COVID-19 Policy – Click here for Updates.

August 26: Fertility Health Checks Learn More

Fertility Counsellors

Fertility and IVF treatment can be stressful at times, both physically and emotionally. We recognise the importance of supporting you throughout your journey with a competent, compassionate fertility counsellor who you are able to access whenever you need to.

The empathy and objectivity of a fertility counsellor is to help people deal with the stress and emotions involved in trying to achieve a pregnancy or in dealing with other fertility issues. This may include providing support with relationship difficulties and helping couples or individuals explore better ways of dealing with anxiety or stress, work through the complexities of treatment decisions, debrief and share experiences, and explore family building alternatives.

It is important to know that  you are entitled to a free counselling session for every IVF cycle undertaken, this is a great opportunity to obtain additional support during your journey. Our experienced counsellors located on the Sunshine Coast and Bundaberg are registered psychologists with many years of experience.

Fiona Stark – Sunshine Coast

Fiona is a PACFA and ANZICA-registered Counsellor, located on the Sunshine Coast, who holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and a Master of Counselling. Fiona finds the counselling space full off purpose and strives to have a meaningful impact in people’s lives as she supports people on their journey towards healing and growth. Clients are met with a warm and friendly therapist who genuinely cares. Fiona provides empathy and understanding as well as helpful strategies that foster self-compassion and resilience.

Fiona has a special interest and passion for supporting women (and partners) along their fertility and perinatal journey. This led her to become a parent supporter with SANDS Australia (Miscarriage, Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Support), supporting bereaved parents on the 1300-phone line and facilitating SANDS monthly support meetings on the Sunshine Coast as well as the online TFMR group. Fiona works comfortably with the grief and loss space and has also completed further professional development around birth trauma; fertility counselling; and compassion focused therapy. She also conducted her quantitative research thesis on Fertility-Related Quality of Life in 2019.

See Fiona’s introduction here.

To contact Fiona, please call her on 0492 979 629 or visit her website.

Jeanne Strahan – Bundaberg

Jeanne, a registered psychologist born and raised on a farm in Alberta Canada, first touched down on Australian soil in December 1974 as a registered nurse. She then furthered her nurses training the Australian way by obtaining her Midwifery, Maternal and Child Health qualifications and has worked in this area for 25-30 years. An interest in psychology throughout much of her nursing career resulted in further studies and qualifications to practice as a private psychologist.

Jeanne is based at the Bundaberg Specialist Centre, 102 Woondooma Street, Bundaberg on Tuesdays & Wednesdays 9am-5pm and can be contacted on telephone 07 4153 3942.