FIND A CHILDLESS PRACTITIONER

If you are a therapist, coach or practitioner and would like to be added to this free listing, the requirements are that: you have lived experience of permanent involuntary childlessness (or are childfree but also work with childless clients); that you have the necessary qualifications to practice; that working with childless clients is (preferably) referenced on your website or listing; that you have read Jody's book 'Living the Life Unexpected'; and lastly, that you are either known to Jody already, or are open to meeting her on zoom to get to know each other. If so, please email jody@gateway-women.com

Jody Day – Integrative Psychotherapist (Ireland/Global). Online Only. https://gateway-women.com
Jody (she/her) is an Integrative Psychotherapist and the founder of Gateway Women. She specialises in working with older childless/free women (55+) to support them with the challenges of ageing as woman without children and other life issues. An author, two-times TEDx speaker, she’s known for her best-selling Living the Life Unexpected: How to Find Hope, Meaning and a Fulfilling Future Without Children (PanMac 2016/2020) and increasingly for her fast-growing Substack, ‘Gateway Elderwomen’ exploring the adventures and challenges of elderhood without motherhood. Jody’s been a World Childless Week Ambassador since its inception in 2017, and was chosen as one of the BBC’s 100 Women in 2013 & as a UK Digital Woman of the Year in 2021. She was also a founding and former board member at the UK Charity Ageing Without Children, and is a former Fellow in Social Innovation at Cambridge Judge Business School. In 2025 she qualified as a Work That Reconnects Facilitator, and her goal is weave its climate-aware depth perspectives into her future eldering workshops for Gateway Elderwomen, as well as her ALTERKIN project creating local, intergenerational, mutual-aid communities of care for those ageing without children. After a lifetime in London, she now lives in a tiny hamlet by the wild Atlantic in West Cork, Ireland (where she also sees clients, if you are near the town of Clonakilty). Jody estimates she will have space to take on new therapy clients (55+) from April 2025 onwards. Email her at jody@gateway-women.com to enquire and to be added to her waiting list. 

UK Psychotherapists, Counsellors, Coaches & Practitioners (alphabetic by surname)

Sarah Bradley – Coach (UK, Gloucestershire): In-Person or Online
https://apricotlanecoaching.co.uk/
Sarah Bradley offers online and in-person coaching for those dealing with ‘Unplanned Childlessness’. She has a background in working in schools so understands the complexity of being a childless woman in a family-centric working environment. Sarah also hosts small group coaching courses around being both single and childless SIN&CH, as well as ‘Wellbeing at Work‘ programmes designed to tackle childlessness in the workplace as a diversity and inclusion issue.

NEW LISTING Emma Garrard – MSc, BACP Accredited, Integrative Psychotherapist (UK, Sheffield) Currently Zoom only. https://www.esgtherapyandcoaching.co.uk/
Due to ‘unexplained infertility’ resulting in multiple losses and failed IVF treatments, Emma is childless-not-be-choice. Thanks to Jody, the Gateway community and good therapy, she has found her way to a truly wonderful and meaningful Plan B. Emma now wants to support other women and men who are involuntarily childless for whatever reason, to find their happiness and fulfilment, and to grieve. Emma has offered coaching since 2003 and has been a counsellor/psychotherapist since 2008. She has trained in several different approaches, including existential psychotherapy, CBT and creative therapies, so that she can tailor each person’s therapy to their individual needs. Emma is also a qualified Biblio/Poetry therapist and offers this service to anyone who finds more therapeutic benefit through writing than traditional talking therapies (more information can be found at https://www.wordsforwellness.co.uk/) Emma offers a free 20-minute chat via Zoom to help you to decide if the therapy or coaching she offers is for you.

