Meryl S. Heyliger, PhD
Licensed Psychologist
Helping you cultivate the life you want.
In-Person and Virtual Therapy, Parent Support, and Psychological Evaluations
Warm, collaborative, and practical care tailored to help children, teens, and adults navigate emotional challenges, life transitions, school & learning differences, and personal growth.
© Dr. Meryl S. Heyliger. All rights reserved.
Meet Dr. Heyliger
For more than 20 years, I have supported children, teens, adults, and families with warmth, curiosity, and a grounded, encouraging presence. In my private practice, I provide individual therapy for clients navigating anxiety, depression, attention challenges, life transitions, and everyday stress. I believe meaningful growth begins in a warm, safe, and collaborative space where you feel truly heard and understood.In alignment with this, my approach is culturally responsive, compassionate, and practical. I want to help individuals cultivate effective coping skills, gain clarity, and build lasting resilience. Alongside my clinical practice, I bring a rare, comprehensive vantage point as an experienced school psychologist. Having worked for years within public school systems and currently at an independent school, I understand the distinct school cultures, student support structures, and accommodation processes of both environments. Working both privately and directly within schools allows me to support young people and their families with the real-world challenges they face both in and out of the classroom. I work to translate psychological insights into realistic, collaborative goals that serve individuals, parents, and educators alike.I earned my PhD in School Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, completed advanced clinical training at the Washington School of Psychiatry, and have received specialized training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and SPACE. I continually enhance my work through advanced clinical training and peer consultation.When not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, game nights, sporting events, being outdoors, reading, or taking long walks with my dog.
SERVICES
In-Person & Virtual Therapy
Who it’s for: Children (ages 8+), teens, and adults.
Focus areas: Anxiety, depression, attention and executive functioning skills challenges, adoption-related needs, stress, life transitions, and emotional overwhelm.
Approach: Collaborative, practical care grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and/or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to build coping skills and align daily actions with your values.
Parent Support & Consultation
Who it’s for: Parents and caregivers navigating behavioral challenges, emotional distress, or school-related worries.
Approach: Build connection and provide practical tools to help caregivers respond thoughtfully to emotional dysregulation, strengthen the parent-child bond, and implement calm, consistent strategies for everyday behavioral challenges.
Specialized Anxiety Care: Incorporating SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) to help parents reduce anxiety-reinforcing accommodations and build lasting child resilience.
Psychological & Psychoeducational Evaluations
Who it’s for: Children, teens, and adults seeking clarity and determining needs related to learning, attention, executive functioning, or emotional well-being.Approach: Multi-faceted and comprehensive evaluation process for assessing attention, behavior, executive functioning, learning (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia), and mood concerns that includes diagnostic information, actionable steps for treatment, and recommendations for accommodations.
School-Based Consultation & Intervention
Who it’s for: Families, in partnership with educators, seeking guidance in navigating classroom accommodations, educational plans, and student support.Approach: Review outside evaluations, interpret psychoeducational testing, and consult on 504 plan and IEP development, accommodations, and measurable goals. Partner directly with teachers, administrators, and student support teams to implement sustainable academic and behavioral interventions.
Contact
Please call or email to schedule a consultation or your appointment today. I have availability for in-person and telehealth (virtual therapy) sessions.Please note, Old City Psychology does not accept insurance at this time but does provide superbills.
Thank you for reaching out to take steps toward cultivating the life you want. I look forward to working with you to achieve your goals.
