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Ottawa Fertility Centre

Offering compassionate care, understanding, and hope on your journey.

Counseling & Support

BRIA - Virtual Mental Health Care for Women

BRIA is a virtual mental healthcare clinic to support those going through the fertility process. BRIA offers individual and couples therapy, therapy for partners, sleep and nutritional support, and MD Psychiatric care when needed, especially to address medication issues. BRIA also offers implications counselling for third-party reproduction, and a bioethicist who can support patients when making difficult decisions. If you have any questions about specific services, BRIA offers a free 15 minute introductory call to those wishing to learn more. To book, please go to the Bria website. Please talk to your OFC nurse if you don’t have complete benefits coverage to learn how OFC can support you accessing BRIA services.

Reproductive Counselling Services

Stephanie Parker MSW, RSW

Westboro Village Therapy and Assessment

Website
stephparker.msw@gmail.com
Telephone: 613-614-1384

Services provided:

  • Support for intended parent(s) and grief counselling
  • Implications counselling for intended parent(s)
  • 3rd party assessment for donors

Counselling services available in both French and English
Appointments available in person in Ottawa office or virtually

Dr. Sarah Birnie, C.Psych

Dr. Birnie can receive referrals (and self-referrals) for psychotherapy for the following areas:

1. Supporting the process of uncertain infertility treatment, including donor egg/sperm.
2. Supporting individuals once pregnant after infertility treatment.
3. Supporting postpartum stress and adjustment once baby/babies are born.

Visit Sarah's Websiteinfo@drsarahbirnie.comPhone: 343-488-3211

Brooke Eagle MSW, RSW at Vega Counselling

Website

brooke@vegacounselling.ca

Services provided:

Assisted reproduction counselling in preparation for all forms of fertility treatment, including implications counselling for intended parents and third-party donors

Fertility counselling

Supporting perinatal and postnatal mental health

Gerri Mileva M.Sc, PhD, RP (Qualifying)

Website

milevapsychotherapy@gmail.com

Services provided:

Whether you're struggling with infertility, going through assisted reproductive technologies, or dealing with pregnancy loss, I am here to provide a safe and compassionate space for you to heal and grow. My aim is to empower you, help you develop coping strategies, and enhance your overall well-being, regardless of the outcome of your fertility journey. Together, we'll explore your feelings, navigate the complexities of medical treatments, and cultivate a sense of hope and resilience. My approach is client-centered and eclectic, meaning that I tailor my therapeutic interventions to meet your unique needs and goals."

Please note: a psychotherapist is unable to provide assessment/diagnosis (clinical psychologist) or medication (psychiatrist/family physician). Also at this time I am unable to provide implications counselling for third-party reproduction.

Rate: $145 per session

Please email for more information or to book a free 15-minute consultation

Ziva Shmorgun MSW, RSW

Reproductive Health Counsellor.
Specializing in implications counselling for third-party reproduction.
shmorgunz@gmail.com

New Origins Counselling

Website
Karin Schwartz: 604-831-6558
Janna Stark Glassman: 604-671-5068
Rate: $165 per hour
Please call to book an appointment

Peer support

Ottawa Peer Support Group: Join others each month to listen, learn, and hopefully laugh a little while you seek support. Meetings are held at the Ottawa Fertility Centre on the last Saturday of every month. Sessions are organized and led by a volunteer facilitator. Guest speakers are often invited to speak after the meetings.

Contact Angela at : Ottawa.infertility.liason@gmail.com

2023 Meeting Dates:

Saturday, January 28th - 10:30am-noon
Saturday, February 25th - 10:30am-noon
Saturday, March 25th - 10:30am-noon
Saturday, April 29th - 10:30am-noon
Saturday, May 27th - 10:30am-noon
Saturday, June 24th - 10:30am-noon
Saturday, July 29th - 10:30am-noon
Saturday, August 26th - 10:30am-noon
Saturday, September 30th - 10:30am-noon
Saturday, October 28th - 10:30am-noon
Saturday, November 25th - 10:30am-noon
Saturday, December 30th - 10:30am-noon

Mindfulness for Fertility

If you are dealing with challenging emotions because you are struggling to conceive, you are not alone. It is common to feel anxious, depressed, and isolated. It has been well documented that people with reproductive challenges experience high levels of stress and studies have shown that mindfulness can help decrease emotional distress. Mindfulness for Fertility is an 8-week evidence based, experiential program that is offered online and follows the world renowned Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) curriculum.

Spring 2023 Session:

Orientation - Friday, April 28th / 7:00-9:00pm ET
8 Fridays -  May 5th - June 23rd / 7:00-9:00pm ET

Visit their website for more information and registration.

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General Information

Fertility Matters is a national organization, providing educational material, support and assistance to individuals and couples who are experiencing the anguish of infertility, the reproductive health disease that affects over half a million Canadian men and women.

My Fertility Choices enables men and women to obtain support in making the fertility and childbearing decisions that best fit with their unique life situations. The website provides current, professional, and reliable information about fertility, assisted human reproduction, and various lifestyle and family building options, including childfree living.

Single Mothers

Single Mother by Choice is a local Ottawa area group for those women who may already be a ‘Choice Mom’ or for those women who are thinking of proactively becoming a single mother.

LGBTQ

Finding information and support to suit your unique circumstance can be a challenge. There are some good resources available for men and women within the LGBTQ community who are looking at options for having a family.

Fertility Matters

LGBTQ groups in Ottawa (non-fertility specific)

Pregnancy in a Pandemic Support Group

Join this monthly virtual support group led by doctors who specialize in obstetrics, newborn care, and the mental health of new parents.  They will speak about the most common concerns and struggles of being pregnant during the COVID-19 crisis.

Pregnancy in a Pandemic

Multiple Births

Multiple Births Canada has a mission to improve the quality of life for multiple birth individuals and their families in Canada. They provide support, education, research, and advocacy both nationally and internationally to individuals, families, Chapters, and organizations that have a personal or professional interest in multiple birth issues.

Support for people with polycystic ovary syndrome

PCOSupport Group is US based organization that is operated by women with PCOS and those who support them. This organization is dedicated to serve the many women who struggle on a daily basis to deal with quality-of-life as well as life-threatening consequences of PCOS if untreated.

Legal Advisors

It is important for patients to seek appropriate legal advice when a third party is involved, either as a donor or surrogate. While we do not endorse any lawyer or legal form in particular, the following firms have experience with assisted reproduction.

Erin Lepine, LLB – Richardson Hall (Ottawa) elepine@richardsonhall.com
Sara Cohen, LLB – Fertility Law Canada (Toronto)
Sherry Levitan, LLB – Fertility Law (Toronto)

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