Dannie-Lu Carr – ILM L7 Trauma-Informed Executive Coach & Creative Practitioner (UK: St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex) Online/In-Person.
https://www.dannielucarr.com
Dannie-Lu is a trauma-informed executive coach, specialising in creativity and women’s leadership. She is herself childless-not-by-choice and a part-time stepparent, and understands the complexities of balancing the often-unconscious biases that people face day-to-day in the workplace when living without children or in an ‘unconventional’ way. In addition, she is well-versed in neurodiversity and dealing with perimenopause and menopause (and the often-brutal combination of the two, which she also experiences) and how this can play out in the workplace and personally. Her focus is on holding the space for regularly suppressed emotions (like grief, sadness, anger) and the unknown (identity, present, future) and in allowing you to give voice to your truth, thus enabling your own strategies to emerge amidst difficult change and transformation. Dannie-Lu believes wholeheartedly that creative thought and practice are central to navigating today’s complex and isolating world. She has over 28 years of professional experience working with individuals and groups. Please note that Dannie-Lu offers a sliding scale of prices for individual work, so don’t be put off by the ‘organisational’ fees listed on her website. Dannie-Lu offers a free 20-minute phone/zoom consultation to find out more – use the contact form on her website to set that up.

Nicola Foster – Love and Intimacy Therapist and Coach (UK): online only. https://www.realrelating.com/
Nicola’s ‘Real Relating’ practice helps men, women and couples to rebuild heart connection, rediscover intimacy and passion, and build extraordinary and real relationships. She is childless-not-by-choice and this was a big part of her journey to becoming a therapist as her Plan B second career. As well as working directly with clients, she hosts online courses and masterclasses, writes a column on couples therapy for the i newspaper (UK), and generously shares a lot of free content on her Instagram page @realrelatingwithnicola to help you get to know both her and her work.

Samantha Cooke – Integrative Counsellor (UK, Ascot, Berkshire). Online/In-person.
https://www.samanthacookecounselling.com
Samantha is a fully qualified integrative counsellor and a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). With lived experience of infertility and childlessness, she deeply understands the devastating grief and the profound impact it can have on one’s sense of self and identity. Samantha has a keen interest in working with the disenfranchised nature of grief experienced by those in the childless community. She recognises the loneliness, isolation, and shame that often accompany these life-altering circumstances. Samantha attended the Gateway Women Reignite Weekend in 2018 and completed its year-long Plan B programme in 2019. She knows how scary and painful it can be to take the step towards uncovering a new path, but believes those paths are waiting to be found. Samantha also authored an article titled “Lost in transition: Coping with life’s big changes” for Counselling Directory, which focuses on unexpected life changes such as childlessness and the disenfranchised nature of grief. She offers a free 10-15 minute introductory call to answer your questions and see if she’s the right fit for you.

Rachel Cordon – Breathwork Practicioner (UK, Derby) Online/In-person. https://holisticswanjourney.co.uk/cnbc-papillon-community

Emma Harris – Psychotherapeutic Counsellor (UK, Dorset). Online/in-person. emmaharristherapy.com
Emma is a humanistic therapist, accredited by BACP. She is studying IFS (Internal Family Systems) with the IFS Institute and integrates this with Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, somatic and person-centred therapies. Principles of self-compassion and mindful connection with Self form the foundation of her work. She sees it as a privilege to support people who are not parents, not by choice, whatever the circumstances. Her fertility journey took her to clinics in Scandinavia and London, whilst married and whilst single. She has an additional interest in neurodivergence, and in the impact of childlessness on romantic, social and familial relationships. With warmth and curiosity, she will move with you towards that place where you can meet your grief with love, and offer compassion to those other parts that may be holding (for example) feelings of shame, anger, loss of identity or purpose, isolation, and fear. Contact Emma to book a free 20-minute call so you can ask any questions you may have and get a sense of whether she, and her approach, may suit you.

