BICA's website makes it quick and easy to...

... find a counsellor in YOUR area, keep up to date with forthcoming events, explore a range of useful links or becoming a member of the Association and take advantage of our training programme ...

Who We Are

  • BICA is the only professional association for infertility counsellors and counselling in the UK
  • BICA seeks to promote the highest standards of counselling for those considering or undergoing fertility investigations and treatment..
  • BICA offers a variety of training and education services to its members
  • BICA is committed to the total well-being of people with fertility problems before, during and after treatment and of those who choose not to undergo any kind of medical intervention

    • Based at 111 Harley Street, London, WIG 6AW. see Executive Officers

    The Association was founded in 1988 for infertility counsellors with a membership drawn from a variety of professions including counsellors, psychologists, nurses, social workers etc.It was established to represent the interests, views and needs of members actively involved counselling people with fertility issues and of professionals in related research. It seeks to address the many practical, social, psychological and ethical issues around the treatment of assisted conception. BICA is also committed to improving the educational opportunities and training of Infertility Counsellors.

    The Association is a registered Charity with its own constitution and guidelines for practice. We expect our members to adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy or other professional Code of Ethics. Administered by an elected Executive Committee and supporting regional groups it is financed through annual membership subscriptions and sponsorship.

    Mission Statement

    BICA aims to encourage and facilitate its members to provide the highest standards of counselling support to people affected by fertility issues.

    About... Information

    In this area we have sections on our house magazine, The Journal, Review Documents, Policies and Publications. For further information and advice, please contact Sandra Hewett, The BICA Information Officer - Tel 01372 451626, e-mail info@bica.net.

    About... Policies listing

    Simply click on the policy you wish to view or download

    About... Review Documents

    See below details of our reviewed papers and documents

    About... the Journal

    The Journal Of Fertility Counselling is published three times a year and is a forum for news, information, ideas and original articles on the Counselling aspects of impaired fertility and its treatment. The Journal is provided free to members of the Association and is also available to non-members by subscription. Back issues of the Journal are available on request £10 to BICA Members £20.00 to non-members though stocks may be limited. A Journal index, and copies of articles are available for £7 for members and £15 for non-members - each.

    We welcome articles etc from both members and non-members. The editor reserves the right to edit, revise or decline any contribution.

    see below for advertising rates

    Copy Deadlines:

    Summer issue - end of June

    Winter issue - end October

    Spring issue - end of February
    If you have an enquiry about any aspect of the journal, wish to submit an article or wish to place an advert, please contact: Dr Helen Allan
    University of Surrey
    h.allan@surrey.ac.uk
    01483 689745

    info@bica.net

    Advertising Rates

    These are the current Journal advertising rates. For more details and to book an ad, email jowen.avantgroupltd@tiscali.co.uk

    Website¼ page½ pageFull page
    Diary entry FreeFree--
    Personal ad [BICA Member]20Free2030
    Personal ad [Non-Member]40304050
    Reciprocal arrangementFreeFreeFreeFree
    Charity / fertility society403050100
    Commercial organisation7050100150
    If inserted in the Journal add + £252525

    About... News

    The latest details of our news section will appear here and also on the front page

    Other useful websites

    BICA does not take responsibility for the content of these sites.

    www.acebabes.co.uk
    www.advancedfertility.com
    www.anzica.org
    www.bertarelli.edu
    www.bristolcancerhelp.org
    www.britishfertilitysociety.org.uk
    www.bspoga.org
    www.daisynetwork.org.uk
    www.dcnetwork.org
    www.edinburghfertility.co.uk - Scottish treatment fertility issues, pre-conception care and pregnancy care
    www.eshre.com
    www.fertilityexpert.co.uk - focused on understanding fertility and infertility treatments, tests and support
    www.fertilityworld.org
    www.hfea.gov.uk
    www.iffs-iico.org
    www.infertilitynetworkuk.com
    www.ivf.net
    www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
    www.moretolife.co.uk
    www.ngdt.co.uk
    www.oneatatime.org.uk
    www.pinkparents.org.uk
    www.progress.org.uk
    www.repromed.net/gateway
    www.resolve.org
    www.surrogacy.org.uk
    www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/14647273.asp
    www.theafa.org
    www.ukdonorlink.org.uk

    Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE)

    www.embryologists.org.uk

    ...professional body of and for embryologists in the UK. ACE was founded in 1993 to promote high standards of practice in clinical embryology and to support the professional interests of embryologists working in the UK. ACE now has in excess of 400 members.

