Ottawa Fertility Centre
Offering compassionate care, understanding, and hope on your journey.
Support Resources
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.
Femade
Femade is an allied healthcare centre in Ottawa with a special focus on women’s physical and mental health and wellness needs. We provide a number of services through a trauma-informed, multidisciplinary lens to support every step of your reproductive journey.
Reproductive Health Overview: https://www.femade.ca/reproductive-health
Website: www.femade.ca
contact: bookings@femade.ca
Services provided:
- massage therapy
- acupuncture
- physiotherapy
- pelvic floor physiotherapy
- occupational therapy
- naturopathic medicine
- reproductive genetic counselling
- psychotherapy
- support groups
Reproductive Counselling Services
Catherine Stafford, Psychologist, MEd, CPsych (Reproductive Health Psychology)
Bilingual (English and French) Services offered:
- psychotherapy
- psychological services to individuals
- psychological services to couples
Her practice is rooted in the belief that everyone’s unique stories must be honoured, and that connecting with others is a powerful tool for healing. Her goal is to inspire health & healing through sound professional expertise. It would be her pleasure to connect with you and see if our working together can meet your needs.
Weekday appointments available and are offered virtually.
To inquire about booking an appointment, please email: Staffordpsychservices@gmail.com
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 Website
info@drsarahbirnie.com
Phone: 343-488-3211
Brooke Eagle MSW, RSW at Vega Counselling
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, M. Ed, RP
Services provided:
If you're struggling with infertility, undergoing treatments, or coping with pregnancy loss, I am here to support you. I provide a safe, compassionate space where you can process your emotions, heal, and regain strength. My focus is on helping you develop coping strategies, build resilience, and improve your overall well-being. Together, we will navigate the challenges and emotional weight of this journey no matter the outcome. I tailor my approach to your unique needs, ensuring you feel heard, supported, and empowered every step of the way.
At this time I DO NOT provide implications counselling for third-party reproduction.
Please email for more information or to book a free 15-minute consultation
Florence Mak, M.A., C. Psych., Psychologist
Florence is a Psychologist registered with the Ontario College of Psychologists. She specializes in cognitive-behavioural therapy complemented by a variety of approaches, including DBT, ACT, and mindfulness.
With over 10 years of experience, Florence offers evidence-based treatment to adults facing a variety of concerns, from daily stressors to complex conditions. She specializes in treating infertility and pregnancy loss, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and OCD.
Florence believes in the unique expertise of each client, and she tailors her methods to create a supportive, empathetic environment. This personalized approach not only encourages personal growth and goal achievement but also makes each client feel understood and valued. Her commitment to a collaborative therapeutic relationship helps clients navigate their journeys toward well-being.
To book an appointment, please send an email to florence.mak@telecbt.ca
Ziva Shmorgun MSW, RSW
Reproductive Health Counsellor.
Specializing in implications counselling for third-party reproduction.
shmorgunz@gmail.com
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.
Visit their website for more information and registration.
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 Parenting by Choice
Fertility Matters Canada Single Parenting by Choice Support Group is a peer support group for those looking to build their family as a single parent using assisted conception.
LGBTQ2A+
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. The FMC LGBTQ2A+ Support Group is a peer support group for those in the LGBTQ Community who are looking to build, or continue to build, their families using donor egg, sperm, or embryos, surrogacy, adoption or a combination of all!
LGBTQ groups in Ottawa (non-fertility specific)
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.
Fertility Matters Canada – Men's Support Group
The Fertility Matters Canada Men’s Support group is a peer support group for ALL men struggling to build their family no matter what the reason.
FMC Donor Recipient Support Group
The decision to use donor gametes (egg, sperm, and embryo) or third-party reproduction, including surrogacy, offers an incredible opportunity to patients to create their families. Join the FMC Donor Recipient Support Group.
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)