The Therapists
Interview: Dr. Valorie Thomas, Ph.D.
This was a very special interview for me to conduct. Valorie Thomas my therapist as I went through infertility treatments, and someone that I give credit to for helping me eventually get pregnant. I wouldn’t have gotten through those years without her guidance and support. In this interview, she says that one of the things someone should look when seeking help, is a therapist who can offer hope. She absolutely did this for me and I am forever grateful.
How did you first become interested in fertility counseling?
My personal experience led to my interest in infertility counseling. This unexpected roller coaster ride led me to have a deep level of compassion and understanding for all those who travel the journey to creating a family. Being a therapist, I suppose was both a blessing and curse as I put unrealistic expectations on myself to be able to handle things better that the average person due to my training. When I became pregnant, I did my "therapist thing" like relaxation, meditation and focusing on creating healthy balance. I found out later, through formal training, that those things were actually all of the skills that contribute to riding the roller coaster smoothly. I discovered that everything I had been through had a purpose- my journey lead me to the other side of being able to be there for other people in a different way. It's almost as if everything I had been through was this journey to get me to the other side of being able to be there for other people in a different way. At that point I sought some additional training to hone in on that piece and found out the things that I was doing were the things that had been helpful to other people. I felt this challenge, so to speak, to help other people and to help them to understand that they're not by themselves, they're not alone, that there's help out there. Just to offer them hope. Read more
This was a very special interview for me to conduct. Valorie Thomas my therapist as I went through infertility treatments, and someone that I give credit to for helping me eventually get pregnant. I wouldn’t have gotten through those years without her guidance and support. In this interview, she says that one of the things someone should look when seeking help, is a therapist who can offer hope. She absolutely did this for me and I am forever grateful.
How did you first become interested in fertility counseling?
My personal experience led to my interest in infertility counseling. This unexpected roller coaster ride led me to have a deep level of compassion and understanding for all those who travel the journey to creating a family. Being a therapist, I suppose was both a blessing and curse as I put unrealistic expectations on myself to be able to handle things better that the average person due to my training. When I became pregnant, I did my "therapist thing" like relaxation, meditation and focusing on creating healthy balance. I found out later, through formal training, that those things were actually all of the skills that contribute to riding the roller coaster smoothly. I discovered that everything I had been through had a purpose- my journey lead me to the other side of being able to be there for other people in a different way. It's almost as if everything I had been through was this journey to get me to the other side of being able to be there for other people in a different way. At that point I sought some additional training to hone in on that piece and found out the things that I was doing were the things that had been helpful to other people. I felt this challenge, so to speak, to help other people and to help them to understand that they're not by themselves, they're not alone, that there's help out there. Just to offer them hope. Read more
Interview: Maria T. Rothenburger, Ph.D., L.P.C.
Maria T. Rothenburger, Ph.D., L.P.C. is the owner of and psychotherapist for Miracles Happen Fertility Center. Her skills and areas of expertise include therapy for those struggling to build families. Dr. Rothenburger is also a regular contributor to the podcast, “Beat Infertility,” where she shares her wisdom on the psychological aspects of infertility. If you struggle with infertility and read this interview, I think you will find someone who truly “gets it.” And her thoughts and advice are definitely worth remembering.
To contact Dr. Rothenburger, see the services she offers, and to read her blog, please visit: www.drmariarothenburger.com
How did you become interested in fertility counseling?
When I was dealing with infertility, I was hard pressed to find a therapist who really “got” me. I would often hear those nails-on-a-chalkboard statements like, “Have you considered adoption?” Or “How about relaxing? Have you tried that?” One counselor literally said, “Man, I just look at my wife and she gets pregnant.” It was one hundred percent disheartening and even more debilitating when I could not find a safe space to get some support. After I came out of the darkness, I simply knew I had to use my knowledge and credentials to help others through this major life crisis. Read more
Maria T. Rothenburger, Ph.D., L.P.C. is the owner of and psychotherapist for Miracles Happen Fertility Center. Her skills and areas of expertise include therapy for those struggling to build families. Dr. Rothenburger is also a regular contributor to the podcast, “Beat Infertility,” where she shares her wisdom on the psychological aspects of infertility. If you struggle with infertility and read this interview, I think you will find someone who truly “gets it.” And her thoughts and advice are definitely worth remembering.
To contact Dr. Rothenburger, see the services she offers, and to read her blog, please visit: www.drmariarothenburger.com
How did you become interested in fertility counseling?
