The experience of infertility is often highly stressful, and involves more than just medical issues. Infertility Counsellors respond to the complex social, psychological and ethical dimensions of Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR). They provide a range of services including individual, marital and group counselling, emotional support, assistance with decison-making, and referral to community resources. Many counsellors are knowledgeable about alternative options such as Donor conception, Surrogacy or Adoption. They may also be actively involved in research and policy development. The Assisted Human Reproduction Act requires that preparatory counselling be provided to all patients and donors involved in fertility treatment.

The Counselling Special Interest Group (CSIG) has been established to foster collaboration and exchange between Canadian counsellors working in this field, and to promote a high standard of professional counselling. CSIG also aims to facilitate education and professional development opportunities amongst members. CSIG is a member group of the International Infertility Counselling Organisation (IICO), a global network of infertility counselling associations.

The annual business meeting of CSIG is held each fall in conjunction with the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society conference. Counselling professionals are strongly encouraged to attend the annual meeting to network with colleagues in the field, participate in workshops and presentations, and keep abreast of new developments in Assisted Human Reproduction.

Membership of CSIG is open to professionals with academic credentials and clinical training in a counselling discipline such as Psychology, Social Work, Psychotherapy, Marital therapy or Counselling. (Note: Membership of CFAS is a pre-requisite for joining the Counselling Special Interest Group).

Further information can be obtained by contacting:

Dr. Christopher Newton
Clinical  Psychologist
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
University Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre
339 Windermere Rd.
London ON   N6A 5A5
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