PROVIDER SPOTLIGHT
2023
Return to Zero: HOPE uses November to celebrate and recognize providers with our annual Provider Spotlight month,
sharing stories about caring professionals that support the pregnancy and infant loss community in big and small ways.
Christine Audet
Perinatal Therapist
I work in a small state with limited resources for families. I have been able to refer many families for added support to RTZ.
Androscogginwellnessgroup.com
Hazel Jones
Bereavement Doula & Midwife
I run a nonprofit that provides free bereavement doula and midwifery services for families experiencing the loss of a child during pregnancy. RTZ serves all demographics in the community and has helped us easily and quickly connect clients to support groups and material.
www.mattiesmemory.org
Stacey Pawlak, PhD
Pyschologist
I currently serve as the director of a perinatal mental health care clinic and health psychologist for the fertility clinic. RTZ HOPE is my go-to resource for my own education and training in pregnancy and infant loss, and is also the first resource I mention to my loss parents.
uihc.org/services/womens-wellness-and-counseling-service
Anna Van Loon, MSN-Ed, RNC-OB
Perinatal Loss Specialist
I teach Perinatal Loss Awareness and communication to nurses and physicians. I also lecture throughout the United States on the importance of how our actions and words can impact during a families time with us. I have currently changed our entire departments perinatal loss resources from RTS to Return to Zero for our hospital in Northern California.
Cassidy Zavala
Perinatal Mental Health Therapist
As a loss parent myself, giving back to this community is so important to me. I am a perinatal mental health therapist who works with individuals who have experienced loss. I have attended RTZ webinars and regularly send clients RTZ as a resource for support groups. www.preciousscarscounseling.com
Kerri-Anne Brown
Mental Health Counselor
I provide online support and education for grieving moms throughout the state of Florida. RTZ is a resource I utilize often, for support groups and educational materials, and I am grateful for it.
healingwithwisdom.com/
Meagan Roppo, MSCP
Psychotherapist
I am a psychotherapist, coach, yoga teacher, and writer, and have worked with individuals and couples through all types of loss. I have referred countless clients to RTZ groups because there are so many unique and widespread offerings.
www.meaganroppo.com
Natacha Dalberiste, LMFT
Psychotherapist
I specialize in perinatal mental health and pregnancy/infant loss. RTZ has been an amazing resource for my pregnancy and infant loss clients, loved ones who have want to support someone during loss, and to my audience during speaking engagements.
www.natachadlmft.com
Diana Kelley
Founder and Executive Director
Following the stillbirth of my son, I started Infants Remembered In Silence, Inc. (IRIS) which is a bereavement support organization for grieving parents and their families. I use RTZ HOPE webinars as a resource.
https://www.irisremembers.com
Aveeve McLaughlin, MSW, RSW
Social Worker
I provide ongoing and crisis support to families experiencing loss. I bring deep compassion to my support of families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss which is rooted in my history of pregnancy loss. The RTZ resources are invaluable to those I support due to the accessibility and range of support groups and topics.
www.aveevemclaughlin.com
Alexander Kaysin, MD
Family Medicine Doctor
My work intersects with the perinatal health care and long-term needs of people and families who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. We use the excellent materials including webinars and handouts offered by RTZ for the support of families experiencing PAIL and the educational benefit of nurses, doctors and other staff members.
www.umms.org/find-a-doctor/profiles/dr-alexander-kaysin-md-1538459482
Erin Wallace Morrison
Founder and Facilitator
After my daughter was stillborn, I began The DC Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Peer Support Group in Washington, D.C. I regularly refer my members to RTZ's resources on what to do in the hospital when your baby has died as well as to the many support group offerings.
https://dc-plids.org/ https://twitter.com/DCPLIDS https://www.threads.net/@ec.wm
Nicole Longmire, MPH MAEd IBCLC PMH-C
Lactation Consultant
I am a Lactation Consultant, postpartum Doula, birth story medicine practitioner, and a Holding Space facilitator. My work companioning families in the perinatal period is holistic and trauma-informed. I have referred families to RTZ, and found their support groups and retreats to be very helpful in my own healing journey, and enriched my skill set as a provider.
www.mothernurturelactationservices.com
Aliza Ancier PT, DPT, PCES
Maternal Wellness Specialist
I am a trained mindfulness teacher and offer mindfulness-based grief support for pregnancy and infant loss. RTZ has been an incredible resource for PAIL awareness both as a referral for grieving parents and with their educational webinars for providers. www.yourmeaningfulmotherhood.com/
Heidi Cox, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
I am the director of The Centered Space, a small private practice in NYC where we focus on perinatal mental health, reproductive issues, grief and loss. We always encourage our clients to find community in times of loss and grief, not to isolate themselves, and the RTZ groups and materials play a big part in how we help our clients feel less alone.
www.centeredny.com
Butterfly’s Embrace
Family Support Program
At Butterfly’s Embrace Family Support Program at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital we support grieving families of all types. We consistently provide our families with brochures and resource materials from the RTZ website and utilize educational webinars to facilitate better care by our team.