     

     

    British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

    http://www.bacp.co.uk/

    ... BACP is leading the effort to make counselling and psychotherapy widely recognised as a profession whose purpose and activity is understood by the general public.

     

     

    British Fertility Society (BFS)

    http://www.britishfertilitysociety.org.uk/

    ... To provide a common forum for members of various disciplines, with an interest in infertility, reproductive medicine and biology, to meet and discuss practice, research, policy and ethics for the advancement of the subject.

     

     

    Daisy Network

    http://www.daisynetwork.org.uk/

    ... founded in 1995 by a group of women who were patients of Dr Conway, who is a patron of the charity. An affiliation with the charity Infertility Network UK (previously known as CHILD) was formed at the same time. The group started off being run by women in their spare time and today continues to be run totally by volunteers.

     

     

    Donor Conception Network

    http://www.dcnetwork.org

    ... a network of parents with children conceived with donated sperm eggs or embryos, adult offspring, and those contemplating or undergoing treatment

     

     

    Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)

    http://www.hfea.gov.uk

    ... the UK’s independent regulator overseeing safe and appropriate practice in fertility treatment and embryo research.

     

     

    Infertility Network UK

    www.infertilitynetworkuk.com

    ... text more text more text more text more text more text more text more text
    more text more text more text more text more text more text more text more text
    more text more text more text more text more text more text more text more text
    more

     

    National Gamete Donation Trust (NGDT)

    http://www.ngdt.co.uk

    ... text more text more text more text more text more text more text more text
    more text more text more text more text more text more text more text more text
    more text more text more text more text more text more text more text more text
    more

     

    PROGAR

    http://basw.co.uk/progar

    ... text more text more text more text more text more text more text more text
    more text more text more text more text more text more text more text more text
    more text more text more text more text more text more text more text more text
    more

     

    Progress Educational Trust


    http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc.asp?doc=26739568

    The Fertility Network

    http://www.ivf.net

    UK Donorlink

    http://www.ukdonorlink.org.uk

    Verity

    http://www.verity-pcos.org.uk

    NHS EQUIP

    www.equip.nhs.uk

    Becoming a BICA Member

    We hope to offer all members support through our network of counsellors and emerging local groups. This is aided by study days and conferences when counsellors can meet and make contacts...

    We have developed our own accreditation programme for all infertility counsellors nationally (see the training section for further details).

    With the Journal of Fertility Counselling three times a year free to members you can keep in touch with what is going on in the fertility counselling world.

    The Committee is always happy to hear of any issues you are concerned about and you can contact any of the members through the Information Officer.

    If you wish to become a member please contact either of the following:

    BICA Membership Secretary, 24 The Crescent, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, NE28 7RE

    Or
    BICA Information Officer: 01372 451626

    Membership form attached below as interactive PDF format or printable MS Word format

    Membership Rates:
    Full Membership £45
    Corporate Membership £50
    Overseas Membership £50

    Cheques made payable to BICA

    We are always happy to welcome new members

    What is Counselling?

    We are aware that up to one in six couples have difficulty in conceiving and the state of impaired fertility itself together with the accompanying investigations and treatment, challenges emotional equilibrium, frequently evoking anxiety, stress and depression. Counselling is a process through which individuals and couples are given the opportunity to explore themselves, their thoughts, feelings and beliefs in order to come to a greater understanding of their present situation.

    BICA Referral List

    You can find a list of infertility counsellors who accept BICA referrals by clicking on your local area on our counselling requests list. Details of most of the counsellors who accept referrals are listed, but not all of them. There are more counsellors available in some areas than others and for some areas none of our members have registered on the list. If there are no suitable counsellors available in your local area or if you prefer this approach, you can make a telephone counselling arrangement.


