Erica Mindes, Psychologist, Ph.D.

Dr. Mindes is a psychologist with more than a decade of experience providing counseling to individuals and couples struggling with infertility, the stress of treatment, miscarriage, pregnancy after loss, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. She also counsels those considering building their families through third-party reproduction, including LGBTQIA+ couples and single parents.

 Reproductive health issues can affect every aspect of a person’s life and create feelings of sadness, anxiety, isolation, anger and grief. For individuals and couples facing these unique challenges, it’s important to find a therapist who “speaks the language” and specializes in these complexities.

 Dr. Mindes uses an integrative approach to therapy to help clients sort out their feelings, navigate strained relationships with their spouse/partner, family and friends, make tough decisions, and find resolution. She uses a variety of evidence-based interventions and therapeutic approaches to help individuals and couples manage their emotions and develop healthy coping strategies. She believes that, with skilled counseling, a reproductive health crisis can evolve into an opportunity for life-enhancing personal growth.

 Prior to relocating to New York from Richmond, Virginia and joining the Seleni Clinical Team, Dr. Mindes was an associate with the practice of Covington & Hafkin, which specializes in reproductive and perinatal mental health. She was also on the Psychological Support Team at Shady Grove Fertility, providing services to patients at their Virginia offices including intended parent/donor recipient implications counseling, and gamete donor and gestational carrier psychological evaluations.

 Dr. Mindes has conducted research, written, and presented on the psychological responses to infertility and fertility treatment. Her work has been published in a variety of professional journals, and she co-authored the chapter, “Counseling Known Participants in Third-Party Reproduction” in the book Fertility Counseling: Clinical Guide and Case Studies. Dr. Mindes received her B.A. from The University of Chicago and her M.S. and Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has also received specialized training from the Postpartum Stress Center and Postpartum Support International.

 Dr. Mindes is a past chair of the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and continues to serve on its Executive Board, as well as its Mentoring and Training Committee. She is a professional member of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and Postpartum Support International.

 How Erica practices self-care

Exercise! Before COVID-19, I used to go to the gym for cardio and free weights.

These days, I enjoy taking my golden retriever on long walks. I plug in headphones and listen to podcasts or music. I love walking through Riverside Park and looking out on the Hudson. It’s a wonderful place to think or just clear my head. Full spotlight here.