Laura Martin, Ph.D. Perinatal Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow
Laura Martin, Ph.D., is a perinatal psychology postdoctoral fellow who works across the DC Mother-Baby Wellness program, the Zickler Family Prenatal Pediatrics Institute and the neonatal and cardiac intensive care units, all at Children’s National Hospital. Dr. Martin earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from George Mason University, in Virginia, where she specialized in treating and researching traumatic stress across the lifespan, particularly during the perinatal period. Prior to joining the team at Children’s National in September 2025, she completed a predoctoral internship at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel
Hill. Dr. Martin has experience and training in delivering assessments and individual, family and group therapy to patients across the lifespan in inpatient and outpatient medical settings, including working with perinatal populations experiencing serious mental illness. She has specialized training in delivering therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder, including Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Dr. Martin’s research focuses on helping caregivers and couples transition to parenthood in the context of traumatic stress, including complex medical diagnoses, psychosocial stressors and loss.
The Clark Parent & Child Network
Address: 111 Michigan Ave. NW; Washington, D.C., 20010
Email: fetalbrain@childrensnational.org
Department: MRI Lab
Recent publications & presentations
2024
Martin LN. (2024). "Couple's Adjustment to Parenthood in the Context of Childhood Maltreatment." (Publication No. 31633638 [Doctoral dissertation, George Mason University] ). ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
http://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/couple-s-adjustment-parenthood-context-childhood/docview/3160718984/se-2
Giff ST, Renshaw KD, Denham SA, Martin LN, Gewirtz AH. “Emotion Socialization Profiles in Military Parents: Associations With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Family Process. 2024 Sep;63(3):1484-1501. doi: 10.1111/famp.12931. Epub 2023 Sep 22. PMID: 37740530
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37740530
Martin LN, Nelson JD, Cuellar AE, Cheskin LJ, Kornienko O, Fischer S, Renshaw KD. (2024). “The Role of ACEs and Discrimination on Mental Health: A Longitudinal Analysis Among College Students.” Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 33(2), 255-272
https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2023.2220661
Martin LN, Renshaw K, Feinberg M. “Couples’ Adjustment to Parenthood in the Context of Childhood Maltreatment.” Poster Presentation. Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) 58th Annual Convention. Philadelphia, PA. November 2024.
2023
Strickler S, Martin LN, Khong K, Cattaneo L. “Variations in Women's Attribution of Blame for Sexual Assault.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2023 Oct;38(19-20):10947-10971. doi: 10.1177/08862605231178359. Epub 2023 Jun 29. PMID: 37386850
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37386850
Martin LN, Renshaw KD, Mauro KL, Curby TW, Ansell E, Chaplin T. “Intergenerational Effects of Childhood Maltreatment: Role of Emotion Dysregulation and Emotion Socialization.” Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2023 Jul;32(7):2187-2197. doi: 10.1007/s10826-023-02608-x. Epub 2023 Jun 8. PMID: 40761747; PMCID: PMC12320551
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40761747