How a Counsellor Can Help

Our fertility counsellor can help you with:

Support

You may want to talk with some one who understands the ups and downs of infertility and treatment. It can be very isolating trying to have a child when everyone around is pregnant, or already has their own family.

Decision making

You may have questions about the treatment options available to you, or about differences of opinion between you and your partner. You may want to discuss your plan for treatment, whether to have a break from trying, or how to make treatment fit in with the other things in your life.

Information

If stress is a concern for you, the counsellor can discuss a variety of relaxation options, planning techniques and community services which can be available to you. You may want to know how others have felt about different issues or options.

Grief cycles

When going through times of strong emotional reaction, it can be very helpful to gain some relief from the intensity of it all. Counselling identifies and enhances the qualities you have already used in coping and directs these skills to your fertility problem. Counselling adds a perspective to the problem and helps to reduce the emotional pain of what can be a very challenging time.

Non-genetic parenting

Couples considering non-genetic parenting (the use of donor sperm, donor eggs or donor embryos) meet with the counsellor to discuss readiness for treatment and issues around what to tell children.

Debriefing sessions

When pregnancy is achieved an appointment is made to meet with the counsellor after the eight week ultrasound. This is a time to reflect on how it has been for you to reach this point, to provide us with feedback and for an opportunity to talk about any anxiety you may have. It is also a chance to discuss child issues and becoming parents together.

Availability

Even after treatment is completed, you may wish to return to discuss concerns that have evolved with adjustment to being a family, or issues that relate to your child or your relationship. Options for assistance can be discussed and, if requested, referral to appropriate services can be facilitated.