Butterfly’s Embrace on Facebook
Esther Pfeiffer
Mental Health Counselor
I provide counselling in Washington state for individuals who have experienced pregnancy and/or infant loss. As a loss mom myself, I understand the importance of having support during this difficult time. I have gained additional knowledge through RTZ’s webinars and encouraged others to attend their support groups. RTZ is the first resource I give clients. integrity-counseling.com/about-esther-pfeiffer/
Eleisha Jorgenson, RRT-NPS
Respiratory Therapist
As a loss parent myself, it has brought me much healing to be a part of our perinatal bereavement support team in the NICU as a Respiratory Therapist. RTZ has been such a useful resource to have for our staff and bereavement team.
Eleisha on Instagram
Sultana Karim, MA, LCPC, LPC, CCPT, PMH-C
Psychotherapist
As a parent who experienced loss, it is important for me to give back to my community. I am a psychotherapist who specializes in trauma, loss, and perinatal mental health. I've attended RTZ educational webinars, used RTZ brochures and materials as a way to educate my clients and the community, and referred my clients to RTZ support groups.
www.karimcounseling.org
Stephanie Dorfman, M.Ed
Certified Holistic Doula
I offer doula support during perinatal and neonatal loss, individualized ceremony to honor loss, as well as grief and trauma support. I share RTZ content with my clients as a way for them to receive a community of support and connection.
www.transitionalalchemy.com
Megan DuBose, MS, NCC, LPC-Associate
Counselor
I provide mental health assessment and counseling for those who are surviving the death of their child(ren) during pregnancy or infancy while being LGBTQ+ and racial justice allied. I have recommended RTZ virtual support groups and their provider directory to patients and other providers. I wish I had access to RTZ when I was in the depths of grieving my losses. It truly is an incredible resource.
www.sparkandpivot.co
Emily Pardy, LMFT, PMH-C and CEO
Marriage and Family Therapist
At Ready Nest Counseling, we offer free Loss Support groups, online resources, and hold events to help honor those who have suffered pregnancy and infant loss. As a loss mama myself, I've been featured on many podcasts as an expert on the topic. We are always connecting clients to community resources and RTZ has been a treasure trove of help throughout the years.
www.readynestcounseling.com
Leighton Keen, LMFT
Mental Health Therapist
I support many mamas who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, and TFMR in Arkansas and Tennessee. I love sharing RTZ resources and support groups with clients who could use connections with others who have walked the same path. It is a wonderful organization that serves as a beacon of light through a dark time in the lives of loss parents.
www.arkansasreproductivetherapy.com
PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy
We are a national nonprofit founded by a diverse coalition of stillbirth families and trailblazing medical experts to raise awareness about the stillbirth crisis and drive down U.S. stillbirth rates. RTZ has been one of our key partners, both in connecting us with thought leaders in antiracist healthcare to help inform our advocacy work, and being our go-to recommendation for bereavement resources.
www.pushpregnancy.org
Emily Marlowe, LCSW
Social Worker
I am a licensed clinical social worker and have worked as a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapist. I experienced a devastating pregnancy loss that ended with a termination for medical reasons. I joined a support group with RTZ which was fundamental in my healing process. I decided I wanted to use my knowledge and experience to help others in the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Community and started facilitating support groups with RTZ.
Emily's Linkedin
Ali Lewis, MD FACOG
OB/GYN
I am a board-certified OB/GYN passionate about person-centered care. I had a traumatic birth and lost my baby girl when she was 10 days old in 2017. I have attended two of the RTZ retreats including the recent Finding Yourself After Loss retreat and have found connections in the RTZ community invaluable. I refer my colleagues and patients to RTZ as a crucial resource in navigating loss.
