Questions to ask a Potential Therapist

Prepared by Terri R. Adams, LCSW, LCSW-C, BCD

What insurance, if any, do you take? Do you offer a sliding scale? What are your regular fees?

What type of license do you have?
M.D. (psychiatrist), Ph.D. (psychologist), LPC (licensed professional counselor), LCSW (licensed clinical social worker) MFT (marriage and family therapist). There are others but these are the primary ones.

What area(s) of expertise do you specialize in?
For example, trauma, grief and loss, reproductive mental health (covering from infertility issues, miscarriage, perinatal loss, stillbirth, postpartum depression, adoption) are all relevant to postpartum depression, miscarriage, infant death and stillbirth.

Would you collaborate with my ob/gyn, psychiatrist, and/or other members of my medical team?

How long have you been in practice?

How would you describe your therapeutic approach/treatment modalities?
For example, for trauma work, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Response) or CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) can be very effective. For grief and loss, psychodynamic therapy is considered valuable. There are a wide variety of approaches and some clinicians will just say they take an ecclectic approach, utilizing techniques as appropriate to respond to presenting symptoms.

Given what I have told you about me, do you think you can help me?


Miscarriage, Infant Death and Stillbirth
Mental Health Professionals List

Maryland

Sharon N. Covington, LCSW-C

Specializes in reproductive loss-infertility, pregnancy loss, grief; Adults and Couples

Sharon co-founded our MIS support group, which was the first perinatal loss support group in D.C.

15001 Shady Grove Road, Suite 400
Rockville, MD 20850


Betsy D. Hirschel, MSW, LCSW-C

Work with miscarriage, infant death, stillbirth for 22 yrs.

6308 Cameo Court
Rockvile (North Bethesda), MD 20852


Julie Bindeman, Psy-D

Integrative Therapy of Greater Washington

5818 B Hubbard Drive
Rockville, MD 20852


Virginia

Harriet Dolinsky, MSW, LCSW, BCD

pregnancy loss, high risk pregnancy, fetal reduction, termination due to a genetic anomaly, premature babies, infertility.

11363 Sunset Hills Road
Reston, VA 20190


E. Neil Heflin-Wells, LPC, NCC, FT

Master's degree with concentration in Thanatology, member Association for Death Education and Counseling since 1979.

8401 Dorsey Circle, Suite 201
Manassas, VA 20110


Benta A. Sims, LPC

postpartum depression and anxiety, pregnancy loss, infant death, infertility. Accepts Anthem BC/BS and Carefirst BC/BS PPO.

105 N. Virginia Avenue Suite #309
Falls Church, VA 22046


Debra Caplowe, LCSW

Postpartum depression/anxiety; infertility; pregnancy loss due to miscarriage, stillbirth, or termination for medical anomaly; adjustment to motherhood.

131 W Great Falls St. Suite 101
Falls Church, VA 22046


Andrea Levy, MSW, LCSW

Fairfax, Virginia 22030


Washington, D.C.

Kate Ridinger Marosek, LICSW

Helping Individuals And Couples Build Healthy Families => infertility, perinatal loss, miscarriage, adjustment to parenthood, counseling for termination for abnormal pregnancy dx, selection reduction for multiples.

4545 Connecticut Avenue, NW. #417
Washington, D.C. 20008


Lynda Mulhauser, BA, MSW, Ph.D.

perinatal loss, stillbirth, termination for genetic conditions, depression, anxiety. Also has office in Bethesda.

3052 Garrison St, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

Outside the DC Metro Region

For those living outside the states listed above

The Return To Zero website contains a more comprehensive national list.