Counselling across our centres 

The team  is led by Patricia Lambert, our Senior Counsellor. Our trained counsellors are members of and trained by the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA). Though they are not medical staff, they have a good understanding of fertility problems and the various treatments provided for them.

Counselling is available throughout your treatment,  before, during and after. You can book an appointment Monday to Friday and occasional Saturdays. Our counsellors are  experienced in working with cultural, religious and gender sensitivities. We can even provide interpretation if you need it, please speak to us prior to your session to arrange this for you.

If you have any questions, or would like to arrange a counselling appointment, give us a call at 0151 702 4075 (Liverpool) or 0151 702 4171 (Knutsford), or email us at Hewittcounsellingservices@lwh.nhs.uk

 

Meet the Counselling Team

Our counselling team have specialised infertility knowledge and the impact it can have on patients and their support network. The counselling team are members of the British Infertility Counselling Association.  They are all qualified counsellors with specific training around infertility.

The team can provide individual or couple counselling to explore your feelings, needs and to discuss potential tools and strategies to support you. Therapy is also offered to help you consider the implications of using, or become a donor of sperm, eggs, embryos, or to explore surrogacy.  The team also support decision making prior to treatment if there are specific social, emotional, medical, or legal complications for patients.

Senior Counsellor

Patricia Lambert

Administration Team

Bruna Gutierrez-Joaquim

Counselling Team

Counsellor Emma Marshall

Counsellor Melanie Molloy

Counsellor Susanne Maher

Counsellor Jane McCagh

Our Patient Support Group 

We understand how demanding and isolating it can be to go through fertility treatment and that's why we host our patient support group. The isolation you can sometimes feel is very common; infertility is an extremely personal condition and one that you can sometimes find difficult to talk about with your closest friends and family. This group is run by patients, for patients and helps you by introducing you to other people who might have the same thoughts, worries and concerns as you. The group also acts as a great hub for all the information, support, and guidance you'll need while going through fertility treatments – so you have everything you need in one place.

Our patient support group meetings are usually held on the second Thursday of the month at 6.00pm.

It's always a friendly and informal place where we talk, support, and help each other. We sometimes invite along guest speakers to give us more information on infertility and the support available before, during and even after treatment.

If this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, you can contact our Infertility Counsellor Emma Marshall for more information and to be added to our mailing list at Hewittcounsellingservices@lwh.nhs.uk.

You are also welcome to contact our Patient Representatives Hannah and Sara who are involved in running the group. They can also add you to the Facebook group 'HFC support groups' (private and/or open).

Hannah: hannahmaalma@live.co.uk

Sara: sastarkey18@gmail.com

Monthly Online Patient Support Group

Our next online Patient Support Group is on:

• Next group: Thursday the 10^th of October

  Guest Speaker: Rachel Gregoire, Scientific Director of the Hewitt 

  Time: 6-8pm 

  Where: Teams, link below 

  _______________________________________________________________________________

  Microsoft Teams Need help?

  Join the meeting now

  Meeting ID: 376 648 229 836

  Passcode: EdYUEd

 

You may find the following self-care tools helpful whilst navigating your treatment.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Mindfulness Walk: Guided audio activity | Interactive | Therapist Aid

 

Meditation

How to meditate for beginners - Mental wellbeing tips - Every Mind Matters - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Insight Timer — #1 Free Meditation App (there are other apps)

Meditation and Sleep Made Simple - Headspace (there are other apps)

Calm - The #1 App for Meditation and Sleep (there are other apps)

Grounding Exercise: Guided audio activity | Interactive | Therapist Aid

 

Breathing exercises

Breathing exercises for stress - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Deep Breathing Exercise | Video | Therapist Aid

 

Improving your self-esteem and compassion

Raising low self-esteem - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

How to Practice Self-Compassion | Article | Therapist Aid

 

Managing stress and being happier

How to be happier - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Mental wellbeing audio guides - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

How to cope with anxiety - a relaxation technique | NHS (youtube.com)

Managing stress and building resilience - tips - Mind

Fertility Network | Stress and Infertility | Fertility Network (fertilitynetworkuk.org)

Other Resources:

 