    All the BICA members who are registered on our referral list meet the requirements set out in the HFEA (Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority) Code of Practice Section 1.9 (6th edition), have at least 150 hours experience of infertility counselling, have professional liability insurance and attend regular supervision. Please note, however, that BICA is not an accrediting body and you will need to satisfy yourself as to the standard and relevance of the qualifications offered by any counsellor whom you contact.


    Our recommendation is that you start by contacting the counsellor for an informal discussion. If you decide to go ahead, the times you meet, the number of sessions and the fees should be decided between the counsellor and yourself. The leaflet Ten Rules for Choosing a Counsellor provides further advice and information.

    Alternatives

    All licensed fertility treatment centres must offer you access to counselling in line with the HFEA Code of Practice. If you are receiving treatment and have not already done so, it is worth finding out whether they have a counsellor at your clinic and also whether there is a local support group where you can meet other people in a similar situation.


    The Infertility Network UK and More To Life (INUK) Tel: 08701-188088 or website www.infertilitynetworkuk.com offer both written information and contact with others who are experiencing fertility problems. Two of the services offered are the "Daytime Advice Line". This is run by a qualified nurse with many years of experience, including infertility. This operates Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10.00hrs - 16.00hrs and is fully confidential.

    "Helpliners" are also available. These are members of 'INUK' who have experience of certain types of infertility and are happy to talk of their experiences and offer information. Other services are described and accessed by the website.

    BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) - Tel 0870 443 5252, Website www.bacp.co.uk

    UKCP (UK Council of Psychotherapy) - www.psychotherapy.org.uk/

    BCP (British Confederation of Psychotherapists) - www.bcp.org.uk

    Many GP practices now offer a counselling service or will be able to refer you on to a qualified therapist.

    Contact Us
    For further information and advice, please contact Sandra Hewett, The BICA Information Officer -

    Tel 01372 451626, e-mail info@bica.net.

    Counselling Requests List

    here is a list of all counsellors, click on the column headings to sort in a different order. See also What IS counselling and what qualificationss/experience do BICA counsellors have?

