Be The Match® Donor Advocacy offers free counseling services. A licensed social worker can provide one-on-one counseling to help donors and their support network navigate the donation process. This could range from a single conversation to a series of ongoing sessions, depending on the specific needs and circumstances.
Going through the donation process can be challenging for a variety of reasons. If at any point you would like to process your thoughts or feelings, we have a licensed counselor available to support you. Whether you are considering joining the registry, are in the process of donating or have already donated, we are here for you.
- Are you having difficulty making a decision about donating?
- Are you lacking support from family or friends about your donation?
- Do you have fears about the donation process?
- Do you feel like no one understands your donation experience?
- Do you worry about how your recipient is doing?
- Are you disappointed about not being able to move forward with donation?
- Are you experiencing sadness or grief related to the loss of your recipient?
Individual counseling is an opportunity to get support during difficult times. It involves developing a two-way professional relationship between a licensed counselor and you. The counselor can help you to identify and resolve personal, social and emotional challenges related to donation. The counselor can also suggest coping strategies to improve your quality of life.
What can I expect with individual counseling?
Although the process will be different for each person, counseling support may include talking about how to:
- Develop coping strategies
- Manage emotions, such as stress, anxiety or sadness
- Improve communication with family members or friends
- Identify and cope with adjustments related to donation
- Find mental health-related information and community resources
During the first session, you will partner with the counselor to determine how to best meet your needs. If additional sessions would be helpful, you will have an opportunity to talk about the personal goals you would like to achieve through counseling. The counselor will then offer their recommendations on how you can work together to reach your goals.
Each session will last up to 50 minutes and will be held once a week for up to 6 weeks. Counseling can range from one session up to six, depending on your needs and will be held at a time that works best for you and your counselor.
Meet the Counseling Services Staff
Jess Goldberg, MSW, LICSW, Social Worker, Donor Experience
Jess has been a member of Donor Advocacy since 2022. Prior to joining Be The Match, she was a bone marrow transplant social worker at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. She has also worked as a psychotherapist for palliative care patients and in private practice. Jess has a Master of Social Work degree from New York University and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Dublin, Ireland.
Caitlyn Squire, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C, Social Worker, Donor Experience
Caitlyn has been a member of Donor Advocacy since 2019. Before joining Be The Match®, she was a clinical social worker and psychotherapist at Regions Hospital Cancer Care Center in Saint Paul, MN. Caitlyn holds a Master of Social Work degree from the
University of Minnesota School of Social Work and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse. She’s a member of the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) and a Certified Oncology Social Worker.
Counseling is available over the telephone, no matter where you live in the U.S.
CONTACT DONOR ADVOCACY
CALL: 1 (800) 526-7809 x 8710
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central Time
EMAIL: donorsocialwork@nmdp.org
All of our programs
and resources are free.