Christina Zampitella, PsyD, FT

Christina Zampitella, PsyD, FT is a licensed clinical psychologist, Fellow in Thanatology, and founder of the Center for Grief and Trauma Therapy. She serves as an adjunct professor and international professional speaker, with a particular passion for training and mentoring emerging mental health professionals. Dr. Zampitella is also the host of her podcast Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z.

Her clinical practice, research, course development, and teaching focus on bereavement studies, meaning reconstruction, nature-based therapy, and integrative psychology. She has served as Chair of the Continuing Education Committee for multiple professional organizations and is a faculty member at the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, where she holds certifications in grief therapy through meaning reconstruction as well as in non-death losses within the meaning reconstruction framework.

Dr. Zampitella previously served as the resident psychologist for Channel 5 News in San Diego and has appeared on NBC News in both California and Delaware. Her work has been featured in Elle Magazine, BuzzFeed, The Huffington Post, The New York Post, and several Delaware publications.
 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Christina Zampitella is the owner of The Center for Grief and Trauma Therapy and has employment relationships with National University, Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, and Goldey-Beacom College. She receives a speaking honorarium from Professional Psycho Seminars, TZKZ Seminars, TATRA, and eCare. She is the founder and host of Phoenix Rising with Dr. Z. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Christina Zampitella serves on the advisory committee for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and the National University's Integrative Psychology Bachelor's Degree Program. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Delaware Psychological Association. She is a fellow with the Association for Death Education and Counseling.  

 

Julie Bindeman, PsyD

Julie Bindeman, PsyD, pursued intensive training in the field of reproductive psychology, in which she writes, teaches, and practices, as a result of her own reproductive story. Dr. Bindeman has served on the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s mental health professional group, including on the executive, continuing education, and social media committees, as well as on their antiracism task force. She was appointed by the governor of Maryland to serve on that state’s Maternal Mental Health Task Force, and she has served on the board and committees of organizations such as the Maryland Psychological Association, the National Abortion Rights Action League – Maryland, Rainbow Families, the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, and Uprooted. Dr. Bindeman has received several awards for her work, including the Karl F. Heiser APA Presidential Award for Advocacy and the National Council of Jewish Women’s Woman Who Dared Award. She has authored book chapters on maternal mental health and is co-owner of Integrative Therapy of Greater Washington, a private psychotherapy practice located in Rockville, MD.
 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Julie Bindeman is the co-director of Integrative Therapy of Greater Washington. She is an instructor with George Washington University. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Julie Bindeman served as Chair of the Mental Health Professional Group (MHPG) through October 2025 and continues to contribute as a member of the Past Chair Committee. She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and its Mental Health Professional Group, the Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance, Postpartum Support International, the American Psychological Association, and the Maryland Psychological Association.

Amy Marlow-MaCoy, LPC

Amy Marlow-MaCoy, LPC, focuses her practice on treating complex and developmental trauma in adults raised in narcissistic, emotionally immature, and toxic families of origin.

She is the author of the Amazon best-selling book The Gaslighting Recovery Workbook: Healing from Emotional Abuse (Callisto Media, 2020), a workbook designed to help individuals identify, understand, and begin to heal from emotional trauma and abuse caused by gaslighting in interpersonal relationships.

Amy has been trained in Level 1 Internal Family Systems therapy. She also provides supervision to LPC candidates and regularly consults with other clinicians regarding treatment of adult children of narcissists. She earned her Mast of Education in counseling psychology degree from Temple University.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Amy Marlow-MaCoy maintains a private practice. She receives royalties as a published author and receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Amy Marlow-MaCoy is a member of the American Counseling Association.

Claire Bidwell Smith, LCPC

Claire Bidwell Smith, LCPC

Recognized as one of today’s foremost experts on grief, Claire Bidwell Smith is a licensed therapist, international speaker, and the author of five books published in 22 countries. Led by her own experience in grief and fueled by her work in hospice and private practice, Claire strives to provide support for all kinds of people experiencing all kinds of loss. clairebidwellsmith.com.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Claire Bidwell Smith maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Conscious Grieving Inc. She receives royalties as a published author. Claire Bidwell Smith receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Claire Bidwell Smith is a board member of The End Well Foundation.