Genevieve Judayna Elmahdi, LCSW
Social Worker
I own a clinical private practice specializing in the treatment of trauma-related conditions, as well as perinatal mental health. I began tailoring the focus of my practice toward trauma and maternal health following my own traumatic birth experience. I work to support the efforts of RTZ by collaborating and creating educational programming, trainings, webinars, and resources.
www.genjudayna.com/
Shelly King, MA, LPC
Psychotherapist
I work with individuals and couples that have experienced babyloss. This work is near and dear to my heart as a loss parent myself. I utilize my personal experience with the death of my first daughter and my professional training in grief and loss, couple therapy, and trauma work to support my clients. I deeply appreciate being able to refer clients to RTZ’s online groups and seminars.
www.shellykingtherapy.com
Alishia Anderson
Support Group Facilitator
I work with RTZ as a BIPOC Support Group [Peer] Facilitator. In 6 weeks, participants gain tools, resources, and are given the space to be honest, open, and transparent as they talk about the difficulties of parenting babies that have died. RTZ has allowed me to turn my own grief into advocacy and to pay it forward to help grieving parents in the shoes that I once filled.
www.aliandeenterprise.com
Susan Jacobsen ATR-BC, LPC
Counselor and Art Therapist
I work with grief, loss and trauma within the arena of pregnancy and infant loss in my practice, Henry's Heart Art Therapy. I use art materials with clients to process strong emotions and provide processing around these issues. I use RTZ's brochures and materials to inform clients and their families about resources available through RTZ as well as to raise awareness and understanding around perinatal loss.
www.henrysheartarttherapy.com
Elyse Springer, MA-CLP, LMFT, PMH-C
Marriage and Family Therapist
I began working in perinatal mental health in 2010. When I experienced my own perinatal loss in 2014, I realized how little information and mental health support was readily and easily available to parents in the loss community, this led me to focus my clinical practice on loss and its impact. I began with RTZ first as a board member and subsequently in an ongoing role as training faculty, teaching clinicians and providers about the unique mental health components of perinatal loss.
https://elysespringer.com/
Dr. Karla Kerby, PhD MA LMFT
Marriage and Family Therapist
I have a practice that solely focuses on perinatal mood/anxiety disorders, infertility, NICU, and pregnancy loss. I have found RTZ to be a valuable resource for myself and my patients. I have also learned quite a large amount of information on the site.
postpartumclinicoftulsa.com
Rebecca Jahnigen, CD(CBI)
Certified Doula
The doula support that I offer plays a crucial role in providing emotional, physical, and informational support during the challenging experience of miscarriage and stillbirth. RTZ is the top resource I recommend to clients as they navigate this challenging time. The support groups RTZ hosts have benefitted my clients greatly and provide them with additional tools to take along on their healing journey.
www.thewholelifedoula.com
Yonina Kaufman LCSW, PMH-C, Ms. Ed.
Therapist and Social Worker
Specializing in assisting women and couples who have experienced perinatal and infant loss, infertility, and perinatal or postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, my approach is grounded in evidence-based practices. With training in maternal mental health, grief and bereavement, and trauma, I help clients navigate their complex emotions and thoughts during times of grief, mourning, and parenting challenges. I utilize RTZ’s educational webinars.
Yonina on Instagram
Jennifer Clayton, RNC-IAP, RTSCBC, SBD
Nurse and Bereavement Doula
As a labor and delivery nurse, I've pioneered a bereavement program at my university hospital, ensuring compassionate, evidence-based care for families experiencing loss. As a bereavement doula, I guide families through the challenging journey of loss, assisting with difficult decisions and fostering memory-making. RTZ has allowed me to provide more resources for our BIPOC and LGBTQIA community. These communities are underserved and need support.
Jennifer on Facebook
Dr. Katherine Hyde Hensley, PMH-C, CPLC
Doctor of Psychology and Mental Health Counselor
I practice therapy using Narrative therapy, Resilient Grieving, and Attachment theory. I am a Perinatal Mental Health-Certified therapist, Certified Perinatal Loss Care (CPLC®) provider and Certified in Attachment with Circle of Security. RTZ has offered my clients and sisters in loss media and community support to validate and honor their loss journey.
katherinehydehensley.com
Angie Grutter, MA, LLPC
Certified Doula
I am passionate about supporting parents who have experienced loss on their journey to parenthood, and especially for supporting couples within this community. I help you find ways to honor the memory of your little one and help you find strength and hope for the future. I am grateful for the support and community that RTZ provides, and I love being able to incorporate the materials offered with my clients and refer them to the support groups.
www.grfamilytherapy.com/about-angie
Nancy Millian, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist
As a loss mom myself, I am passionate about helping women before, during and after pregnancy, and pregnancy loss. My area of expertise is in Maternal Mental Health (depression, anxiety, miscarriage, infertility, TMR, and work/life balance) both in Connecticut and New York. RTZ is always my first “go-to” resource for its patient support groups, online presence, and professional networking and support.
drnancymillian.com
Jill Kottmeier, RN
Director of Wellbeing & Bereavement Services
With 25 years of nursing experience, my career has been devoted to supporting families through pregnancy and infant loss. Inspired by a dear friend's stillborn son, Kaleb, when I was 17, I knew then that helping bereaved families was my life's calling. RTZ has significantly impacted our patients, families, and providers through accessible, trauma-informed, and diverse resources, including brochures and webinars that have proven invaluable for our staff.
