Intended Parent Consultations for Donor Conception & Surrogacy
Online in CA
Required consultations for donor conception and surrogacy arrangements, offered in alignment with fertility clinic and ASRM guidelines.
Third-party reproduction comes with its own emotional terrain.
Embarking on the path to parenthood through third-party reproduction can bring excitement, grief, uncertainty, and complex questions all at once. Whether you’re pursuing egg donation, sperm donation, embryo donation, or gestational surrogacy, there are emotional, relational, and ethical layers to navigate.
Intended parent consultations provide the space and guidance you need to feel informed as you take the next steps in your family building journey, along with meeting your fertility clinic’s requirements.
Consultation Details at a Glance
60-minute virtual session
Open to California residents
Includes standardized report for your fertility clinic
$350 flat fee
LGBTQ-affirming and inclusive of diverse family structures
Informed by ASRM guidelines
What Is an Intended Parent Consultation?
An intended parent consultation is designed to help you explore the emotional, psychological, and relational considerations of creating your family with the help of donor gametes or a surrogate. This consultation is tailored to your unique circumstances, family, and goals.
Whether this is your first step toward parenthood or part of a longer fertility journey, the consultation helps you feel grounded and clear-eyed about your next steps. This requirement is not about screening you out—it’s about ensuring you have the emotional support and education you need to thrive as a parent and to prepare your future child for a healthy sense of identity.
In these sessions, we cover:
Considerations for choosing a donor or gestational carrier
Your hopes, fears, and questions about becoming a parent through this process
The emotional impact of building a family through donor conception or surrogacy
Conversations around disclosure: how and when to talk to children about their conception
Boundaries and relationships with donors or surrogates
You can expect to leave the session with:
A deeper understanding of the psychological and emotional aspects of third party reproduction
Concrete tools for future conversations with your child and extended family
Clarity about your hopes, hesitations, and next steps
Specialized resources and referrals, as needed
-
Most queer parents create families through egg donation, sperm donation, and/or surrogacy. Consultations explore unique considerations such as talking about different roles in conception, navigating legal complexities, and building intentional family narratives, while also navigating the realities of building a family within the current social and political climate.
-
If you’re pursuing parenthood on your own, you’ll have unique questions about donor selection, how to frame your child’s family story in the absence of a second parent, and what supports to put in place as a solo parent. As a single parent by choice, you might feel both empowered and a little vulnerable—proud of your decision, yet aware of the unique challenges ahead.
Why Work With Me?
Choosing a professional for this part of your journey matters. My consultations are informed by experience working with individuals and couples navigating infertility and reproductive decision-making.
Following the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines, I bring:
Expertise in reproductive psychology and family systems
Experience facilitating thoughtful, nonjudgmental conversations around emotionally complex reproductive decisions
Inclusivity for LGBTQ families, single parents, and diverse family structures
Practical tools to help you move forward feeling informed and emotionally prepared
I also hold a certification in perinatal mental health and am a member of the Mental Health Professionals Group with the ASRM.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The $350 flat fee includes a 60-minute virtual consultation session and the standardized report sent directly to your fertility clinic. Payment is due at time of booking.
-
This is a one-time session. Some people choose to schedule follow-up consultations or ongoing therapy if additional support would feel helpful.
-
Yes, your consultation includes the standardized report required by most fertility clinics and agencies following ASRM-informed guidelines. In your intake form you will be asked to include the contact info for where to send the report, and you will be included on the email delivering it.
-
No, this is not therapy, but instead an educational consultation designed to provide space for reflection and guidance as you prepare for donor conception or surrogacy.
-
If you’re feeling stuck, conflicted, or grieving the path you hoped to take, fertility therapy can help you decide the next step. Therapy can be a useful tool to consider your options without pressure or judgment and process any unresolved grief, before moving forward in the process.
-
No. These consultations are not designed to “screen you out” or determine whether you’ll be a good parent. Their purpose is to provide education, support, and space to thoughtfully consider the practical, emotional, and relational aspects of donor conception or surrogacy.
