Helping individuals and couples to process and grow from the trauma of reproductive loss
You do not need to walk this journey alone.
Whether you are struggling with a recent miscarriage, pregnancy after loss, difficulty getting or staying pregnant, recurrent pregnancy loss, ectopic pregnancy, or a stillbirth, many women experience three difficult and devasting psychological consequences, (1) intense feelings of grief and loss without a well-defined way to mourn, (2) unresolved trauma associated with these losses and experiences, and (3) feelings of shame and inadequacy. Dr. Rayna specializes in helping women and couples going through these sorts of reproductive traumas to process grief and loss, work through unresolved trauma, and reduce feelings of shame and restore self-esteem. Dr. Rayna similarly works with other adverse reproductive events such as childbirth trauma or post-partum stress, depression, and anxiety.
Importantly, Dr. Rayna treats the whole person, which includes the totality of an individual's past and current experiences and does not have a singular focus on experiences with infertility and loss. Who we are, our past and present experiences in relationships and with loss, impact how we experience and cope with fertility struggles and pregnancy loss. Often clients ask if they can talk about other issues besides infertility and loss and the answer is most definitely yes!
Lastly, Dr. Rayna works with medical providers in reproductive medicine whose mental health is often overlooked. Medical providers in reproductive medicine can experience what is called vicarious trauma and burn out, especially when going through experiences of infertility and/or loss themselves. Dr. Rayna offers supportive and understanding care to medical providers so they can better care for themselves and their patients.
Founder of the Therapy Center for Pregnancy Loss, L.L.C.
Meet 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.
Her research and clinical work focus on psychotherapy from a relational-attachment perspective for individuals and couples coping with pregnancy loss. She is the author of the new book Psychotherapy for Pregnancy Loss: Applying Relationship Science to Clinical Practice, and co-author of the book Attachment in Group Psychotherapy.
Personal Statement
In Dr. Rayna's own words
I specialize in therapy for pregnancy loss (e.g., miscarriage, stillbirth or recurrent pregnancy loss), helping individuals and couples to process and grow from the trauma and loss associated with these experiences. Fertility issues and/or miscarriages can leave one feeling depressed, anxious, and stressed, yet isolated and misunderstood, and in need of support and understanding. My approach to treatment is to use empathy, normalization, and validation to help women and couples mourn their losses, process trauma, and reduce feelings of shame and inadequacy often brought on by a pregnancy loss. My approach to treatment is to provide clients with an empathic, collaborative, and trusting therapist-client relationship in which feelings related to infertility and loss can be experienced and worked through. Therapy can help grieving parents to mourn the loss of a pregnancy through providing the validation, comfort, and support often missing in society. I have experience in both psychotherapy and fertility counseling, which I integrate to support the medical, psychological, social, and relational aspects of infertility and pregnancy loss. I speak internationally on psychotherapy for pregnancy loss and am author of the book, Psychotherapy for Pregnancy Loss: Applying Relational Science to Clinical Practice.
Watch
Hear from Dr. Rayna Markin
In this short video, Dr. Rayna describes what makes her attachment-based approach to psychotherapy for pregnancy loss unique and how this clinical approach can help patients coping with pregnancy loss and infertility.
Professional highlights
01
Prolific author, researcher and associate professor
Over 40 published works on psychotherapy for pregnancy loss and therapist-client relationship
02
Journal Editor
Associate editor of APA journal Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, and Training
03
Media Expert
Frequently interviewed on pregnancy loss and infertility topics
04
Creator of Relational Attachment Therapy for Pregnancy Loss
Created an approach to treating the effects of pregnancy loss that focus on relationships and emotions and is trauma informed
Why work with Dr. Rayna Markin?
Focus on the therapist-client relationship
Dr. Rayna is the creator of relational-attachment psychotherapy for pregnancy loss, a unique treatment approach that focuses on building a trusting and safe therapist-client relationship in which feelings of grief and loss can be understood, validated, and worked through. Experiences with infertility and pregnancy loss can leave one feeling misunderstood and isolated. Dr. Rayna's approach to treatment aims to give clients a different experience in which their experience of infertility and loss is understood and supported.
Focus on the Deeper Level consequences of Pregnancy loss
Dr. Rayna focuses on the deeper level psychological consequences of experiences with pregnancy loss and infertility, including working through feelings of grief and loss, trauma, and feelings of shame and inadequacy.
Application of Research to Clinical Practice
Dr. Rayna brings extensive experience as a researcher to her clinical practice and applies evidence-based relationship principles, or what research tells us is healing about the therapist-client relationship to help women and families coping with pregnancy loss and infertility. Dr. Rayna integrates Routine Outcome monitoring into clinical practice which involves using questionnaires to track client progress and identify areas of improvement and concern to better meet client needs and goals.
Extensive Training and Experience in Psychotherapy and Fertility
Some mental health professionals have extensive training and experience in psychotherapy but lack specific knowledge about fertility struggles and pregnancy loss and others possess extensive knowledge of fertility struggles and loss but have less psychotherapy training and experience. Dr. Rayna has extensive training and experience in emotion-focused and relational psychotherapy approaches and in fertility counseling that she integrates to treat and address the psychological, social, relational, and medical aspects of infertility and/or pregnancy loss so that the client's whole experience is understood and supported.
Begin When You're Ready
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.