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 0303CheamSouth Yorkshire 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 665GuildfordSouth Yorkshire 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 995222GlasgowSomerset BOTH face to face & telephone
Jacqui Feld0208 340 4635N6London BOTH face to face & telephone
Jane Boden07946 444230HullSomerset 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 2005EdinburghSomerset BOTH face to face & telephone
Janet Carter01277 353678IngatestoneEssex BOTH face to face & telephone
Janet Goodman0208 9400268RichmondSouth Yorkshire 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 0829EdinburghSomerset BOTH face to face & telephone
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
Judith O'Hagan01458 252236TauntonLancashire ONLY face to face
Karen Taylor0208 368 0309N14London BOTH face to face & telephone
Kate Grieve01926 851513Stratford/ Rugby/ Kenilworth/ NuneatonWales BOTH face to face & telephone
Kate Grieve01926 851513Birmingham/ Solihull/ CoventryWarwickshire BOTH face to face & telephone
Linda Breeze01363 776184CreditonDevon ONLY telephone
Linda Greenaway01273 509035BrightonEast Sussex BOTH face to face & telephone
Lynne Swarbrick01484 717380BrighouseWest Midlands BOTH face to face & telephone
Marilyn Lawrence02920 514204CardiffTyne & Wear 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 780066LancasterWest Yorkshire 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 6224BirminghamWarwickshire BOTH face to face & telephone
Rosalind Ayres01256 781 946BasingstokeHampshire BOTH face to face & telephone
Ruth Wilde07971 830715BirminghamWarwickshire BOTH face to face & telephone
Ruth Wilde07971 830715Ashby de la ZouchLeicestershire 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 2361539SheffieldShropshire BOTH face to face & telephone
Sue Bedigan0191 2638579WallsendSurrey BOTH face to face & telephone
Susan Trueman01630 654514ShrewsburyScotland 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 514204CardiffTyne & Wear ONLY telephone
Pip Reilly01908 39368607941 233 061Milton KeynesBuckinghamshire ONLY telephone
Susan Trueman01630 654514ShrewsburyScotland ONLY telephone
Vivian Beanland01744 754719St HelensMerseyside ONLY telephone