When I was dealing with infertility, I was hard pressed to find a therapist who really “got” me. I would often hear those nails-on-a-chalkboard statements like, “Have you considered adoption?” Or “How about relaxing? Have you tried that?” One counselor literally said, “Man, I just look at my wife and she gets pregnant.” It was one hundred percent disheartening and even more debilitating when I could not find a safe space to get some support. After I came out of the darkness, I simply knew I had to use my knowledge and credentials to help others through this major life crisis. Read more
Interview: Mandy Persaud, MS, LMFT
Mandy Persaud is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in Orlando, Florida. In addition to working with individuals and families in private practice, Mandy has more than 15 years of experience in leadership development and organizational culture and has provided international leadership consultation and training for healthcare entities in the U.S., Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Caribbean. Of particular focus for Mandy is infertility and assisted conceptions. She and her husband have personally traveled the road of infertility, including endometriosis, diminished ovarian reserve, and multiple failed IVFs, and had their first child via egg donation. This personal experience, coupled with her clinical expertise, makes her both a skilled and empathetic therapist for individuals and couples who are facing the challenges of building a family.
How did you first become interested in infertility counseling?
Personal experience. I was going through my own journey and realized there weren't a lot of resources locally. Going through my own treatment, I was required by my RE to see a therapist. They said, "Here's a list of therapists. Choose off here." Being a therapist myself, I was looking forward to sitting down with someone who had an understanding of what my husband and I were going through and could help us discuss the delicate and very important decisions we were having to navigate together. I knew that was important. But I quickly realized there was a gap in resources in the area. Grief and loss and coping skills are a huge part of infertility and infertility treatment, Read more
Mandy Persaud is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in Orlando, Florida. In addition to working with individuals and families in private practice, Mandy has more than 15 years of experience in leadership development and organizational culture and has provided international leadership consultation and training for healthcare entities in the U.S., Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Caribbean. Of particular focus for Mandy is infertility and assisted conceptions. She and her husband have personally traveled the road of infertility, including endometriosis, diminished ovarian reserve, and multiple failed IVFs, and had their first child via egg donation. This personal experience, coupled with her clinical expertise, makes her both a skilled and empathetic therapist for individuals and couples who are facing the challenges of building a family.
How did you first become interested in infertility counseling?
Personal experience. I was going through my own journey and realized there weren't a lot of resources locally. Going through my own treatment, I was required by my RE to see a therapist. They said, "Here's a list of therapists. Choose off here." Being a therapist myself, I was looking forward to sitting down with someone who had an understanding of what my husband and I were going through and could help us discuss the delicate and very important decisions we were having to navigate together. I knew that was important. But I quickly realized there was a gap in resources in the area. Grief and loss and coping skills are a huge part of infertility and infertility treatment, Read more
Interview: Sharon Covington, LCSW-C
Sharon N. Covington, LCSW-C is a Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work, with over 40 years' experience as an adult psychotherapist and over 40 years working in reproductive medicine, providing highly specialized infertility counseling services. In addition to her private practice, Mrs. Covington is the Director of Psychological Support Services at Shady Grove Fertility, helping start the largest fertility practice in the country almost 25 years ago.
How did you become interested in fertility counseling?
I was a therapist doing individual, couple, and group adult psychotherapy, and like many people who end up being drawn to this field, I had my own experience with reproductive loss. I had two early premature births and lost both babies. One at 20 weeks, one at 22 weeks. I also had a miscarriage between the birth of my oldest daughter and my middle child, my son. And then his was a very high risk pregnancy. He was born premature, but he's absolutely fine today, a father himself.
When I went through those kinds of losses, there were no support groups. There were no resources. This was close to 40 years ago. There wasn't really anything about it, and as a therapist, I was experiencing these profound feelings and emotions. Read more
Sharon N. Covington, LCSW-C is a Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work, with over 40 years' experience as an adult psychotherapist and over 40 years working in reproductive medicine, providing highly specialized infertility counseling services. In addition to her private practice, Mrs. Covington is the Director of Psychological Support Services at Shady Grove Fertility, helping start the largest fertility practice in the country almost 25 years ago.
How did you become interested in fertility counseling?
I was a therapist doing individual, couple, and group adult psychotherapy, and like many people who end up being drawn to this field, I had my own experience with reproductive loss. I had two early premature births and lost both babies. One at 20 weeks, one at 22 weeks. I also had a miscarriage between the birth of my oldest daughter and my middle child, my son. And then his was a very high risk pregnancy. He was born premature, but he's absolutely fine today, a father himself.
When I went through those kinds of losses, there were no support groups. There were no resources. This was close to 40 years ago. There wasn't really anything about it, and as a therapist, I was experiencing these profound feelings and emotions. Read more