Shabnum Hasan (UK, London): In-person London or Online (UK and abroad). https://shabnumhasancounselling.com/

Victoria Jeffries – Integrative Therapist (UK: North London). Online only. https://www.victoriajeffriestherapy.com/
Victoria is a BACP-accredited Integrative therapist who has extensive experience in working with women who have found themselves (either through fertility issues or circumstances) without children. As a woman without children herself, Victoria can empathise with and understand the impact and existential crisis that facing a life without children can bring, as well as the questions that women are often left asking themselves, such as “What do I do with my life now”? and “What does my future hold?” Victoria believes that there is a distinct lack of understanding and support for childless women, which can add to the loneliness and frustration they may already be feeling. Her approach combines various therapeutic approaches when working with her clients to suit their needs. For example, at the start of the work together, it could be that you explore and process feelings around your experiences and what brought you to where you are, but gradually move on to looking at ways in which you can move forward into a fulfilling life with children, and maybe even see your life and future in a new perspective. As well as her work with childlessness, Victoria has a special interest in working with people who have experienced emotional abuse and various forms of loss; her NHS background in crisis also means she is equipped to deal with severe depression and suicidality. Whatever your goals for therapy, Victoria guarantees you will be met with warmth and compassion

Melissa Jones – Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor (UK: East Anglia). In-person & online. https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/melissa-jones
Melissa is a warm and spirited, lived-experience Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor offering both face-to-face and online sessions from her private practice in East Anglia. She has a deep passion for supporting and validating clients who are childless by circumstance or not by choice and has worked for many years supporting clients experiencing PTSD following life’s challenges. Having had her own nine-year journey to childlessness, including personal loss and trauma, she also lives with a long-term health condition and is deeply compassionate about the lack of understanding faced by those living with chronic illness and trauma. She specialises in working with the disenfranchised aspects of grief and childlessness and offers a free initial consultation session to give you the chance to meet her and ask any questions you may have.

Armrget Kaur – Psychotherapist (individuals and couples) and Clinical Supervisor (groups/individuals). UK: Scotland – Online only. www.psychosexual-therapy.com
Armrget is a qualified psychotherapist and provides counselling for individuals and couples across the sexuality spectrum; her specialist areas are in psychosexual therapy and kink. She is childfree and understands the toll this takes through the lifespan and the confusion and ‘dehumanisation’ this causes, but she asserts women’s humanity and value; the womb has its story, but the rest of the body has the whole story to share, one of resilience, adaptability and survival. Throughout our lives we are each faced with a range of feelings and, as we grow through each twist and turn, we change and grow. It is always difficult to believe that we can grow when frozen by trauma, as the foundations we once stood calmly up0n can tip us into a whirlpool of emotions; the shadows that then grip us are reaching out for help somatically (body, dreams), and our behaviour changes and affect (emotions) can play havoc on us. The journey of fertility is a tightrope, and Armgret’s work will be your emotional anchor, hold the despair with you, and let all that needs to be undertaken, happen. You are alone but you can, if you so wish, allow counselling to be the cushion to soften the suffocating feelings until you can breathe again, and begin again.

Jacqui Knight MBACP, GMBPsS, BSc(Hons) Psych, Dip.Couns (UK: Mid Sussex) Online/In-Person. https://mindsconnected.co.uk/
Jacqui is a qualified and registered psychotherapeutic counsellor; she is also a certified coach and mind-body practitioner of a method called Sophrology (if you are French you’ll likely have heard of it!). Using all her skills and experience she will meet you where you are
and work with you towards your own goals and healing. She is childless through a complex mix of circumstance, health, grief and ambivalence. She has also been a step-parent for over 12 years and has lived experience of everything that comes with this tricky role for a childless woman. She is experienced in working with all kinds of clients including those living with anxiety, depression, navigating grief and healing from trauma. She especially works with clients who are struggling to know who they are by unravelling what comes from their own voice versus what comes from the voices of others and society.

Juliet McDonnell – Psychotherapist and Supervisor. UKCP registered. (UK: Guildford, Surrey and  London SE1). In-person and online. http://www.julietmcdonnell.co.uk/
Juliet is an experienced existential psychotherapist and supervisor working in private practice. She works with women unable to have children because of their circumstances or perhaps through choice; she knows this may not always be clear. She also has a keen interest in the experience of ageing without children and of not being a grandmother. She believes that each woman needs to tell their own story and to make sense of their experiences – this is an ongoing process of enquiry – which may be difficult to resolve and might need to be revisited. Drawing on her own experiences of ‘living a life unexpected’, Juliet holds space for this work and brings curiosity, warmth and respect to those she works with.

