Molli Mercer, Ed.D.

Bachelor's in Psychology, University of Iowa

Master's in Couple and Family Counseling, Governors State University

Ed.D in Counselor Education and Supervision, Governors State University 

Dr. Mercer earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Iowa, she completed her Master’s Degree in Couple and Family Counseling at Governors State University. She continued on at Governors State University to earn her doctorate degree in Counselor Education and Supervision. She is a National Certified Counselor, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Family Court Mediator, and trained as a Mental Health Professional for Collaborative Divorces. 

She has conducted the majority of her counseling work with couples, children, adolescents, and families, and specializes in sexuality studies and sexuality education. Additionally, Dr. Mercer has research interests in solution-focused counseling and supervision and play therapy techniques. She is an author in and the co-editor of The Therapist’s Notebook for Children and Adolescents: Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Use in Psychotherapy (2nd Ed.). 

Dr. Mercer is active in the community as a member of state and national counseling organizations and family law associations. She has presented at the local, state, national, and international level on the topics of sexuality, comfort with sexual behaviors and topics, sexuality education among children and adolescents, views of sexuality among different religions, and the use of play therapy techniques with children, adolescents, couples, and families.

Peer-Reviewed Publications: 

Mercer, M. E., & Dermer, S. B. (2020). Comfort with sexual behaviors scale. Journal of Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice, and Education. 2(1), 58-68. 

Dermer, S. B., Dunham, S. M., & Mercer, M. E. (2019). Integrating Glasser with Life, Learning, and Leadership: An Interview with Dr. Patricia Robey. International Journal of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy, 39(1), 48-52. 

Dermer, S. B., & Bachenberg, M. E. (2015). The importance of training marital, couple, and family therapists in sexual health. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy. 

Non-Peer Reviewed Publications:

Mercer, M. E., & Dermer, S. B. (Accepted). Sex Positivity. In S. B. Dermer & J. R. Abdullah (Eds.), The SAGE Encyclopedia of Multicultural Counseling, Social, Justice and Advocacy. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. 

Dermer, S. B., & Bachenberg, M. E. (2018). The Paraphilic Disorder Couple. In L. Sperry & K. Helm (Eds.), The Disordered Couple (2nd Ed.). (207-221). Bristol, PA: Brunner/Mazel Inc. 

Page, K., Dermer, S. B., & Bachenberg, M. E. (2017). Sexual Assessment/History. In J. Carlson & S. Dermer (Eds.), The SAGE encyclopedia of marriage, family, and couples counseling (1519-1532). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. 

Sori, C. F., & Bachenberg, M. E. (Eds.). (August, 2015). The therapist’s notebook for children and adolescents: Homework, handouts, and activities for use in psychotherapy. New York, NY: Taylor and Francis. 

Bachenberg, M. E. (August, 2015). Talking about sex with adolescents. In C. F. Sori, & M. E. Bachenberg (Eds.) The therapist’s notebook for children and adolescents: Homework, handouts, and activities for use in psychotherapy. New York, NY: Taylor and Francis. 

Selected Peer-Reviewed Presentations: 

Dermer, S. B. & Mercer, M.E. (March 2022). Sex positivity and sexual wellness: A counseling approach to teaching and clinical work in sexuality. Mediterranean Region Counselors Association: Naples, Italy. 

Dermer, S. B., Mercer, M. E., Dunham, S. M. (January 2022). Utilizing a human rights perspective to train counselors and counselor educators on sexuality. Hawaii International Conference on Education: Kona, HI. 

Dermer, S. B., Mercer, M. E., Dunham, S. M., & Markase, E. M. (2021). A sex positivity approach to working with couples. International Family Therapy Association, Zoom. March, 2021. 

Mercer, M. E., & Dermer, S. B. (2019). Utilizing Sex Positivity as a Model for Sexual Assessment with Couples. March 2019. IFTA 2019 World Family Therapy Congress Conference. Aberdeen, Scotland. 

Cosentino, A., Dermer, S. B., & Mercer, M. E. (2019). Defining Couple Commitment through Fidelity Rather than Infidelity. March 2019. International Family Therapy Association 2019 World Family Therapy Congress Conference. Aberdeen, Scotland. 

Dermer, S. B., & Bachenberg, M. E. (2018). Unpacking the Definition of Sex Positivity and Exploring the Implications for Counseling. October 2018. Florida Counseling Association Convention. Tampa, FL. 

Selected Grants: 

Dermer, S. B., Mejta, C. L., Burley, N., Mercer, M. E., & Dunham, S. (2020). Module-Based Substance Use Disorders Training for Behavioral, Medical, and Allied Health Practitioners. Expansion of Practitioner Education. DHHS and SAMSHA $188,093 award from 9/30/20-9/29/22. 

Dermer, S. B., Lorelle, S., Cipra, A., & Mercer, M. E. (submitted 2018, not funded). Encouraging freedom of expression through play therapy with children and families. U.S. Embassy Ankara, Public Affairs. $54,996 over one year. 

Dermer, S. B., & Bachenberg, M. E. (submitted 2017, not funded). Sexual Citizenship Through a Grassroots Movement to Train Health Professionals and Paraprofessionals. Promote and Protect the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Women and Girls, LGBTI persons and other Marginalized Individuals. $387,522 over two years. 

Bachenberg, M. E., & Garcia, Y. A. (2017). Inter-Professional Faculty Development Grant from the Marieb College of Health & Human Services. $4,060 for one year for anticipated research in understanding the interaction that local healthcare providers have with human trafficking victims. 

Atkins, K. M., Dermer, S. B., Karl, N., & Bachenberg, M. E. (December, 2017-December, 2018). The WE Project: Training school counselors to advocate for LGBTQ students. Robert J. Nejedlo Social Emphasis Grant: Schultz Foundation for Advancing Counseling. $10,935 for one year.