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Support area	Where to look	What is this website about?
General Infertility	https://all-about-fertility.com     http://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk           Fertility Network (fertilitynetworkuk.org)       The Fertility Podcast - Expert Interviews and Real-Life Stories   https://myjourney.pt/	Insights into fertility and the causes of Infertility.     Fertility Friends is the leading online infertility community in the UK, with members at every stage of infertility, adoption, parenting and moving on after fertility treatment.   Fertility Network UK provides free and impartial support, advice, information and understanding for anyone affected by fertility issues.   Podcast about fertility.     Support for patients unsuccessful with their treatment.
Relationships	https://www.relate.org.uk/get-help	Relate are a UK based charity that provide counselling and support for those wanting to improve their relationship. They have blogs and articles that you may find helpful.
Female Infertility       Endometriosis     Polycystic ovaries         Premature Menopause         Thyroid Issues       Pelvic Inflammatory Disease	About Us | Endometriosis UK (endometriosis-uk.org)   Verity - The UK PCOS Charity - Verity PCOS UK (verity-pcos.org.uk)     Charity for Women with POI | The Daisy Network         The British Thyroid Foundation (BTF) (btf-thyroid.org)   Pelvic Pain Support Network | Support, Information and Advocacy for those with Pelvic Pain	UK’s leading charity for all those affected by endometriosis. Verity is the UK charity for women whose lives are affected by polycystic ovary disease.   Daisy Network provides information and support to women diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency, also known as Premature Menopause.   A patient organisation dedicated to supporting people to live better with thyroid disease.   A patient led charity to support those with PID.
Male Infertility	Together we can improve the health of men and boys. | Men's Health Forum (menshealthforum.org.uk)   The Men’s Room | Fertility Friends Support Forum   HIM fertility | Fertility Network (fertilitynetworkuk.org)   How to support your male partner with infertility | Fertility Family	Men’s health organisation.       Support Forum for men going through infertility treatment.   Fertility network.     Article to support men going through infertility treatment.
LGBTQ+ Parents	The hidden costs facing potential LGBTQ+ parents | Stonewall	Stonewall stands for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere.
Still Birth	https://www.sands.org.uk   Stillbirth information and support | Tommy's (tommys.org)	National stillbirth and neonatal death charity, supports people affected by the death of a baby.   To support, care for and champion people, no matter where they may be on their pregnancy journey.
Miscarriage	The Miscarriage Association: Pregnancy Loss Information & Support	Offer support and information to anyone affected by the loss of a baby in pregnancy.
Premature Babies	For babies born premature or sick | Bliss	They champion the right for every baby born premature or sick to receive the best care by supporting families, campaigning for change, and supporting professionals, and enabling life-changing research. Find out more about what we do.
Donation	https://www.seedtrust.org.uk	A hub of clear and practical information about donating and receiving eggs, sperm, and embryos in the UK.
Donor Conceived	Donor Conception Network | Supporting families through donor conception (dcnetwork.org)	DC Network is a charity offering information, support and community to donor conception families and prospective families.
Grief and loss	The Lullaby Trust - Safer sleep for babies, Support for families     Home - Cruse Bereavement Support     Sue Ryder | Because no one should face death or grief alone	To reduce the number of SIDS (sudden infant death) deaths and support bereaved families.   UK's leading bereavement charity.     Bereavement Charity.
Surrogacy	Home - SurrogacyUK	Organisation to support those considering surrogacy.
Adoptions and fostering	The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity | The Fostering Network   Adoption UK Charity	UK Fostering Charity.       UK Adoption Charity.
Single parenthood	https://www.thestorkandi.com     Home | Gingerbread	The Stork and I supporting those considering and going through Solo parenthood.   Supporting single parents.
Mental Health Support	National charity helping people with Anxiety - Anxiety UK   Get help with anxiety, fear or panic - NHS (www.nhs.uk)   Self-care for anxiety - Mind	Charity to support those with anxiety.     NHS website.     Charity to support and improve mental health.
Fertility Preservation	Information for trans and non-binary people seeking fertility treatment | HFEA   About us | Gendered Intelligence           Gender Identity Research & Education Society – Improving the Lives of Trans People (gires.org.uk)       Homepage - Mermaids (mermaidsuk.org.uk)	HFEA information to support those wanting to preserve their fertility.     Gendered Intelligence is a trans-led and trans-involving charity that works to increase understandings of gender diversity and improve the lives of trans people.   GIRES is a UK wide organisation whose purpose is to improve the lives of trans and gender diverse people of all ages, including those who are non-binary and non-gender.   Supporting trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people, and their families since 1995.
Specific conditions	About DSA - Downs Syndrome Association (downs-syndrome.org.uk)       Klinefelter's Syndrome Association (KSA) (ksa-uk.net)	We are a national organisation, committed to improving the quality of life of people who have Down’s syndrome, promoting their right to be included on a full and equal basis with others.   Klinefelter syndrome (sometimes called Klinefelter's, KS or XXY) is where boys and men are born with an extra X chromosome
Counselling Directories and Ethical Bodies	BICA: Professional Infertility Counselling Association in the UK           https://www.bacp.co.uk                 https://britishfertilitysociety.org.uk	The British Infertility Counselling Association are a registered charity and the only professional infertility counselling Association recognised by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the British Fertility Society in the UK.   The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy’s aims include promoting counselling and psychotherapy as a profession so that its role is better understood by the public. Website includes a Find a therapist search facility as well as practitioner membership services.   Membership is open to a range of disciplines with an interest in infertility, reproductive medicine, and biology. Contributes to national policy formation, education and raising of practice standards in the provision of fertility treatment.
Professional Bodies   Human Fertilisation and Embryology Association     PROGAR         ARCS                 SING	http://www.hfea.gov.uk/fertility         Project Group on Assisted Reproduction (PROGAR) | BASW         https://www.arcscientists.org                http://singuk.co.uk	UK’s independent regulator overseeing all fertility clinics in the UK and has essential information about fertility treatment and clinics.   The Project Group on Assisted Reproduction has a specific remit to consider issues relating to infertility and assisted human conception from a distinct social work perspective.   The Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists (ARCS), a professional body run by Reproductive Scientists supporting the needs and research and development interests of those involved in reproductive sciences in the UK and worldwide.   The Senior Infertility Nurses Group provides peer support, guidance and encouragement to its members as well as promoting education and training for all fertility nurses.

