Therapy Center for Pregnancy Loss
Calm, supportive therapy environment — soft natural light

Bethesda, MD · Rockville / Shady Grove, MD · Potomac, MD · Washington, DC

Compassionate specialized therapy for pregnancy loss

For miscarriage, recurrent pregnancy loss, stillbirth, infertility related grief, and pregnancy after loss anxiety. You do not need to navigate these losses and experiences alone.

Serving clients in Maryland and Pennsylvania and via PSYPACT in Washington DC metro area, Virginia, and other PSYPACT participating states.

Meet Dr. Rayna Markin, Ph.D.

Rayna D. Markin, PhD, received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park and is currently an Associate Professor in Counseling and a licensed psychologist with a private practice. She is President-Elect of the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy: Division 29 of the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Rayna D. Markin, PhD — about page portrait (smiling, blazer)

Video

Hear from Dr. Rayna Markin

Rayna D. Markin, PhD, the visionary behind the Therapy Center for Pregnancy Loss, L.L.C., earned her Counseling Psychology doctorate from the University of Maryland, College Park. She currently serves as an Associate Professor in Counseling and is a licensed psychologist in her private practice. Her clinical and research work shed light on relational-attachment-based psychotherapy for individuals and couples managing the aftermath of pregnancy loss. In this video, meet Dr. Rayna and learn more about the mission and goals of the Therapy Center for Pregnancy Loss and the services offered.

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Psychotherapy for Pregnancy Loss

Pregnancy loss—the death of a conceptus, fetus, or neonate before the 21st day of life—affects a substantial number of women and their partners, and can lead to severe and long-lasting psychological consequences. Perinatal grief, however, is often invalidated, avoided, or dismissed in Western society. Therapy can offer bereaved parents an empathic and affect-regulating relationship in which to mourn.

Psychotherapy for Pregnancy Loss — angled book cover by Rayna D. Markin, PhD

Types of concerns addressed at the therapy center for pregnancy loss

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You're Struggling to Conceive

Infertility brings emotional challenges for individuals and couples, who feel robbed of their future hopes and dreams and as if their path to parenthood has gone awry. Dr. Rayna offers the support and understanding needed to cope and make sense of these difficult experiences.

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Experienced Pregnancy Loss

Pregnancy loss, often unrecognized by others, can be profoundly painful. Dr. Rayna provides a supportive space for patients to process the trauma and grief associated with these losses. She helps individuals work through feelings of shame and inadequacy, validating their experiences and facilitating healing in a compassionate environment.

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Overwhelmed by Motherhood

Dr. Rayna specializes in supporting patients through pregnancies after loss, addressing intense anxiety and uncertainty. She helps unravel complex emotions during the perinatal period and provides a nonjudgmental space for new mothers struggling with unexpected postpartum feelings, particularly those stemming from past pregnancy losses or fertility challenges.

Services

Ways to work with Dr. Rayna Markin

Explore our services to find the right fit for your needs. Dr. Rayna is dedicated to helping you heal and grow.

Explore services
  • 1:1 counseling and psychotherapy with Dr. Rayna

  • Couples counseling with Dr. Rayna

  • Fertility consultations — for individuals and couples creating their families with the assistance of anonymous donor gametes

  • Professional consultation or supervision with Dr. Rayna (For mental health clinicians)

  • Interviewing Dr. Rayna / Media Requests

  • Book Dr. Rayna for a talk or presentation

  • A partnership with local clinics, doctors, and agencies in reproductive health or collaboration on research

  • Join a support group

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Telehealth Support Group

This weekly support group, led by Dr. Rayna D. Markin, PhD, Licensed Psychologist and Associate Professor in Counseling and founder of the Therapy Center for Pregnancy Loss, L.L.C., is intended for women who have experienced two or more pregnancy losses. The goal of this group is to provide an empathic and supportive environment where members currently experiencing Recurrent Pregnancy Loss may feel understood and less alone.

Patient Reflections

Patients often describe Dr. Rayna as warm, empathic, and supportive. They like her focus on the therapist-client relationship and on how they experience support and understanding in other relationships in moments of intense distress like pregnancy loss. Patients often comment that they like Dr. Rayna's focus on feelings and her ability to hang in there with them through very difficult and intense emotions. Lastly, patients often remark that they like how Dr. Rayna gets at the heart of the matter and addresses what lies underneath presenting symptoms.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about pregnancy loss therapy

How long does miscarriage grief last?

Grief after miscarriage can last far longer than many people expect. Some individuals experience intense grief for weeks or months, while others continue to feel emotional pain years later, especially around anniversaries, due dates, pregnancy announcements, or future pregnancies. There is no “correct” timeline for grieving pregnancy loss.

Is pregnancy loss traumatic?

For many individuals, pregnancy loss can be experienced as traumatic. Some people develop symptoms such as intrusive memories, panic, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, difficulty sleeping, or intense anxiety after miscarriage, stillbirth, fertility-related loss, or medically complicated pregnancies. Medical experiences surrounding the loss may also contribute to trauma responses.

Why am I so anxious during pregnancy after miscarriage?

