Counselling FAQs:
How many sessions are funded by LCRH and how long are they?
LCRH fund up to 2 sessions of counselling per cycle. This can be for Implications counselling or supportive counselling, or a combination.
Sessions last for 50 minutes.
How does counselling take place?
Counselling is offered remotely by video usually using a virtual platform such as Zoom or Teams. The counsellors can sometimes accommodate early evening, but most appointments are during the working day Monday to Friday.
What happens if I want/need more sessions after the two that are funded by LCRH?
Your counsellor will be able to talk to you about their availability. Sessions will be invoiced to you directly by them.
Is counselling for couples or individuals?
This really is up to you. If you are in a couple and you feel it might be most helpful to attend together then please do. It is always helpful to let the counsellor know that is what you plan to do. You could also do a combination – attend a session individually and then use another as a couple. You can discuss this with the counsellor, who may suggest that joint sessions could be beneficial for example..
Just make sure you have thought about how openly you can talk in front of whoever you might be attending with, even if it is your partner. Counselling is always going to be more effective if you can let yourself speak openly.
Do I have to come every week?
No. Although some people might want to have weekly sessions which can be very helpful, our fertility counsellors recognise that treatment is often already putting strain on your resources practically and financially. The counsellors will work with you flexibly to try to provide what you are likely to find most helpful whether that is a one-off session, ad hoc sessions, fortnightly or maybe you want to put a session in the diary when you know there is a particular part of your treatment approaching.
What if I need to cancel the session?
We recognise that having fertility treatment can mean that your schedule can be unpredictable and so there might be times when you need to move or cancel a session; we will always try to accommodate a reschedule. Please give the counsellor 24 hours’ notice of cancellation otherwise the session will be charged for or taken from the allocation of your funded sessions.
Do I have to talk about my past?
This is not necessary. However, sometimes fertility treatment does have an impact on our family or personal relationships or our relationship with ourselves and this can bring up material from the past. It can be useful to explore past experiences with reference to how you are managing your current situation to try to alleviate any distress you’re feeling. The counsellors will sensitivity work with what you feel comfortable exploring.
Can I talk about things that aren’t to do with fertility?
Yes, you can. Having fertility treatment can be very consuming but we also recognise there is more to you than just the treatment you are undergoing. Fertility treatment understandably can have an impact on all sorts of areas of life from work to family and personal. There are no rules as to what you can and cannot bring.
What if I don’t know what to talk about?
You don’t have to have something specific you want to talk about. You might not be sure what is bringing you to counselling. This is very usual. Your counsellor will help you to get the most out of the sessions and will encourage you to think in the sessions about what you may need and what could be helpful.
Is what I share with the counsellor recorded on my medical records?
No. Counselling is confidential and the counsellors do not share the content of counselling sessions with anyone else. Counselling is not an assessment. It is a confidential space where you can speak freely about any doubts, worries or feelings you may have. Your counsellor’s role is to support you in exploring your thoughts and decisions, not to direct or influence them.
However, if a safeguarding concern arises – For example, the counsellor may be concerned that you, someone else or a yet to be born child could be at risk of significant harm - then the counsellor will share their concerns with a senior member of the clinic team. They will discuss their concerns and intended course of action with you first if that’s possible.