Jill on Linkedin
Betsy Winter
As a Mind Body Coach, Grief & Trauma Somatic Specialist, Nia Black Instructor, and RTZ HOPE's Director of Community Support, I specialize in curating experiences for profound healing and embodied transformation, offering trauma-informed, holistic, and inclusive support to those affected by pregnancy and infant loss. RTZ has a wealth of free resources available to providers which I have utilized in my own practice and have shared with local hospitals and providers in my community.
betsywinter.com
Dorienna M. Alfred, Ph.D., PMH-C
Licsenced Psychologist
In my practice at Works of Faith Wellness and Consultation, LLC, I offer individual or conjoint couple's appointments for parents coping with pregnancy and infant loss, providing mentorship and peer support during the early weeks after loss. I have had the opportunity to provide educational webinars for parents and professionals who have experienced loss through RTZ HOPE. The organization has provided me with a platform to be more involved with advocacy and provider training.
www.worksoffaith.net
Bonnie Gonzales MSN, CNM, NC-BC
Perinatal Mental Health and Wellness Coach
With over two decades of experience as a Nurse Midwife, I've personally witnessed the profound impact of pregnancy loss on individuals and partners, having navigated multiple losses myself. I offer perinatal mental health coaching with a focus on EMDR therapy to support deep trauma healing. RTZ has been a great resource for me to refer my clients for group support. They can know they are not alone in their experiences.
perinatalcoaching.com
Liz Moran
Functional Nurse Practitioner & Midwife
I provide perinatal hospice services nationwide through our non-profit organization, Leaves in Time. I use RTZ webinars and brochures.
www.leavesintime.org
Anna L. Calix, MPH
Founder and Executive Director
My first child Liam died and was stillborn at 40 weeks in 2016 and ever since I have been dedicated to improving the availability and quality of culturally congruent bereavement support for marginalized families after PAIL through Gifts from Liam. RTZ offers loss families a wealth of information, tools, and support options to help navigate this journey. The carefully curated content and resources for providers serve as excellent resources to be better prepared for supporting families after loss.
www.giftsfromliam.org
Katrina dela Cruz, LCSW
I am a licensed mental health professional, psychotherapist, spiritual coach, and counselor. Before beginning my private practice, where I integrate Western psychological theory with energy work, sound healing, plant spiritism, and ancestral healing traditions, I worked with patients in hospitals, including in care for maternal mental health on OB/GYN and L&D units, for over a decade. I say that my soul prepared me, in the best way that I know how, for my own motherhood and loss journey. The RTZ community and the fellowship of families who intimately know pregnancy and infant loss have been incredibly vital for my own healing journey.
www.firemoonmedicines.com
Shannon Myers, LMFT
Psychotherapist
I have a private practice in the SF Bay Area where I provide support to bereaved parents coping with baby loss and offer assistance to those navigating subsequent pregnancies. Following my own experience with stillbirth, I co-launched a local HAND chapter, facilitating free peer-led grief groups for various types of loss. I am grateful for the diversity of resources RTZ HOPE offers our pregnancy and infant loss community through groups, retreats, webinars and referrals around the world. RTZ HOPE is the main resource I provide grieving families.
www.shannonmyers.com
Rev. Chelsey Hedglin, M.Div. B.C.C
Perinatal Chaplain
I provide spiritual and emotional support to families experiencing perinatal loss. Additionally, I provide bereavement coordination support to families during their time in the hospital by assisting them with logistics and providing resources. RTZ resources have been so helpful in providing specific support to families, such as fathers and grief, grandparents and grief, siblings and grief, etc., which gives them a starting point for support connections.
Judy Simon MS, RDN, CD, CHES, FAND
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
I am a registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in fertility and pregnancy loss over the past two decades. I am honored to have an educational webinar posted on RTZ’s site to help educate folks who have had losses and are looking for support for future fertility and pregnancies. I am the co-author of Getting to Baby (April, 2024).
www.mind-body-nutrition.com
Cassie Benak - LIMHP, CPC
Mental Health Practitioner
With over 12 years of dedicated experience, I compassionately facilitate the 'Open Arms Infant Bereavement' online therapy support group for families who have experienced the profound loss of a miscarriage or infant death. We provide a safe and empathetic space for individuals to share their experiences and find solace in a supportive community online. RTZ has been incredibly helpful in offering resources that are useful and can be adapted to a virtual platform.
Cassie on Facebook
