Few situations in life are as challenging, demanding and stressful as infertility and its treatment. Patients often express a sense of loss of control over their lives when pregnancy does not come quickly. Multiple tests and office visits can compound the anxiety for some patients.

Inffertility is a medical condition that affects every part of a person's or couple's life. It may challenge the way in which you feel about yourself, your relationship with others, your work, and your outlook on life. Few situations in life are as demanding and overwhelming. Your personality, life experiences, and coping style all play a part in how you feel and react. In addition to the support of family, friends, and medical providers, you may benefit from the assistance of our professional counseling services.

At Boston IVF we recognize that you may be experiencing intense feelings and an unusual amount of stress during your infertility experience. We are committed to providing you with a comprehensive approach to help you cope as effectiveley as possible.

We offer  individuals and couples counseling with professionals who specialize in fertility issues. Our goal is to help patient's sort out their feelings, identify coping strategies and to feel better about themselves during their fertility treatment.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:

Psychological Services
Our staff of psychologists includes specialists in a range of women's health issues, including infertility, pregnancy loss, postpartum depression, bereavement, parenting, menopause and women's cancers (breast or gynecological).

If you are having a difficult time in the medical process, seeing a psychologist can help address the specific issues that concern you. They can also help you work through changes in your work life, family life or any other issues that are troubling yourself and/or your partner.

Counseling Services
Our professional counselors, who are Masters-level social workers, hold the highest level of licensure in Massachusetts. They are all Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW) and have a Board Certified Diploma in Clinical Social Work (BCD). They each have over 30 years of experience working in fertility treatment centers and hospital settings.

Our counseling staff has three clinical social workers who specialize in the emotional aspects of infertility and are available to see all Boston IVF patients. Counseling for individuals and couples can offer help in coping with stress, including the stresses of ongoing fertility treatments and the uncertainty of outcome.

Our clinical social workers specialize in a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, pregnancy loss, assisted conception with donor egg and sperm, gestational carrier arrangement, secondary infertility, decision making and adoption.

BENEFITS FROM SEEING AN INFERTILITY COUNSELOR

Counseling for individuals and couples can offer help in coping with the unique stresses of ongoing medical treatments and the uncertainty of the outcome -- including the possibility of unsuccessful treatment cycles, as well as help in dealing with family, friends, and the fertile world.

If you are having a difficult time going through the medical process, seeing a counselor one-on-one can help you address the issues that are specific to you and provide you with the needed support. If you are havingg difficulty making informed treatment decisions or choosing treatment options, talking to a counselor can help you move forward in the process. If you experience a pregnancy loss, counseling can help you deal with this very real and powerful grief. 

It would also be important to seek counseling if you are experiencing depression or anxiety to a degree that is significantly affecting your life or making it hard to enjoy life. As outlined in the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Fact Sheet on Infertility Counseling and Support, sign to consider include:

• persistent feelings of sadness, guilt or worthlessness
• loss of interest in usual activities and relationships
• agitation and anxiety
• constant preoccupation with infertility
• difficulty concentrating and remembering
• change in appetite, weight or sleep patterns
• social isolation
• increased use of alcohol or drugs
• increased mood swings
• marital conflicts
• other current or past stress that heightens infertility distress       

Additionally, the use of a third party in the reproductive process (donor egg or donor sperm) has become an increasingly successful way for individuals and couples to have a child. This choice in family building also raises some unique emotional, social and ethical issues. As part of our program, any individual or couple planning to pursue a donor process will be required to meet with one of our professional counselors to discuss the issues involved. Topics covered will include:

• transitioning from a traditional form of treatment to use of a third party
• the feelings involved in making this decision
• choosing a donor
• issues of disclosure (when and how to tell a child)
• issues of privacy versus secrecy
• dealing with family and friends

WHAT WE CAN OFFER

Our experienced professional counselors offer counseling that is individualized to meet each patient's personal needs and help manage the emotional "roller coaster" associated with infertility. Our counselors assist  in sorting out  feelings and identifying coping strategies through either individual or couples counseling. Additionally, they are available to  talk with patients about the specifics of their infertility treatment choices as well as social and emotional considerations. 

Our counselors can also direct you to a variety of supports and community resources that complement our work and offer additional help with the emotional aspects of infertility. It is important that you do not have to be alone in this often difficult journey.

OUR COUNSELING STAFF

Our professional counselors, who are Masters-level social workers, hold the highest level of licensure in Massachusetts and credentialing in social work. They are all Licensed Independant Clinical Social Workers (LICSW) and have a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Worl (BCD). They each have over 25 years of experience working in health care and hospital settings, women's health, and fertility treatment centers.  

Jeanie Ungerleider, LICSW, BCD - Director of Psychological Services at Boston IVF and chair of Boston IVF's Ethics Committee, Jeanie offers individual/couples counseling and psychotherapy. She specializes in infertility, ovum donation, pregnancy loss, secondary infertility and adoption. She received her Masters degree from Simmons College School of Social Work.

Lynn Nichols, LICSW, BCD - A clinical social worker with particular expertise in women's health issues, infertility and pregnancy loss, Lynn offersboth short and long-term individual and couples therapy. She has served as chief clinical social worker in the Obstetrics and Gynecology  Departments  of both Beth Israel Deaconess and Brigham and Women's  Hospitals. She received her Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut.

Terry Chen Rothchild, LICSW, BCD - A clinical social worker who offers consultations related to the emotional aspects of infertility, egg donation, sperm donation and adoption -- Terry providesgestational carrier evaluations, psychotherapeutic consultations and both short and long-term psychotherapy to individuals and couples. She received her Masters degree from Boston University School of Social Work.