Counselling and support

Support services are provided as a complement to patient treatment resources.

 Experienced and sympathetic staff are available
 who specialise in supporting and working with
 fertility patients, offering the opportunity to bring
 any questions or issues to the sessions.
 
Infertility treatment is very stressful. Apart from the treatment itself, many couples may also feel isolated and anxious. Even though the clinic tries hard to ensure that plenty of information is available, it is hard to take in all at once, whilst many couples may also feel a “loss of control”. Fertility clinics understand all this, and we strive to make sure that our patients have the opportunity to address any of these issues. We hope that by having an opportunity to deal with anxieties and issues, it will make the journey through infertility a little less  demanding.
 

 Sammy Lee, an embryologist who also has a diploma in
 counselling from the London Hospital Medical College,
 where he was male infertility counsellor for a number of years.

Our counsellors specialise in dealing with support of couples undergoing infertility treatment andwould be happy to go over any issues or concerns with you.
 
 
 
 

COUNSELLING
By Sammy Lee
What is counselling?
Counselling , contrary to popular myths, is not just for people with problems. People from all walks of life may derive benefit from it. It is an opportunity for any person to explore issue(s), emotions and feelings in a safe environment. In other words, in a setting which is non judgemental  with a qualified person who  you may open up to in a way you  might not normally be able to with family and friends. The aim of counselling is to improve the circumstances under which we all live. By exploring and dealing with issues, emotions and feelings we may be able to improve the quality of our lives.

How is it organised?
Here at the ACU counselling is easily arranged. You may obtain an  appointment by speaking to Alexis or by  telephone  (020 8 746 8585). Sally or Sammy are often in the clinic and it may be possibleto arrange ad hoc informal sessions, especially at times ofsudden crisis. Do not hesitate to ask at the front desk.

Counselling is normally arranged in sessions of 50 minutes duration. The first session is essentially an exploratory one. At the end of this session, further sessions, usually 3 to 5 more sessions (loosely termed a contract, but not in the legal sense) may be agreed upon if you wish to continue. There is no obligation to continue with counselling if you do not want to.

Should you require further information ring 020 8 746 8585. If the advice is not immediately  not available, pleaseleave your name and phone number and a return call will be made as soon  as possible.

Counselling in the infertility setting

There is much debate about the contribution of stress to infertility. Specialists remain unconvinced about the possibility that fertility may be affected by the psychological state of a person. What is not in doubt is the fact that infertility itself and the various forms of
medical treatment available, undoubtedly cause a great deal of stress.
In this setting, counselling may be of use in the following circumstances:
i) shock following initial diagnosis eg blocked tubes, low sperm count.
ii) frustration at slow progress, uncertainty or with diagnosis of
 unexplained infertility.
iii) failure, following unsuccessfull treatment, following failure of
 fertilisation during IVF or persistent miscarriage.
iv) coming to terms with and coping with childlessness or infertility.
v) implications counselling particularly in situations where donor
 sperm are used.
 
 
 
 

Sammy Lee PhD FIBMS Diploma in Fertility Counselling

Sammy is a Clinical Embryologist by training, having held senior posts in IVF since 1985, as well as pioneering GIFT in the UK. As a clinical scientist, Sammy has specialised in male infertility and helps to run the microinjection programme here at the ACU. Feeling the need to offer patients more support, Sammy obtained his Diploma in Fertility Counselling from the London Hospital in 1992. Since then, Sammy has dovetailed counselling and support work with his clinical commitments and even found time to write Counselling in Male Infertility (Blackwells, 1996). Sammy piloted Issue`s telephone counselling service and continues to work the Friday evening shift.