Lighthouse Fertility and Pregnancy Support
Welcome
Are you struggling with fertility challenges, or pregnant following infertility or loss? Feeling anxious? Overwhelmed? Lonely? No longer feel like your old self?
Lighthouse sees you.
Lighthouse Fertility and Pregnancy Support works in a flexible, individualised, trauma-informed way to help you maintain emotional wellbeing, manage anxiety and take back control over your life.
Through either one-to-one work or a group program we will work on empowering you to understand how your fertility experiences have impacted on you, and identify practical strategies to help improve your wellbeing.
The power of a supportive relationship with someone who really understands what you are going through cannot be underestimated. This is the core of the support I offer - the chance to really be you, and share the full range of emotions you are feeling without fear of judgement or being misunderstood. To be supported through your journey by someone who understands just how hard it is. Fertility challenges and pregnancy following infertility or loss can feel extremely isolating - whether working individually or as part of a group you will feel connected, seen, supported and understood.
Click on the pages below for further information on the support I provide or get in touch to arrange a free 15 minute call to find out more
About Me.
Hi, I'm Jen - let me tell you a little bit about myself and why I set up Lighthouse Fertility and Pregnancy Support. Professionally, I have always worked in roles where I have supported people through their most challenging times. I am a qualified Social Worker, and worked in the adoption field for 14 years so I have much experience of working with people who have experienced fertility challenges and who are entering parenthood still carrying the effects of a challenging path to becoming parents. I am experienced in working with all types of families - solo parents, LGBTQI+ couples, and heterosexual couples. I am also knowledgable in issues relating to identity which are relevant to donor-assisted pregnancies, and my background in adoption means I can also offer support to those considering other routes to having a family. When I was ready for a career change I decided to use my professional background and experience to develop a service which I feel extremely passionately about.
That's where the link to my own personal story comes in. I am now a mum to two beautiful little boys, and I live with my family in a lovely seaside town on the east coast of Scotland. My path to becoming a parent was not as straightforward as I hoped or expected - instead it took over 4 years of disappointments, hospital appointments, invasive medical investigations, medications, internal scans, delays, loss and finally 2 successful IVF cycles. I feel strongly that the long-term psychological impact of infertility is not widely enough understood, and the general support available to those going through it is not good enough. And the support for those pregnant following infertility or loss is virtually non-existent - there almost seems to be a view that once you're pregnant all the past grief and trauma is magically erased. So that's why I created Lighthouse.
I wanted to provide a service where people experiencing the effects of infertility, or who are pregnant following infertility and/or loss are able to have some space to explore the complex feelings they may be experiencing without fear of judgement, and an opportunity to be fully open about how they are feeling with someone who has lived-experience of these issues. My career as a social worker made me realise the power of a supportive relationship for those going through difficult times, and it is this relationship which is at the heart of the service I provide - if you choose to work with me you will be given a safe space to receive empathetic emotional support.
I greatly value working with people in a flexible way which meets individual needs, so the work we do and issues we cover will be guided by you. I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Using a range of techniques we can identify any areas of your life that would benefit from some changes, and work on finding practical strategies to make life feel that little bit easier. I believe in the importance of re-building your trust in yourself and your ability to take control over your life so we will work in partnership to help you improve your sense of wellbeing.
I am committed to my own professional development and regularly undertake training to further build upon my knowledge base. I have most recently completed training in Perinatal Mental Health, Trauma-Informed Practice, and Baby Loss. Academically, I have an MA (Hons) in Psychology, and a postgraduate Masters degree in Social Work. Throughout my career in social work I completed a range of relevant training around trauma, mental health, counselling skills and practical techniques for supporting people in crisis. I am particularly interested in the mind-body connection and the psychology of grief and trauma.