Janice Leeming – Coach (UK): Online only. https://persephone-wellbeing.com/
Janice is a Certified Wellbeing Coach living on the south coast of England. She is childless through circumstance and did her Reignite Weekend with Jody back in 2015; they also volunteered together at what later became the UK Charity ‘Ageing Without Children’. Janice now provides transformative personal coaching, via Zoom, for people who want to overcome a period of difficulty, tackle stress, recover from burnout and who want to make a positive change in their lives.  Janice has a deep passion and knowledge of well-being techniques gained through personal development, practice and study over the last 15 years and has used these techniques to overcome periods of difficulty, stress and burnout in her own life; she has found that these times can be refocused as a springboard for positive change and transformation. She now works with a range of people to guide them as they embark on their own journeys towards well-being and flourishing.

Liane Mailand – Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor (UK: Edinburgh, Scotland): online/in-person https://www.innerwilderness.co.uk/about
Liane is a UKCP registered Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor. She is trained in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, which takes a neurobiological approach to working with symptoms of stress and trauma, and in Systemic Family Constellations, which consider the hidden dynamics and intergenerational patterns which contribute to our human struggles. Liane is passionate about working in a way which integrates body, mind and spirit, and has been a Licenced Gateway Women Reignite Weekend Facilitator since 2017. She leads occasional Reignite Weekends in Scotland and works online and in-person with individuals and couples. Unfortunately, she is unable to accept new clients into her private practice at this time, although she does have limited capacity for new supervisees.

Rachel Musson – Humanistic Counsellor & Accredited Coach (UK: Cheltenham, Glos.) Online/in-person.
https://www.makealittlespace.com/
Rachel is a qualified humanistic counsellor and accredited coach registered with the BACP and ICF. She has an interest in working with people who are coming to terms with their childlessness and navigating a path towards a fulfilling future. She believes that a process of working through the grief of involuntary childlessness, exploring the challenges of ambivalence, and questioning the messages from mainstream society can support individuals to find a place where they are ready to build a present-day life that is rich and rewarding. Rachel was trained in the Gestalt approach to therapy, which is integrative, creative, and relational. Prior to Gestalt, she studied various bodywork therapeutic approaches such as mindfulness, massage and yoga, and believes that the depth of our connection to our body is fundamental to our overall well-being. She also has qualifications and experience in education, special educational needs (autism) and music.

Victoria Robinson – Therapeutic Massage Practitioner (UK: Holmfirth, Yorkshire). In-person/online. https://truemassagetherapy.co.uk/
Victoria is a therapeutic masseuse with over 28 years of experience. Based in Yorkshire, England, she works from a beautiful bespoke treatment room overlooking peaceful fields. As she writes: ‘The journey of infertility is different for each person but what is often common is the feeling that the body has failed in some way. This is such a painful sense to carry. For me, therapeutic touch and body movement work is about gently and repetitively supporting acceptance of the body as it is, over time.’ As well as working in person, Victoria also offers Zoom consultations and/or the opportunity to work in blocks of 3 sessions over 3 days for those who need to travel. She has been involved in Gateway Women since its earliest days and has supported many childless women with her gentle and powerful work.

Carol Scott – Therapeutic Counsellor (UK: North London) Online/In-person. https://www.carolsuzanscott.com
Carol is an experienced BACP registered therapeutic counsellor.  She has been in private practice for 25 years including 8 years in Harley Street, London. Carol has worked with a diverse group of clients, including extensive experience working with those who are childless not by choice. From her personal experience (of baby loss and miscarriages) she knows how challenging the grief can be of not being able to fulfil your dream of becoming a parent. Through her own healing journey, Carol has come to understand that this grief does not have to define who you are. She is passionate about supporting women in finding their way through the maelstrom of non-motherhood and working towards a fulfilling life and find their place in the world. She is also a Clinical Hypnotherapist specialising in anxiety and stress, and these sessions are held separately from therapy. She is also currently writing a book about becoming single after the end of a relationship, with the working title of ‘Beyond Break Up’ which includes a chapter on being single and childless not by choice.