    Namesort iconTel Number/sMobileCityCounty/AreaCounselling
    Amanda Turner01892 619296Tunbridge WellsKent BOTH face to face & telephone
    Angela Mahony353 21 434 7064CorkIreland BOTH face to face & telephone
    Angela Mann020 8770 0303CheamSurrey BOTH face to face & telephone
    Ann Curley01663 7352920796 1286040ManchesterDerbyshire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Ann Curley01663 735292*0796 1286040ManchesterManchester BOTH face to face & telephone
    Anne Trumper07891 741440HerefordHerefordshire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Avril Crollick0208 8761815SW14London ONLY telephone
    Barbara Read0208 4007951W4London ONLY telephone
    Caroline Darcy07779 451746BanburyOxfordshire ONLY telephone
    Carol Wilson0208 3481988N6London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Claude Rennert0207 3883666NW1London ONLY telephone
    Dani Singer07939 224 115NW3London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Denise Mason01604 601606CliftonvilleNorthamptonshire ONLY telephone
    Elise Atkinson0778 8158 734LewishamLondon BOTH face to face & telephone
    Em Logan01442 28779107790 012966AylesburyBuckinghamshire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Gill Woodbridge01225 466 506BathAvon BOTH face to face & telephone
    Gosia Heeley07766 292 665GuildfordSurrey BOTH face to face & telephone
    Harriet Goldenberg0207 722 2589NW3London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Helen Bohme0161 485 8050StockportCheshire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Helen O'Hora Swords020 8743 711207957 432851W12London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Irene Tubbs01322 862 158FarninghamKent BOTH face to face & telephone
    Isobel O Neill07734 995222GlasgowScotland BOTH face to face & telephone
    Jacqui Feld0208 340 4635N6London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Jane Boden07946 444230HullEast Yorkshire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Jane Fizor01452 855903ChurchdownGloucestershire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Jane Knight020 7224 0017W1London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Jane Read0131 667 2005EdinburghScotland BOTH face to face & telephone
    Janet Carter01277 353678IngatestoneEssex BOTH face to face & telephone
    Janet Goodman0208 9400268RichmondSurrey BOTH face to face & telephone
    Janet Owen01642 644691Stockton-on-TeesCleveland BOTH face to face & telephone
    Jaqueline Riley01256 882 764Sherfield on LoddonHampshire ONLY face to face
    Jennifer Speirs0131 557 0829EdinburghScotland BOTH face to face & telephone
    Jill Belcher07729 02633907729 026339Buckhurst HillEssex ONLY face to face
    Joanna Miller07956 225899W1London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Jo Perkins07986 390815N16London ONLY telephone
    Josephine McCoy07875 122654SE13London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Judith Baron01332 694622DerbyDerbyshire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Karen Taylor0208 368 0309N14London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Kate Grieve01926 851513Stratford/ Rugby/ Kenilworth/ NuneatonWarwickshire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Kate Grieve01926 851513Birmingham/ Solihull/ CoventryWest Midlands BOTH face to face & telephone
    Linda Breeze01363 776184CreditonDevon ONLY telephone
    Linda Greenaway01273 509035BrightonEast Sussex BOTH face to face & telephone
    Lynne Swarbrick01484 717380BrighouseWest Yorkshire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Marilyn Lawrence02920 514204CardiffWales ONLY telephone
    Maryann Barone-Chapman0208 7850043SW19London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Mary McCann07759 701173CanterburyKent BOTH face to face & telephone
    Mollie Graneek07710 631702W1 and N13London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Norma Wilson0117 9624695BristolAvon BOTH face to face & telephone
    Ophra Gilead0208 361 4414N12London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Patricia Lambert07985 780066LancasterLancashire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Paul Crowther07803 013992KnutsfordCheshire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Paul Entwistle0151 709 3505LiverpoolMerseyside ONLY face to face
    Pip Reilly01908 39368607941 233 061Milton KeynesBuckinghamshire ONLY telephone
    Robert Oakes0121 455 6224BirminghamWest Midlands BOTH face to face & telephone
    Rosalind Ayres01256 781 946BasingstokeHampshire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Ruth Wilde07971 830715Ashby de la ZouchLeicestershire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Ruth Wilde07971 830715BirminghamWest Midlands BOTH face to face & telephone
    Sally Ann Swain020 7237 467207796 895717SE1London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Sarah Tingle01753 577886SloughBerkshire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Sharon Silver-Myer0785 5510669N12London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Sheila Pike0114 2361539SheffieldSouth Yorkshire BOTH face to face & telephone
    Sue Bedigan0191 2638579WallsendTyne & Wear BOTH face to face & telephone
    Susan Trueman01630 654514ShrewsburyShropshire ONLY telephone
    Suze Fisher0208 874 7132SW18London BOTH face to face & telephone
    Vicky Allen07748 681510PeasmarshEast Sussex BOTH face to face & telephone
    Vivian Beanland01744 754719St HelensMerseyside ONLY telephone
    Wendy Martin0117 9140539BristolAvon BOTH face to face & telephone

    Telephone Counselling

    Click on the headings to sort in a different order

    Namesort iconTel Number/sMobileCityCounty/AreaCounselling
    Avril Crollick0208 8761815SW14London ONLY telephone
    Barbara Read0208 4007951W4London ONLY telephone
    Caroline Darcy07779 451746BanburyOxfordshire ONLY telephone
    Claude Rennert0207 3883666NW1London ONLY telephone
    Denise Mason01604 601606CliftonvilleNorthamptonshire ONLY telephone
    Jo Perkins07986 390815N16London ONLY telephone
    Linda Breeze01363 776184CreditonDevon ONLY telephone
    Marilyn Lawrence02920 514204CardiffWales ONLY telephone
    Pip Reilly01908 39368607941 233 061Milton KeynesBuckinghamshire ONLY telephone
    Susan Trueman01630 654514ShrewsburyShropshire ONLY telephone
    Vivian Beanland01744 754719St HelensMerseyside ONLY telephone