SSA/Parenting Options maintains the highest level of qualified professional staff. Couples, donors, and surrogates can all feel secure that their needs are being met by staff members who are qualified in the area which they handle. The support staff is trained in HIPPA to protect the rights of confidentiality of our clients. No agency provides a more qualified staff than SSA/Parenting Options.
Executive Agency Director and Houston Counselor
Kathy Stern holds a Master's Degree in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Board Certified Psychotherapist. She is also a Professional Certified Mediator, a Distance Credentialed Counselor, and a Clinical Supervisor for counselor interns. The combination of professional experience in adoption and infertility with personal experience in infertility makes Kathy a specialist in the emotional aspects of infertility. In addition to her practice as director and counselor of SSA, Kathy leads Mind/Body Wellness Groups for stress reduction. She also developed an online mind/body program for participants to take in the privacy of their own home on thier own schedule. Go to fertilitywellness.com.
Counseling for the following:
Medical Symptoms Reduction, Menopause Stress Relief, Marriage and Relationships, Depression and Anxiety, Medical and Health concerns, Grief and Loss, Work and Career issues, Stress Management, Conflict Resolution
Kathy received her training in Infertility, Menopause, Medical Symptom Reduction, and Cancer from the Mind/Body Medical Institute of Harvard Medical School. She is accredited through the International Association of Mind/Body Professionals. Kathy is a member of the American Counseling Association, the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, American Psychotherapist Association, and a Mental Health Member of the American Society For Reproductive Medicine.
Legal Department - The Law Offices of Gregory E. Stern
Greg Stern has been a practicing attorney since 1980. In addition to his private practice, he provides legal services for SSA and Parenting Options clients, as well as other agencies across the country. Greg has completed numerous surrogate and egg donor arrangements and adoptions in the Texas courts. He represents several of the major Texas fertility clinics on legal matters for their assisted reproduction programs. Greg speaks frequently at RESOLVE and elsewhere and has published several articles explaining the legal issues of assisted reproduction. Greg is a graduate of NYU Law School and a former adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law School. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, State Bar of Georgia, State Bar of Colorado, and State Bar of Maryland, and the Reproductive & Genetic Technologies Committee of the American Bar Association, and the American Society For Reproductive Medicine. Greg is licensed in the states of Texas, Georgia, Colorado, and Maryland.
Assistant Director/Coordinator Manager/Database Manager
Tammy Dennis has been with SSA/Parenting Options since 1998 and has ten plus years in case coordinator responsibilities. Tammy holds a BA in social and behavioral sciences. She is also a trained mediator who uses her experience and training to act as a liaison between the agency, intended parents, donors, the physician's office, and other employees within the agency. She helps insure that arrangements move forward in a timely manner. As Assistant Director, Tammy assists the Director and the counselors in all aspects of the daily operations. She assist the counselors in managing the surrogate arrangements. In addition, Tammy keeps the donor and surrogate databases updated in a timely manner.
Dallas Counselor and Couple's Coordinator Counselor
Lea Velez holds a master's degree in social work. In addition to her responsibilities with SSA/Parenting Options, Lea teaches undergraduate college courses part-time at a local university. She is also requested for public speaking engagements from various companies to speak on topics related to leadership, morale and integration of positive health strategies. She has over a decade of experience conducting group sessions with a wide range of populations addressing issues relevant to anger management, life skills and substance use. Lea is the Dallas Counselor and Agency Couples Coordinator, assisting SSA arrangements in a counseling capacity. She counsels couples throughout the process. Lea conducts SSA mediated meetings and facilitates the Dallas area support groups.
Dallas Counselor
Cathy Zelzer holds a master's degree in counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor. She is the President of Counseling Solutions. Cathy specializes in family therapy and mediation. In addition to her responsibilities with SSA/Parenting Options, Cathy conducts classes in Parenting, Life Skills, and Crisis Intervention. Cathy is the agency Coordinating Counselor, assisting all SSA arrangements in a counseling capacity. She counsels both surrogates and couples throughout the process and coordinates with the hospital social workers to facilitate a smoother process at delivery time. Cathy conducts SSA mediated meetings and facilitates the Dallas area support groups.
Atlanta Counselor
Lori Owens holds a master's degree in social work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She attended Sorbone in Paris and assist with our French speaking clients. Lori is also a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner. She has experience in adult outpatient therapy, and psychosocial assessments. She has conducted both group and individual therapy. She assist the Atlanta and surrounding clients and facilitates the Atlanta support group meetings.
Home Visit Counselor
Miranda Swiderski is our lead home visit counselor. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Counseling and Development. Miranda has experience as a caseworker for MHMR, where she worked extensively with families in their home environments. Miranda visits our surrogates in their home. She conducts an investigation of the home and reports on the family dynamics. Miranda is a Licensed Professional Counselor - Intern. Miranda has conducted SSA home visits since 2003.
Surrogate Coordinator
Zebi Beech holds an associates degree in pyschology. She works in our Dallas office and provides assistance to Lea Velez and Cathy Zelzer, our Dallas Counselors, as well as serves as our surrogate coordinator. Once a couple is through the legal process, Zebi stays in touch with the the surrogate throughout the process. She ask for updates, keeps parties informed of changes, and provides support throughout the arrangement. Zebi notifies the appropriate counselor if she becomes aware of an issue that needs a counselor's involvement. Zebi is the first person our Dallas donors and surrogates meet. She assist them with the paperwork process, CF testing, and administers the psychological testing.
Company Administrative Assistant
Erika holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a specialty in social psychology and psychology of drug behavior. She is the first person most people will talk with when they call in. She will make a determination to whom you need to talk with and put you through to the appropriate party. Erika also assist Greg Stern with the legal process.
