Donor counseling services

Going through the donation process can be challenging for a variety of reasons. If at any point you’d like to process your thoughts or feelings, we have licensed counselors available to support you. Whether you’re considering joining the registry, are in the process of donating or have already donated, we’re 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? 
• Are you disappointed about not being able to move forward with donation? 
• Do you feel like no one understands your donation experience? 
• Do you worry about how your recipient is doing? 
• Are you experiencing sadness or grief related to the loss of your recipient? 

Individual counseling is an opportunity to get support during difficult times like the ones mentioned above, at no cost to you. It involves developing a two-way professional relationship with a licensed counselor. The counselor can help you identify and resolve personal, social and emotional challenges related to donation. 

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’ll partner with the counselor to determine how to best meet your needs. If additional sessions would be helpful, you’ll have an opportunity to talk about the personal goals you’d like to achieve through counseling. The counselor will then offer their recommendations about 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, depending on your needs, and will be scheduled at a time that works best for you and your counselor. 

Counseling is available over the phone, no matter where you live in the U.S. All of our programs and resources are free.

Shambrhee Burton, MSW, LICSW 
Shambrhee has been working at NMDPSM since January 2024. Before joining, she worked as a clinical social worker in the emergency department for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Shambrhee has also worked as a professor at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith and as a psychotherapist in private practice and community mental health. Shambrhee has a Master of Social Work from the University of New England, and she received a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Arkansas. 

Heather Daugherty, MSW, LICSW
Heather joined NMDP in October 2023 and has been a member of the Medical and Quality Services department since December 2023. Prior to joining NMDP, she was a mental health consultant, providing therapy at Allina Health United Women's Health Clinic in St. Paul, Minn. Heather has both a Master of Social Work and bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. 

Jess Goldberg, MSW, LICSW
Jess has been a member of Donor Advocacy since 2022. Prior to joining NMDP, she was a bone marrow transplant social worker at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. She’s 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.