Counselling
"Counselling gives you the opportunity to look at your responses, learn how to cope and develop emotionally, as an individual and as a couple, from your experience."
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Social & Support Groups
IVFAustralia facilitates social & support groups for current patients to meet others undergoing or in between patient treatment. For details on dates and locations, and how to register, click here.
Workshops
IVFAustralia runs free two hour evening workshops for current patients, which address the emotional aspect of undertaking fertility treatment and subsequent psychological issues that may arise. For details on topics and dates, and how to register, click here.
Registration Form: If you are interested in attending social & support groups, or workshops facilitated by IVFAustralia counsellors, click here to download a registration form.
A counselling service is available to all patients at IVFAustralia clinics
Counselling offers you a forum for discussion which may assist you in making decisions about treatments and help you explore all options available. Talk to a counsellor about your
concerns, and find out how others cope and how normal your reactions are.
For some patients, counselling is mandatory, for example, those donating or receiving donated gametes or embryos during fertility treatment. For most patients, it is service which we highly recommend to assist you to understand the range of emotions you and your partner may typically experience.
Counselling support for the treatment journey
Embarking on fertility treatment often means coping with a mixture of emotions, from joy and excitement, to grief and great sadness. Counselling gives you the opportunity to look at your responses, learn how to cope and develop emotionally, as an individual and as a couple, from your experience.
Even with the significant advancements in fertility treatment success rates, almost 3% of all babies born in Australia today are conceived via assisted reproductive technology, it is common that over-time uncertainty about if, or when, pregnancy will be achieved may have an impact on your self-esteem.
Many patients have felt reassured and strengthened from the counselling process, which is non-judgemental and professional.
Experienced fertility counsellors
IVFAustralia's team of dedicated fertility counsellors are all members of the Australian & New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association with professional qualifications in psychology and counselling.
» Click here to read more about our counsellors
» To make an appointment with a counsellor, simply call your local clinic
When to see a counsellor
"It is important not to wait until you are overwhelmed before seeking counselling support ."
It is important not to wait until you are overwhelmed before seeking counselling support. Our team of fertility specialists, nurses and scientists all provide counsel to patients. However our specifically trained fertility counsellors can help at any time to:
- provide independent, confidential support and someone to talk to about how you or your partner may be feeling;
- prepare you for your fertility treatments and discuss the options available when making decisions about changing or stopping treatments;
- work on your relationship with your partner to support your treatment;
- support you through the emotions involved in trying to achieve a pregnancy;
- cope with other people's pregnancies and births by providing protective (self preservation) strategies for couples when faced with emotional settings;
- discuss reactions of families, friends and work colleagues;
- explore some strategies to help you feel more in control;
- cope with unsuccessful treatment cycles and/or miscarriage;
- discuss the anxieties of pregnancy and preparation for parenthood;
- deal with the specific issues related to donor treatment cycles.
For those patients undergoing donor cycles or surrogacy counselling, a number of counselling sessions are required for all parties involved in prior to commencing any form of treatment.
Genetic counselling
IVFAustralia’s genetic counsellor provides individuals and families with current information about herediatry conditions. IVFAustralia has made it a priority to provide patients access to appropriate genetic counselling services when they are planning reproductive treatment. Click here to read more about genetic counsellors at IVFAustralia
 » Download the "Counselling" leaflet
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