Fertility treatment can be one of the most emotionally demanding experiences a person or couple goes through. In Australia, emotional support is built into fertility care: accredited clinics must give patients access to a fertility counsellor, and some counselling is required before certain treatments. This page explains what fertility and IVF counselling involves, the different kinds of support available, and when a psychiatrist — like the team at FertilityPsych — is the right person to help.
What is fertility (IVF) counselling?
Fertility counselling is emotional and psychological support provided through the ups and downs of trying to conceive and undergoing treatment. It offers a confidential space to work through stress, grief, anxiety, relationship strain, difficult decisions, and the disappointment of treatment that doesn’t go to plan.
In Australia, fertility counsellors working in accredited clinics must be members of the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association (ANZICA), which sits within the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand. Accredited clinics are required to ensure a counselling session is available as part of treatment, and all patients undergoing IVF or ICSI should have access to a counsellor.
Types of fertility counselling
- Support counselling — emotional support before, during and after treatment cycles.
- Implications counselling — required before treatment using donor eggs, sperm or embryos, or surrogacy. In some states this is a legal requirement for all fertility treatment.
- Decision-making counselling — help weighing options at key points in the journey.
- Individual or couples counselling — support for you alone or with your partner.
- Post-treatment counselling — processing outcomes, grief and next steps.
Counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist — who does what?
These roles overlap but aren’t the same, and knowing the difference helps you get the right support at the right time.
- Fertility counsellor — provides emotional support and implications counselling, usually through your fertility clinic or an ANZICA member in private practice. “Fertility counsellor” describes an area of work, not a single profession: a counsellor may be a counsellor, a social worker or a psychologist. What they can offer beyond support (for example, formal psychological assessment or treatment of a mental illness) depends on their underlying qualifications.
- Psychologist — trained in psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, and can assess and treat conditions like anxiety and depression. Medicare rebates are available with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan.
- Psychiatrist — a medical doctor who specialises in mental health. A psychiatrist can diagnose and treat mental illness, prescribe and advise on medication (including what is safe during fertility treatment and pregnancy), and provide specialist assessment for more complex or severe situations.
In short: a fertility counsellor helps you process the emotional side of treatment, while a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose and treat mental illness and advise on medication safety during fertility treatment and pregnancy.
How FertilityPsych supports people through fertility treatment
FertilityPsych is a team of psychiatrists with a strong interest in reproductive and perinatal mental health. We can provide:
- Supportive psychological care for individuals and couples navigating fertility challenges — help managing the emotional impact of treatment, uncertainty and loss, and practical strategies for stress, anxiety and emotional resilience.
- Medication advice for fertility treatment and pregnancy — a review of what treatment or medication is safe to take during fertility treatment and pregnancy, alongside lifestyle recommendations (this can include enhancements for self-care, social support requirements, etc.).
- Specialist psychiatric assessment, including the assessment that supports a compassionate release of superannuation application where IVF is being used to treat an acute or chronic mental illness.
To be clear about roles: we are psychiatrists, not fertility counsellors. For implications counselling or general clinic-based counselling, your fertility clinic’s counsellor (or an ANZICA member) is the right contact. We complement that support with medical and psychiatric care.
When might you see a psychiatrist during fertility treatment?
You might consider a psychiatrist if:
- You have a pre-existing mental health condition (such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder) that needs specialist management during treatment.
- You want advice on whether your psychiatric medication is safe to continue during IVF or pregnancy.
- The emotional impact has become persistent or severe, and you’d like a medical assessment of what’s going on and how to treat it.
- IVF is being undertaken to treat an acute or chronic mental illness — the situation in which a psychiatric assessment can support early access to your super.
A GP referral is needed for a Medicare rebate on a psychiatric assessment. You can read more about Medicare rebates and the Safety Net and our fees.
Looking after your mental health during IVF
However you’re feeling, it’s valid. Grief, anxiety, hope and exhaustion often sit side by side during fertility treatment, and there’s no “right” way to cope. A few things that can help: lean on the people you trust, ask your clinic about their counsellor, give yourself permission to pace things, and be gentle with yourself on the harder days. If the emotional toll starts to feel overwhelming, you don’t have to manage it alone — your GP, your clinic’s counsellor, or a psychiatrist can help.
Frequently asked questions
Is counselling required for IVF in Australia?
Accredited clinics must make a fertility counsellor available to patients, and implications counselling is required before treatment using donor eggs, sperm or embryos, or surrogacy. In some states, counselling is a legal requirement for all fertility treatment. Beyond those requirements, support counselling is optional and available whenever you need it.
What’s the difference between a fertility counsellor and a psychiatrist?
A fertility counsellor provides emotional support and implications counselling through your clinic or in private practice. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose and treat mental illness, and advise on medication during fertility treatment and pregnancy. Many people benefit from both at different points.
Can I get a Medicare rebate for mental health support during fertility treatment?
Yes. Psychology sessions attract a rebate with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, and a psychiatric assessment attracts a rebate with a GP referral. Clinic-based fertility counselling is usually included in the cost of your treatment.
Does FertilityPsych provide fertility counselling?
We provide psychiatric care — mental health support, medication advice for fertility treatment and pregnancy, and specialist assessment. We’re not fertility counsellors, so for implications counselling or clinic-based counselling we’d point you to your fertility clinic’s counsellor or an ANZICA member.
This information is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for advice about your individual circumstances. If you’re struggling, please reach out to your GP or a mental health professional.
Related: Our services · Access super for IVF · Our specialists · FAQs
