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Home / Mental Health Services

Mental health services

Caring for your emotional well-being is as important to us as treating your infertility and we understand that each couple’s experience and needs are different. That is why we have several, varied support resources integrated into the fertility program at Shady Grove Fertility.

As you are likely well aware, infertility can be a stressful experience. Experts often say that infertility is a life crisis for some couples and the emotions that often arise are real and can be difficult to navigate through. From the time we are born, the discussion begins about our future, about what we want to be when we grow up, and about marriage and family. Most of us as children, when looking into that far distant future, see ourselves becoming a parent at some point in our lives.

So when infertility strikes and you realize that something you thought was a given, like having children, may not be so easy and make take medical intervention, increased stress levels are a natural response.

Our goal at Shady Grove Fertility is to provide resources and support to reduce the stress associated with infertility from a medical, emotional, and financial perspective. We encourage everyone to establish support networks by tapping into our resources or finding other avenues that work best for you. Seeking (and accepting) support is like weaving a safety net for yourself—the more connections or stands of support you have the stronger your net becomes. A strong support network lifts us up when we get low providing the strength we need to keep moving forward in the direction of our dreams.

Join a support group
Free virtual support groups are currently available for patients in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
View Upcoming Groups

Meet the psychological support team

Under the esteemed leadership of Sharon Covington, MSW, LCSW-C, an internationally known licensed clinical social worker, author, and “Top Therapist” as recognized by the Washingtonian, with more than 40 years of experience counseling individuals and families experiencing a fertility crisis, our mental health professional team is at the forefront of the field. Each therapist has extensive training and knowledge about all aspects of infertility counseling with individual, couple, and group therapies available for Shady Grove Fertility patients and non-patients alike.

Maryland, Central Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Sharon Covington, LCSW-C
Director
  • Support Groups

Licensed in DC, Maryland, and Delaware

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus301-279-9030
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Patricia Sachs, LCSW-C
Virtual Counseling including Donor Recipient Consults

Licensed in DC and Maryland

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus301-951-0206
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Carol Toll, LCSW-C
Virtual Counseling including Donor Recipient Consults
  • Support Groups

Licensed in Maryland and Virginia

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus301-924-5124
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Ellen Eule, LCSW-C
Virtual Counseling including Donor Recipient Consults
  • Support Groups

Licensed in Maryland

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus301-229-0055
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Tara Simpson, Psy.D.
Virtual Counseling including Donor Recipient Consults
  • Support Groups

Multi-state licensure under PSYPACT

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus410-303-3402
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Laura S. Covington, Ph.D., LCSW-C
Virtual Counseling including Donor Recipient Consults
  • Support Groups

Licensed in DC, MD, PA, and VA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus202-412-8022
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Mia Joelsson, LCSW-C/LCSW
Virtual Counseling including Donor Recipient Consults
  • Support Groups

Licensed in MD, PA, VA, and WV

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus240-454-3002
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Karen Wasserstein, Psy.D.
Virtual Counseling including Donor Recipient Consults
  • Support Groups

Licensed in MD, DC, VA, NY, and multistate PSYPACT

[email protected] (preferred)
Sibley Hospital Campus301-563-9273
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Aviella Snitman, Ph.D.
Virtual Counseling including Donor Recipient Consults
  • Support Groups

Licensed in MD, DC and multistate PSYPACT

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus202-921-6937
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Rachel Brody, LCSW-C
Virtual Counseling including Donor Recipient Consults
  • Support Groups

Licensed in Maryland and Virginia

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus240-801-5984
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Tabitha Mann, LICSW
Virtual Counseling Including Donor Recipient Consults
  • Support Groups

Licensed in DC, Virginia and Maryland

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus703-303-5862
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Carol Miller, LICSW
VIRTUAL COUNSELING INCLUDING DONOR RECIPIENT CONSULTS
  • Support Groups

Licensed in DC, Virginia, Maryland and Arizona

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus520.477.6930

Recommended mental health professionals

Please note that most mental health providers are currently offering their services virtually, conducted via telehealth, and thus are able to see clients in multiple states.  However, it is important to be aware with telehealth services, the provider must be licensed in state where the client is at the time of the appointment. Thus, when seeking a provider, be sure they are licensed in the state where you are located.  For psychologists who list they are PSYPACT approved, please visit PSYPACT.org to see all participating states.

Colorado

Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Alison J. Wilson, Ph.D.
  • Website
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus720-383-0869
Jen Noonan, LPC
  • Kia Ora Wellness
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus720-217-3831
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Jill Pinarowicz, Ph.D.
Psychologist
  • Psychologist Jill

Licensed in CO, MT and WY

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus(720) 413 3071

Tampa, FL

Kathy Fountain, LMHC
  • Fountain Fertility Group
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus813-833-8393
Barbara Feinberg, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychology
  • Website
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus813-264-7314
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Jennifer C. Collins, PsyD, MSCP
PSYCHOLOGIST, VIRTUAL COUNSELING AND DONOR RECIPIENT CONSULTS
  • Ebb & Flow Counseling + Coaching

Licensed in PA and multi-state PSYPACT

[email protected]yourebbflow.com
Sibley Hospital Campus717-883-1570 (text or call)