Pregnancy after loss often brings intense anxiety, fear, and emotional uncertainty. Many individuals feel unable to fully trust the pregnancy or their bodies after a previous loss. It is common to experience constant worry, hypervigilance, difficulty bonding with the pregnancy, fear before appointments, or emotional conflict between hope and fear.

Can therapy help after pregnancy loss?

Therapy can help individuals process grief, trauma, anxiety, guilt, shame, relationship strain, and emotional overwhelm related to pregnancy loss. Specialized therapy may provide support in coping with miscarriage, stillbirth, recurrent pregnancy loss, infertility-related grief, reproductive trauma, and pregnancy after loss anxiety.

What is reproductive trauma?

Reproductive trauma refers to traumatic emotional experiences related to fertility, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, childbirth, or reproductive healthcare. This may include miscarriage, stillbirth, infertility treatment, medical trauma, emergency procedures, pregnancy complications, or repeated reproductive losses.

Do you offer telehealth therapy?

Yes. Telehealth therapy is available for clients located in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington DC metro area, Virginia, and PSYPACT participating states.

Do you work with clients experiencing infertility or IVF-related loss?

Yes. I provide therapy for individuals coping with infertility-related grief, pregnancy loss after IVF or fertility treatment, recurrent pregnancy loss, and the emotional impact of infertility and reproductive trauma.

Do you work with couples after pregnancy loss?

Yes. Couples therapy can help partners process grief together, improve communication, navigate differences in coping styles, and address relationship strain related to miscarriage, stillbirth, infertility, or pregnancy after loss anxiety.

Is it normal to feel guilt or shame after miscarriage?

Yes. Many individuals experience guilt, shame, self-blame, anger at their bodies, or feelings of failure after pregnancy loss, even when the loss was outside of their control. These emotional responses are common and can be explored compassionately in therapy.

How do I know if I should seek therapy after pregnancy loss?

It may be helpful to seek therapy if grief, anxiety, trauma symptoms, emotional overwhelm, relationship difficulties, or fear about future pregnancies are interfering with your daily life or emotional wellbeing. Many individuals also seek therapy simply because they want a supportive space to process their experience with someone who understands reproductive grief and trauma.

Is TFMR considered pregnancy loss?

Yes. Many individuals and couples experience TFMR as a profound reproductive loss involving grief, attachment, trauma, and mourning for a deeply wanted pregnancy.

Can TFMR cause trauma symptoms?

Yes. Many individuals experience trauma responses following TFMR, including intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, panic, dissociation, sleep difficulties, and anxiety during future pregnancies or medical appointments.

Why do I feel guilty after TFMR?

Guilt is a very common response after TFMR, even when individuals feel confident they made the most compassionate or medically necessary decision available to them. Attachment, grief, love, responsibility, and trauma often coexist after reproductive loss.

Can therapy help after TFMR?

Therapy can help individuals and couples process grief, trauma, anxiety, shame, relationship strain, and the emotional complexity of reproductive loss within a compassionate and emotionally supportive environment.

Is anxiety common during pregnancy after TFMR?

Yes. Pregnancy after TFMR often involves heightened anxiety, fear, hypervigilance, and difficulty feeling emotionally safe or attached during a subsequent pregnancy.

How long does therapy typically last?

The duration of therapy varies depending on individual needs and goals. Some clients find significant improvement in 8-12 sessions, while others may benefit from longer-term support. We'll regularly assess your progress and adjust the treatment plan accordingly. The goal is to provide you with the support you need for as long as you need it.

Is therapy covered by insurance?

The Therapy Center for Pregnancy Loss, L.L.C. does not participate with insurance and does not accept patients with Medicare. Your provider is an “out of network” provider. It is always recommended you contact your insurance company to inquire if you have out-of-network benefits. Regardless of what is decided between you and your insurance company, you will be responsible for the session fee. However, your therapist will provide you with a 'superbill' receipt with all the information you will need to submit the claim to your insurance.

Can my partner join me in therapy sessions?

If you are the patient in individual therapy and would like your partner to join sessions temporarily, then please discuss this with your provider, who will collaboratively explore the pros, cons, and goals of having your partner join your individual therapy sessions. If you feel that the focus of therapy is your relationship with your partner, then consider couples therapy as an adjunctive treatment.

What if I'm not comfortable with or cannot make in-person sessions?

The Therapy Center for Pregnancy Loss, L.L.C. offers telehealth through an online HIPAA compliant platform with audio and video.

Schedule your first consultation

Pregnancy loss can be a horrific and devastating experience that often leaves grieving parents feeling isolated and alone. Dr. Rayna is here to offer support, understanding, and comfort through your reproductive journey.

  • DC Metro Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative — Member
  • PSYPACT — APIT — Rayna Markin
  • Verified by Psychology Today

Service area

In-person sessions in Gaithersburg, MD. Virtual psychotherapy across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and via PSYPACT in Washington DC metro area, Virginia, and other PSYPACT participating states.

Bethesda, MDRockville / Shady Grove, MDPotomac, MDMcLean, VAArlington, VAWashington, DC