Post-Surrogacy Counselling
The Process
Post-surrogacy counselling is required following the birth of the surrogate baby, in preparation for application for transfer of parentage to the intending parents. This counselling needs to be undertaken with a counsellor who is independent from the surrogacy arrangement (i.e., has not provided pre-surrogacy implications counselling). The standard process for Post-Surrogacy Counselling consists of the following:
Appointment 1: Individual session with the intending parent(s). Total time required: 1 hour.
Appointment 2: Individual session with the surrogate (and partner if relevant). Total time required: 1 hour.
Appointment 3: A joint counselling session with all adults. Total time required: 1 hour.
These sessions can ideally be scheduled in a 3-hour block. Further counselling sessions may be necessary if any party requests this, or at the discretion of the counsellor where issues may still require addressing.
See a more detailed description of the Post-Surrogacy Counselling process here.
A Surrogacy Guidance report will be available approximately two weeks after the joint counselling session, which will be forwarded to the intending parent(s) and surrogate (and partner). This report will not be provided until the completion of the full counselling process, including any additional sessions required to fulfil the counselling requirements, and until full payment has been received.
Prior to the counselling sessions, IPs and surrogates will be asked to complete a registration form and a series of questions which explore the issues surrounding surrogacy. You will also be asked to complete a brief mental health assessment. Your responses to these written questions comprise a very important component of the counselling process and may be used directly within the report. Delays in completing these documents are likely to result in the final report also being delayed.
Fees
3 x 60-minute Consultations
Including Associated Report
Total Cost: $1500**
Additional 50-minute Consultation to Complete Pre-Surrogacy Counselling
Cost: Standard Practitioner Consultation Fee**
Please see individual practitioner fees.
Additional 50-minute Consultation Requiring Additional Report
Total Cost: $300**
*Medicare rebates not available.
*Reduced consultation time will not result in fee reduction.
Booking Deposit
When you contact us to book your counselling, we require a 50% deposit to be paid within 7 days of reserving your appointments. Once a deposit payment has been received, we will contact you to confirm your bookings and provide the relevant registration documents and mental health/psychometric assessments. If a deposit payment is not received within 7 days, your appointment reservations will be removed and you will need to contact our reception to rebook.
Cancellation Fees
Our administration team is delighted to support you through your Post-Surrogacy Counselling booking process. However, significant administration time is needed to coordinate multiple appointments, arrange registration documents and administer mental health assessments. Therefore, cancellation of pre-surrogacy counselling appointments following the administration of registration forms may incur an Administration Fee, which will be withheld from your booking deposit.
Our standard cancellation policy applies for cancellation within 48 business hours of the appointment.