Georgia

Charles Allen, MA, LPC, NCC
Infertility Counesling

Carrollton, GA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus678-654-7389
Mary Coleman Allen, Ph.D., LPC
Infertility and Third Party Counseling

Atlanta, GA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus404-578-4436
Majorie Blum, Ph.D.
Infertility and Third Party Counseling

Atlanta, GA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus404-248-1023×1
Caroline Dott, Ph.D., LCSW, CGP
Infertility Counseling

Atlanta, GA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus404-402-8176
Doyle R. Hamilton, III, D. Min., LMFT
Infertility Counseling

Roswell, GA

[email protected]
Lauren Magalnick Berman, Ph.D.
Infertility Counseling

Atlanta, GA

Sibley Hospital Campus404-634-2555
Stace Huff, MA, LPC
Infertility Counseling

Marietta, GA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus770-425-8275
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Linda Kondlilis, Ph.D.
Infertility & Third-Party Reproductive Counseling
  • Orama Wellness

Licensed in: GA, NY, SC, and Multistate PSYPACT

Sibley Hospital Campus404-400-2665×101
Lee Kyser, Ph.D.
Infertility Counseling

Atlanta, GA

Sibley Hospital Campus678-701-9559×102
Maureen Martin, LCSW, LMFT
Infertility Counseling

Atlanta, GA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus404-636-1108×4
Robert Simmermon, Ed.D.
Infertility Counseling

Atlanta, GA

Sibley Hospital Campus404-724-0986
Vicky Speer, MA, LAPC, NCC
Infertility Counseling

Smyrna, GA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus404-422-0065
Shubha Swamy, LPC
Infertility Counseling

Marietta, GA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus770-847-0358
Lesley Ward, Ph.D.
Infertility and Third Party Counseling

Atlanta, GA

Sibley Hospital Campus404-848-1530
Andreka Peat, Ph.D.
Third Party Counseling

Decatur, GA

Sibley Hospital Campus678-909-9040
Elana Klemm, LPC, NCC
Third Party Counseling

Marietta, GA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus404-783-7086

New York

Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Lisa Schuman, LCSW
  • The Center for Family Building
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Lisa Tuttle, Ph.D.
  • Yale New Haven Health
Sibley Hospital Campus203-863-2990
Claudia Pascale, Ph.D., LLC
Infertility Counseling
  • Website
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus862-333-6230
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Erica Mindes, Ph.D.
  • Seleni
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus212-939-7200
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Shara M. Brofman, Psy.D.
Infertility counseling
  • Website
Sibley Hospital Campus646-450-4831
Esther Tresser-Polanco, LMHC, LPC
  • Website
Sibley Hospital Campus718-964-7812
Danielle Kaplan, Ph.D.
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus646-537-1751
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Karen Wasserstein, Psy.D.
Virtual Counseling including Donor Recipient Consults
  • Support Groups

Licensed in MD, DC, VA, NY, and multistate PSYPACT

[email protected] (preferred)
Sibley Hospital Campus301-563-9273

Pennsylvania

Jennifer Riley, MSW, LCSW
Doyelstown, PA
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus215-450-5171
Patricia A. Harnett, MSS MLSP, LCSW
Bryn Mawr, PA
Sibley Hospital Campus610-213-2255
Dr. Kristine Boward

Kind of Prussia, PA

Sibley Hospital Campus610-878-9330
Candace Herrman, MSS, LCSW

Allentown, PA

Sibley Hospital Campus610-462-3060
Pamela Kelberg, LCSW

Bala Cynwyd, PA

Sibley Hospital Campus267-259-8077
Stephanie Pearce, MSW, LCSW

Sciota, PA

Sibley Hospital Campus908-649-0689
Erica Ploski, MA, LPC

Franklin, PA

David Goodwin, Ph.D.

Rosemont, PA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus610-952-8651
Eva Greenberg, Ph.D.

Philadelphia, PA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus215-525-0565
Andrea Braverman, Ph.D

Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus215-955-9216
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Allison Abrahamson, PsyD

Licensed in PA and multi-state PSYPACT

Sibley Hospital Campus610-878-9330
Melissa Sauder, LPC

Lancaster, PA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus717-478-3332
Christine Droney, LCSW-C

Lititz, PA

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus717-807-6100
Sheri Hovdestad, MA, LPC, PMH-C
  • SBH Counseling Services LLC

Licensed in PA and NJ

Sibley Hospital Campus(609) 795-7619
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Jennifer C. Collins, PsyD, MSCP
Psychologist, Virtual Counseling and Donor Recipient Consults
  • Ebb & Flow Counseling + Coaching

Licensed in PA and multi-state PSYPACT

[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus717-883-1570 (text or call)
Sarah Humphreys, LPC, CAADC, CCTP
  • Sacred and Free

Collegeville, PA

Sibley Hospital Campus610-707-9206

Richmond, VA

Jennifer Melerski, PsyD, LCP
Therapy | Third Party Counseling | Donor/GC Evaluations
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus336-264-4827
Robin Zelinger-Casway, LCSW
Therapy | Third Party Counseling
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus804-741-4549
Alex_Polotsky_M.D.
Erica Mindes, Ph.D.
  • Seleni
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus212-939-7200
Meg Harney, Ph.D., LCP
Therapy
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus319-541-7500
Barbara Feinberg, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychology
  • Website
[email protected]
Sibley Hospital Campus813-264-7314
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