About Me

My name is Ruthie and I’ve been the Director of Arbit Counseling for the past 8 years. I am a pediatric, perinatal and infant mental health therapist with almost 15 years of experience in the field. I am passionate about supporting individuals and families in their preconception, perinatal, and parenting journey. I’m also a mom to 4 wonderful, strong-willed children and one docile black Lab named Ray Ray.

My clinical experience is varied as I’ve worked in schools, a therapeutic nursery, a domestic violence shelter, early intervention programs, and hospitals. I’m also a clinician and clinical faculty member at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital in the Department of Psychiatry. I teach, write, and contribute to research in perinatal and pediatric mental health.

Background

I have trained in a number of therapeutic modalities and have used different approaches depending on the setting and patient population. I have been  published in a number of acclaimed publications including The Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post. I have presented at a number of conferences including Postpartum Support International Conference, Mayor Bowser’s Maternal and Infant Health Summit, and Marcé of North America Perinatal Mental Health Conference. I also teach courses including CBT for the Perinatal Period and CBT/ERP for Perinatal OCD. My Perinatal OCD course was the first in-depth, national course on this subject. I am also on the Board of Washington DC’s Postpartum Support International Chapter.

Approach

My therapy style is eclectic and founded on principles of self-compassion and resilience. Parenting my own 4 children gives me deeper insight into myself and my notions of parenthood. I try to use warmth, empathy, and humor in my work and my everyday life.

Training

Certification in the DIR/Floor-time Model Certification in Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies
Certification in SPACE (Yale Child Study Center)
Certification in Maternal Mental Health
Trained in Exposure and Response Prevention
Trained in Animal-Assisted Play Therapy
Trained in Lactation Support
Registered "Circle of Security" Parent Facilitator

Education

Bachelor of Arts, McGill University, Double Major, Magna Cum Laude
Masters of Science, Columbia University
Masters of Arts, The Jewish Theological Seminary

Achievements

I have published in a number of acclaimed publications including The Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post. I have presented at a number of conferences including Postpartum Support International Conference, Mayor Bowser’s Maternal and Infant Health Summit, and Marcé of North America Perinatal Mental Health Conference. I also teach courses including CBT for the Perinatal Period and CBT/ERP for Perinatal OCD. My Perinatal OCD course was the first in-depth, national course on this subject.

Professional Memberships

Perinatal Mental Health Society Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Workers DMV Women's Mental Health Consortium DC Collaborative for Mental Health Board Member, Postpartum Support International