.  Currently, she is a school counselor in a private school in the District of Columbia.

Dr. Heyliger received training and supervision in psychotherapeutic approaches for children from the Washington School of Psychology and in cognitive behavioral therapy from Alvord, Baker and Associates.  She has undergone significant personal and professional training to better understand and engage in issues related to identity development and cross-cultural communication. For the past three years, Dr. Heyliger has facilitated SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) groups. SEED has two main purposes: 1) to help people understand how their life experiences related to race, gender and other aspects of culture, influence their approach to people and situations, and 2) to establish new possibilities for effective cross-cultural communication. Dr. Heyliger has lectured locally and nationally on topics related to social-emotional learning, client confidentiality, microaggressions, and critical race theory.