What is Reproductive Psychology?

Reproductive Psychology is a relatively new and evolving discipline, within the broader practice of psychological assessment and therapy. Its focus is the psychological and psychosocial impact that individuals and couple experience, when faced with obstacles to becoming parents. Reproductive Psychology is an excellent example of multidisciplinary practice, meaning that the Psychologist typically works with other fertility specialists (for example, Reproductive Endocrinologists, nurses and fertility technicians) to ensure that patients receive consistent, optimal care.
 
Dr. Towill has worked in the field of Reproductive Psychology for over ten years. She provides education, assessment and psychological counselling to individuals and couples who have or are experiencing the following challenges:

• Infertility
• Miscarriage and Stillbirth
• Adoption
• Premature Birth Postpartum Adjustment Difficulties

What are Fertility Orientations?

In some cases, clients are referred to Dr. Towill directly by a Fertility Specialist as a prerequisite for fertility treatment. The purpose of these orientations is varied and may include:

• Assessing clients’ individual and psychosocial adjustment to infertility,
• Exploring clients’ feelings about and understanding of proposed options for parenthood,including non-medical options such as adoption, fostering or living child-free,

• Evaluating the clients’ capacity to fully understand the short- and long-term implications of pending fertility treatment, in particular, if you are considering third party reproductive procedures (for example, using donor sperm, donor eggs, donated embryos or a gestational surrogate),

• Assisting clients to resolve any existing indecision or relationship conflict around pending fertility treatment,
• Establishing realistic expectations, with clients, for pending fertility treatment,
• Evaluating any existing mental health issues amongst clients,
• Assisting clients with skills to communicate with others about their fertility challenges, including other members of their care team,
• Discussing future issues and implications of fertility treatment, for the client(s), intended offspring and existing children (for example, disclosure issues),
• Suggesting strategies for coping with the individual and relationship stress of infertility and related treatments.

 
In addition, Dr. Towill often sees clients during and after fertility treatment. In these cases, she provides supportive counselling to individuals and couples who are struggling with the physical and emotional demands of fertility treatment, or who are coming to terms with an unsuccessful treatment outcome and wishing to explore “next steps”.