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 email us at Hewittcounsellingservices@lwh.nhs.uk

 

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. BCA. 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 becoming a donor of sperm, eggs or embryos, and 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

Counsellor Claire Tully

Counsellor Gemma Murphy

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 friendly, welcoming group meets face to face or online on the second Thursday of every month, 6.00-8.00pm; we also have a private Facebook group. Both are run by patients, for patients. It’s a great way to meet other people who have fertility problems, have a chat and get support from each other. We invite professional guest speakers to most meetings to give more information about relevant topics such as different aspects of infertility, treatments that are available, guidance on self-help and adoption.

Meeting dates for 2026 coming soon

Bec: beckgarner94@icloud.com

Or call the Hewitt Centre counsellors office on 0151 702 4075 or email hewittcounsellingservices@lwh.nhs.uk

To join the group or to find out more information about meeting links and venues please contact: hewittcounsellingservices@lwh.nhs.uk

 

 

'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.

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)

Fertility related reading 

Fertility Network | Book Reviews | Fertility Network

Other Resources:

General Infertility    

All you need to know about fertility - All About Fertility

Fertility Friends Support Forum

Fertility Network

The Fertility Podcast - Expert Interviews and Real Life Stories

Fertility groups | Fertility Network

Relationships                              

Get Help | Relate

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 

An interview with Shaun Greenaway aka Knackered Knackers — The Fertility Show LIVE

Klinefelter's Syndrome Association (KSA)

Home - Klinefelter Syndrome

LGBTQ+ Parents        

Homepage | Stonewall

Same-sex couples’ online fertility group launches | Fertility Network

LGBT Mummies

TwoDads U.K - Surrogacy Support in UK

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) | Fertility Friends Support Forum

Trans Unite | Find a Transgender Support Group in Your Area

Beaumont Society | Beaumont Society

Trans Directory: Comprehensive UK Support for Transgender People

Still Birth & Infant loss         

Sands | Saving babies' lives. Supporting bereaved families.

Child Bereavement UK

Aching Arms – the charity bringing comfort after baby loss

Stillbirth information and support | Tommy's (tommys.org)                           

The Lullaby Trust

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

Donor Conceived UK

Finding out about your donor | HFEA

Donor Sibling register

You Look Like Me on Apple Podcasts

Three Makes Baby Podcast on Apple Podcasts

Donor Conceived Network - Young Adults Survey (How DC people 18yrs to 30 yrs feel about being donor conceived)

https://dcnetwork.org/the-young-adult-study-how-are-donor-conceived-people-doing/ 

Grief and loss              

Home - Cruse Bereavement Support

Sue Ryder | Because no one should face death or grief alone

Surrogacy      

Home - SurrogacyUK

Adoptions and fostering

The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity | The Fostering Network

Adoption UK Charity

Single parenthood   

Home | Gingerbread

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)

Self-care for anxiety - Mind

Andy's Man Club | #ITSOKAYTOTALK | Andy's Man Club

Contact Us | Samaritans

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

British Fertility Society

Counselling Directory - Find a Counsellor Near You

Professional Bodies linked to Infertility    

HFEA: UK fertility regulator

Project Group on Assisted Reproduction (PROGAR) | BASW

Home - Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists - ARCS

SING Senior Infertility Nurse Group

Donor Information

HFEA – Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority- UK government fertility regulator

HFEA- writing a goodwill message

Being an egg or sperm donor - School of Social Sciences - The University of Manchester

Research by the University of Manchester

Progress Educational Trust

PET keep you up to date on the latest scientific advancements and conversations around donor conception

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.

We always felt listened to and like we were given time to explain and try and make sense of our feelings. I always felt like my emotions were understood and the counsellor made me feel like it was ok to feel the way I did and that I was not alone

The counsellor was so helpful and really made this process a lot less daunting, she was so informative and answered all our questions and concerns

The counsellor was very open and made us feel comfortable straight away. We laughed and talked honestly through the session and didn't feel judged in any way at all. They explained everything very clearly

The counselling session provided me and my partner with a safe space to think and talk about any concerns or queries we had about our fertility journey. The counsellor was very thorough with her guidance and made us both feel very comfortable to ask questions. We were able to discuss and explore options that we hadn't previously considered.

Thank you to our counsellor for her time, advice and kindness! We found the session incredibly valuable and it is reassuring to know that the service is there if we need it throughout our treatment.

 

 We have listened to your comments and are responses are below

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.
Clinical staff should offer counselling at the initial appointments	This is part of our current process, but we will remind all staff to offer counselling early in the process.
Alongside listening, some tools and ideas of how to cope would have been useful	This idea will be shared with the counselling team and we have a list of tools/signposting on our website here

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

Counselling team direct number:  0151 702 4075

Please follow the instructions on the answerphone if your call is unanswered.

Email address: Hewittcounsellingservices@lwh.nhs.uk