 

 

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As part of our counselling service, we ask all our patients to provide us with feedback to improve and recognise the work our team does. At the end of your sessions, you will be contacted by email, and we really appreciate all those who take the time to send us valuable suggestions, and feedback.

You can find the support therapy feedback form here and the implications therapy survey here. 

Below are some of the positive comments we have received from our patients.

Understanding that we weren't on our own, our feelings were normal, and we had to learn to coexist with them. Without the counselling we'd never have tried again for round 2 and we wouldn't be a couple of months away from meeting our baby boy

Our experience with our counsellor was outstanding. She made us feel at ease and encouraged us to speak openly right from the start. We've been able to navigate the grief around repeated fertility treatment, a late pregnancy loss and the impact that these have had on ourselves as individuals and as a couple. Support came at a time when we felt quite lonely and the people around us didn't know how to respond to our loss. Counselling became our safe space to address difficult emotions and decisions. We felt not only supported throughout but also cherished. Our counsellor was warm, and her manner and humour gave us a sense of connection.

My counsellor was informative, the session was relaxed, and I felt able to ask questions and chat openly about how I felt without feeling judged.

The service is invaluable - It helped me go through a very difficult time and I understood my anxiety a lot better and how to deal with it too.

The ability of having sessions online really benefited me and I liked having them in the comfort of my own home.

From your feedback, we have identified that we need to improve specific areas of our service.

You said	We did
Reduce the waiting time to see a counsellor	We have employed more counsellors, and we are up-skilling those we already have.   We have also increased our administration support to ensure our counsellors can focus on counselling and our support team are there to help you.
Allow a patient to choose, or change their counsellor	We are going to add a pen portrait for each of our counsellors on our support pages.   We are considering a feedback stage mid-way through sessions.   If you would like a different counsellor, we encourage patients to speak to their counsellor initially, and if this isn’t possible there are contact numbers below.

 

Direct number:  0151 702 4075

Email address: Hewittcounsellingservices@lwh.nhs.uk

 

If you have any specific feedback, questions, or complaints, we encourage you to initially discuss with your counsellor or you can contact senior counsellor on 0151 702 4075 / patricia.lambert@lwh.nhs.uk