Hello, just seeking a little bit of info from anyone in the know...what should be being provided fertility counsellors? What are they there to do? What, if anything, are they not supposed to be doing or is outside of their remit? Might sound like a silly question but without divulging anything personal I was a little surprised by my first experience and now thinking it would have helped if I had known before hand.
Xx
Hey! I can’t comment on any experience first hand but I am thinking of taking my clinic up on a session so am interested if it could possibly help! Xx
I didn’t find the fertility counsellor as useful when I went for a session with my husband for general support. She just got us to talk about our general feelings and fears. However when I went back alone for a single session to talk about whether to use a donor she was helpful and knowledgeable, presenting information about the process and things I should consider. For general counselling support though, I was lucky enough to be entitled to sessions with a psychotherapist through work, and she did talking therapy which allowed me to think about how to strengthen the coping mechanisms I already have and that was much more useful.
Hi Birdwithnoname, I had a session after my failed cycle as it was offered as part of the NHS-funded cycle (I get a total of 5 sessions)....it was okay. I found it more useful to lean on the other women in this community to be honest (on here and Instagram). It was just a nice chat and she didn't ask me anything inappropriate or anything I didn't expect but I don't think I would bother going again.
Would any of the professionals on here be able to shed some light please?
Dear Birdwithnoname
Very many apologies for missing this post. My hope is that clinics do provide free of charge counselling for implications and support. Support counselling has no themes that need to be discussed, it's very much a safe space for you to explore how you're feeling, possibly to get some tips for coping better, but sometimes just being alongside someone with no agenda enables you the time and space to hear yourself.
Implications counselling does have themes, helping you to understand more about the implications of the decisions you're considering around treatment, or not having treatment. Implications counselling is available for any sort of assisted conception, but is often is a routine part of the treatment pathway for anyone considering donor conception or donating eggs, sperm or embryos.
All counsellors working with or inside fertility clinics need to have had specialist additional training, and a minimum of two years post qualifying experience prior to working with clients in clinics.
We aim to create a robust foundation of support for our clients, whatever their situation and wherever they are in their fertility journey.
I hope that helps a little
Warm wishes
Tracey
Thank you for your informative reply. This would have been ideal had my appointment been anything like the description you have given. I was wondering whether it was me that had got it wrong!
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