 

Tiffani Dilworth, LPC, CAGCS, FT

Tiffani Dilworth, LPC, CAGCS, FT, is a successful psychotherapist, author, and sought-after speaker on topics related to grief, PTSD, and sexual assault. Ms. Dilworth received her master’s in community counseling from Oklahoma State University. She’s a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who specializes in PTSD, grief, and sexual trauma. She’s a Fellow in Thanatology and a Certified Advanced Grief Counseling Specialist.

Ms. Dilworth is an international speaker who’s worked with various organizations, schools, universities, and corporations to bring awareness to the grieving process and to teach countless people how to live alongside their grief. In addition to facilitating trainings for the United States Air Force Chaplain Team, Ms. Dilworth also maintains a private practice.

Drawing on her rich clinical experience, Ms. Dilworth incorporates the most current information on the process of grieving with evidence-based and innovative treatment techniques that clinicians can immediately use in their practice. She’s the author of the books 11 Tools to Help Manage the Aftermath of Trauma and Types of Grief and is the host of Managing My Grief podcast.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Tiffani Dilworth has an employment relationship with Pristine Advancements, LLC. and receives royalties as a published author. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Tiffani Dilworth has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Sacha McBain, PhD

Sacha McBain, PhD is a clinical psychologist and associate professor at Rush University System for Health in Chicago, IL. A national leader in medical traumatic stress, Dr. McBain has published peer-reviewed research on the conceptualization and treatment of medical trauma, led national clinical trainings, and helped shape best practices for mental health screening and intervention after traumatic injury. She has worked alongside interdisciplinary partners to develop trauma-informed care approaches and is passionate about bringing psychological intervention to critical care and surgical settings. Through her research, education, and clinical practice, she pushes for better care systems for patients and families impacted by medical trauma. Dr. McBain contributed to the American College of Surgeons Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Best Practice Guidelines Work Group and is an active member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Sacha McBain has an employment relationship with Rush University Medical Center.. She receives a grant from NIH/NIDA. Dr. McBain receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Sacha McBain is a member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C

Litsa Williams, MA, LCSW-C, is the co-founder of the online grief community What’s Your Grief and a grief therapist with 15 years of experience specializing in sudden and traumatic loss, substance abuse, and ambiguous grief. Drawing on personal and professional experience with grief, she cofounded WYG as a resource offering concrete, practical, creative, down-to-earth, and relatable support for death and nondeath losses, founded on the values of psychoeducation and creative coping. WYG has grown to serve more than 5 million visitors each year online and thousands more through its educational materials provided to families by funeral homes, grief centers, hospice, and hospitals. Litsa received her master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, as well as a master’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Warwick (UK). She has been interviewed as a grief expert for the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and New York Times. She is co-author of the book What’s Your Grief: Lists to Help You Through Any Loss.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Litsa Williams is the co-founder and program director of What’s Your Grief and has an employment relationship with Columbia Addictions Center. She receives royalties as a published author. Litsa Williams receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Litsa Williams is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the National Association of Social Workers, and the National Alliance for Children's Grief.

Megan Devine, LPC

Psychotherapist Megan Devine is a celebrated speaker, best-selling author, and a pioneer in the movement for a kinder, more human approach to grief – from life-altering losses to the everyday grief that we don’t call grief. With an audience in the millions, Megan’s ability to make complex emotional issues acceptable, relatable, and a lot less awkward has made her a sought-after leader. Known for her insight and practical guidance, she serves as a consultant to the entertainment and healthcare industries, speaks and teaches across disciplines, and maintains a select private practice.

Megan’s books, It’s OK that You’re Not OK, and How to Carry What Can’t Be Fixed, are the best-selling books on grief in over a decade, with nearly a million copies sold. Her work has been featured in The Atlantic, APM’s Marketplace, SELF, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNBC, NPR, Harvard Business Review, Stanford University, GQ magazine, Oprah Daily, and many others. Find her at megandevine.co and refugeingrief.com.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Megan Devine is the founder and CEO of Refuge in Grief. She maintains a private practice and is the on-line advisor/author of Empowering Parents, and is the creator and host of It’s Ok that You’re Not OK with Megan Devine. She receives royalties as a published author. Megan Devine receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Megan Devine has no relevant non-financial relationships.