Reproductive Mental Health
What We Offer
The decision to start a family is full of excitement and joy and sometimes surprise. For many, the journey is colored with these wonderful emotions, dreams, and preparation. Though, for 1 in 6 couples there will be unanticipated and unwelcomed hurdles. This might include deep pain from the loss of a pregnancy, the heartbreak of impossible decisions, the strain on your partnership and friendships, or the shift in how you see yourself, all of which requires you to dig deep into yourself and in your relationships. Through the use of attachment-based and mind-body therapy models including EFCT, EMDR, and ISTDP, we will hold the full spectrum of your emotions so that you have clarity for the choices ahead and room for the hope that you want.
When coping with the additional stress of fertility challenges it is important to find a therapist trained in the best ways to support you, your loved-ones, and your hoped-for little one. I am a registered therapist with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Mental Health Professional Group and graduate of the Fertility Counseling Post Graduate Course.
Family Building with Donors
Recipient Parent Consultation-Many fertility clinics require individuals and couples using donor sperm, eggs, or embryos to have a consultation. These sessions last up to 90-minutes and are an opportunity to talk through sharing your conception story with others and your child, worries and resources, and any other concerns or questions you may have.
Donor Assessments-For individuals working with an agency or independently, psychological assessments are an important part of the process to protect candidates that may have conditions that could predispose for emotional risk and to ensure candidates have an understanding of the complexity of the process to give fully-informed consent. These last up to 6-hours and consists of a 2-hour interview, consultation, and a specialized psychological assessment.
Independent or Known Donors- The gift of support from friends and family is generous and wonderful. Because these relationships are typically on-going, they deserve special attention and many clinics will require a recipient parent consultation, donor consultation (if not a full assessment), and joint session to be clear on the expectations and plans moving forward.
Family building with gestational carriers or surrogates
Independent or Known GCs-Because of the complexity of relationship and overall risk involved in surrogacy arrangements, the standard of care as established by ASRM is for all 3 components to be completed wether or not a surrogacy agency is involved. This is intended for the protection of the intended parents, the gestational carrier, and the future child. This step is recommended prior to the legal contracting meetings and is useful in preparation for those meetings.
Intended Parent Consultation-When seeking the support from another person to carry your pregnancy, the IP Consultation is an imperative step. These sessions last up to 90-minutes and are an opportunity to talk through sharing your conception story with others and your child, worries and resources, navigating your expectations for the relationship and contact with your GC during and after pregnancy, and any other concerns or questions you may have.
GC and Surrogate Assessments-For individuals working with an agency or independently, psychological assessments are an important part of the process to protect candidates that may have conditions that could predispose for emotional risk and to ensure candidates have an understanding of the complexity of the process to give fully-informed consent. These last up to 6-hours and consists of a 2-hour interview, consultation, and a specialized psychological assessment. Candidate Partners also need to be a part of this process as they are often the GC’s primary support.
Joint Session-After intended parents, GC candidates, and candidate partners have completed the assessments/consultations, the joint session is an important step in coming to an understanding and agreement of expectations, relational support anticipated, and steps for managing unintended or unexpected situations in pregnancy.
Supportive Therapy and Decision-Making
Decision-Making- So much of the fertility treatment process is uncertain and you can easily get stuck deciding next steps. Do I go for one more round? Do I consider donor gametes? Can I be ok moving forward childless? Having a warm and knowledgeable space to talk through the options on your own and with your partner can go a long way to finding peace and clarity on your path forward.
Grief and Loss Support- Paired with the hope of fertility treatment is often a grief for the family building journey you may have wished for.
Pricing Information