Counselling Services
Monash IVF counsellors are registered psychologists or social workers and members of the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counselling Association (ANZICA). Monash IVF has a large and experienced team of counsellors nationally. This team works closely with the nursing staff, scientists and clinicians to provide you with a supportive and caring service that is tailored to your individual needs.

Pre Treatment Counselling

In Victoria
Victorian Legislation requires that all people accessing infertility treatment in Victoria attend counselling. You can meet with a counsellor individually, as a couple, or attend a small group session to discuss:

• Treatment options and choices
• Concerns and questions
• Law relating to IVF in Victoria
• Consent forms for you to sign

In Queensland
Whilst pre-treatment counselling is not compulsory in Queensland, couples entering the program are encouraged to attend a counselling session. Certain treatments, such as those involving donor embryos or gametes do require pre-treatment counselling.

It must be stressed that the counselling session is not to assess your suitability for treatment; rather it should be regarded as an opportunity to receive information and answer any questions you may have.

Therapeutic Counselling

Most people experience a range of emotional responses during their treatment. Many people find that counselling reassures them that what they are experiencing is simply a normal reaction to difficult circumstances. Sometimes more specific issues arise and counselling can help you explore these issues and develop new skills to deal with them. Such as:

• Decision-making
• Coping with friends and family
• Relationship difficulties
• Grief and loss
• Depression and anxiety
• Donor Counselling

Some treatments involve the use of donor eggs, sperm or embryos. Donors, recipients and partners are all required to attend counselling to discuss legal and psychosocial issues relating to this type of treatment.

Crisis Counselling

There may be times when you feel particularly distressed before, during or after a treatment cycle i.e. following a negative pregnancy test, miscarriage or cancelled cycle. Telephone counselling or one on one counselling is available to assist you at this time.

Seminars

A variety of seminars are run throughout the year

Donor Seminars

These seminars are for people who are considering using or donating sperm, eggs or embryos. The seminars cover:

• Treatment process
• Legislation
• Social and emotional issues
• Frozen Embryo Seminars

The focus of these seminars is to outline options in order to help people in their decision-making regarding their excess frozen embryos.

Check the Monash IVF website at www.monashivf.edu.au for seminar locations and dates.

Things To Remember

Whilst it may be unrealistic to expect that you will immediately overcome these feelings you can work toward managing them.

• Grief and anxiety are common responses to fertility problems and treatment.
• Maintain realistic expectations.
• Many people place a lot of pressure on themselves and feel that they should be coping better. Different things may work for you at different times.
• It is a natural response to feel a range of emotions when treatment is over, ranging from feelings of grief and disappointment to anger if treatment is unsuccessful. In time and with support however this will ease.
• It is also quite common for people to experience feelings of anxiety when they have a positive pregnancy test.
• You don’t have to wait until a crisis occurs to access counselling. Many people find it helpful to come before they experience any distress to learn new coping strategies and plan on how best to manage their treatment cycle.
• If you would like to discuss further strategies please contact your local counsellor to arrange an appointment.

Department of Psychology & Infertility Counselling

This article appears courtesy of http://www.monashivf.com