I have been working as a fertility counsellor since 1997, BACP & BICA accredited. I offer support and implications counselling (Implications of IVF, Donor, & Surrogacy) for individuals and couples. I am an independent counsellor, and in that capacity I have worked with leading fertility clinic for 20+ years. In my practice, I recognise the importance to normalise and validate all the feelings one goes through. I strive to support clients at their own pace. It can take time to explore and decide on a treatment and therefore these sessions can be spaced to give you the time to research and reflect or one session may be all you need. This will be for you to decide.
I try and facilitate my clients to voice their thoughts and feelings. Sometimes this involves staying with the shock of the diagnosis, or if known before, revisiting the earlier trauma of it.
Not everyone will have the family they wanted. Working with ending and life after treatment requires time and support not always available at your clinic or in general counselling. Unrecognised grief where there have been no rituals, no funerals, no social recognition can be the cause of feelings of depression or/and anger.
To support my work, I studied pre and post adoption issues and qualified with the Post Adoption Centre in 2002/3. After this training I spent a few years offering experiential training to social workers in the UK to give them an insight into the fertility journey of prospective adopters.
I have also offered training at the City Lit on a Person Centred Diploma course where I worked as a group and one-to-one supervisor for 20 years.
I am interested too in working with adults wanting to find their donors or siblings to support them in their emotional journey. I have also worked with donors who have been contacted by DC adults.
I work from home in Islington, located a short walk from Archway and Finsbury Park and overground rail service. I work face-to face and on-line. My hours are flexible and I try to meet your needs to facilitate in person sessions