To make sure we can support and respond to each patient individually and personally, we offer a specialised and professional counselling team, as well as a patient support group, at The Hewitt Fertility Centre in Liverpool and Knutsford.
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Liverpool & Knutsford Counselling Services
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
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Meet the Counselling Team
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
Liz Ives
Counselling Team
Counsellor Emma Marshall
Counsellor Melanie Molloy
Counsellor Susanne Maher
Counsellor Jane McCagh
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Patient Support Groups
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:
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Next group: Thursday 14th of November 2024, 6pm-8pm
Guest Speaker: Jessica Bourke, Fertility Detective: https://www.jessicabourke.com/
TOPIC: Investigating recurrent loss and general info
Where: Teams, link below
_______________________________________________________________________________
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Meeting ID: 333 693 493 507
Passcode: UeqJjj
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Patinet Support Group - patient story 'how the group has helped me'
'Hi, i am Hannah. I am a member of the support group and just wanted to share my story and how the group has helped me.
Fertility issues is such a lonely world, when we were told its very unlikely we could conceive naturally we were devastated! You never expect to be told you have fertility issues when it's so natural to become pregnant and have children... that's what we are made for isn't it?
We started fertility treatment at the Hewitt Centre in June 2022. I can remember attending my first support group where I met so many funny, kind and caring people who actually 'got it'.
We had a good old moan about other people's hurtful comments and how to manage people around us being pregnant. It felt amazing to hear people sharing their thoughts and feelings that I was having. Knowing I am not the only one was so powerful!
4 IVF cycles on and the support groups carried on, I loved getting factual information and advice before starting another cycle and it felt comforting being around others who have experienced miscarriage and failed cycles like me. Having a safe place to be heard and accepted for the many negative thoughts was just what I needed. Don't get me wrong I have brilliant friends and family who offer support but there is something unique and special about meeting people who have been there.
I have met a friend for life through the Hewitt support groups and I believe my confidence has grown particularly when it comes to talking about changes or add on's to my treatment.
I would completely recommend attending a support group, it's really helped me both mentally and I now have lots of great friendships from it'
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.
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Tools to support you on your journey
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)
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Signposting to additional support
Other Resources:
General Infertility
All you need to know about fertility - All About Fertility
Fertility Friends Support Forum
The Fertility Podcast - Expert Interviews and Real Life Stories
Relationships
Polycystic ovaries
Verity - The UK PCOS Charity - Verity PCOS UK
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pelvic Pain Support Network | Support, Information and Advocacy for those with Pelvic Pain
Premature Menopause
Charity for Women with POI | The Daisy Network
Thyroid Issues
The British Thyroid Foundation (BTF) (btf-thyroid.org)
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
LGBTQ+ Parents
Still Birth & Infant loss
Sands | Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.
Aching Arms – the charity bringing comfort after baby loss
Stillbirth information and support | Tommy's (tommys.org)
Miscarriage
The Miscarriage Association: Pregnancy Loss Information & Support
Premature Babies
For babies born premature or sick | Bliss
Donor Conceived
Home - Supporting donor conception families since 1993
Finding out about your donor | HFEA
You Look Like Me on Apple Podcasts
Three Makes Baby Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Grief and loss
Home - Cruse Bereavement Support
Sue Ryder | Because no one should face death or grief alone
Surrogacy
Adoptions and fostering
The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity | The Fostering Network
Single parenthood
The Stork and I, Solo Motherhood Coach
Mental Health Support
National charity helping people with Anxiety - Anxiety UK
Get help with anxiety, fear or panic - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Andy's Man Club | #ITSOKAYTOTALK | Andy's Man Club
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)
Specific conditions
About DSA - Downs Syndrome Association (downs-syndrome.org.uk)
Klinefelter's Syndrome Association (KSA) (ksa-uk.net)
Counselling Directories and Ethical Bodies
BICA: Professional Infertility Counselling Association in the UK
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Counselling Directory - Find a Counsellor Near You
Professional Bodies linked to Infertility
Project Group on Assisted Reproduction (PROGAR) | BASW
Home - Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists - ARCS
SING Senior Infertility Nurse Group
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Patient Feedback
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