Carina Snelling – Grief and Loss Counsellor (UK: Bognor Regis, West Sussex). Online/In-person. https://www.carinasnelling.com/
Carina is an experienced Grief and Loss Counsellor, working online or face-to-face from a cosy room in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. Carina trained as a Humanistic Counsellor and is a registered member of the BACP.  Having experienced her own difficult relationship breakdown and finding herself single and without children in later life, Carina recognises the part that therapy played in helping her heal.  She now has a special interest in working with individuals who are struggling with the grief of being childless, and those who are dealing with the losses associated with difficult relationship breakdowns.

Lucy Tucknott FdSc MBACP – Person-Centred Counsellor and Wellbeing Mentor (UK: Denton, Newhaven, East Sussex). Online/In-Person. https://www.coastalwellbeing.co.uk/lucy-tucknott/
Lucy is a BACP registered trauma-informed counsellor in private practice, as well as a mental
health and wellbeing group facilitator and wellbeing mentor. Her own journey to being a childless-not-by-choice woman began at 32 with surgical menopause. The path that followed hit many dead ends and it took a while to find Gateway Women before she discovered she could walk in a new direction. Having experienced the isolation, lack of acknowledgement and loneliness childlessness can bring she believes having a space to voice what is quite often hidden is vital to working towards a fulfilling life, and naming the grief was a huge part of that process for her. Lucy’s passionate about accompanying clients on their path to finding a meaningful way of living without children. She does this by creating a safe space in sessions for you to be heard and take a breath, and where together you will explore what needs tending to. Without being the expert on you Lucy will facilitate a process for you to find the strength within to move forward. Lucy is part of and welcomes working with the LGBTQI+ community.

Danielle Uphill – Counselling Psychotherapist MBACP (UK: Hove) Online/In-Person. https://www.danielleuphillcounselling.com/
Danielle is a BACP Registered Humanistic Counselling Psychotherapist working in private practice. With experience in assisting individuals navigating the complexities of childlessness, she is adept at addressing the myriad of emotions entwined with grief and the process of finding meaning. Danielle works closely with clients to tackle the question of “what now?” and to address feelings such as shame or loneliness that may accompany this journey. Recognising the heartbreak that often arises from experiences like miscarriage, unsuccessful attempts at IVF or relationships ending at key times in life – events that can trigger profound emotions such as grief, loneliness, isolation, and questioning of identity, Danielle provides support in these challenging moments. She works alongside individuals helping them to process their emotions without judgment or the pressure to find silver linings. Instead, Danielle facilitates a forward path while acknowledging and honouring the lingering grief that may persist.

Hayley Watkins – Psychotherapeutic Counsellor (UK, Bristol). Online/In-person. https://www.cactuscounselling.co.uk/
Hayley is an NCPS-registered, humanistic psychotherapeutic counsellor specialising in transactional analysis. Her special interests include supporting people at all positions on the childless/childfree spectrum, from the ambivalent to the non-ambivalent, those who are struggling with their fertility, and those who are still working out their position on becoming a parent. Hayley comes from a position of being unambivalently childfree, which she offers as a steady place from which to offer support to those struggling with possible grief and shame around their situation. She has experienced many similar challenges to involuntarily childless people, including becoming the only non-parent in her friendship group, the expectation that she dislikes children or doesn’t want the best for them, and the question of what her later years might be like.

Beth Weatherby – Counsellor & Psychotherapist (UK, Bristol). Online/In-person. https://www.hopeandhealingtherapy.co.uk/
Beth Weatherby, founder of Hope & Healing Therapy, is a trained counsellor with a Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy from the CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body). She is a member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and has completed the BICA (British Infertility Counselling Association) foundation course in infertility counselling. Beth offers compassionate, personalized support for women navigating infertility trauma, and emotional challenges. Beth’s own journey through infertility has been deeply personal. At the age of 34, she was abruptly diagnosed with early menopause, shattering her dreams of having a biological child. The news was delivered without care or compassion, leaving her feeling lost and unsupported. Thrust into an overwhelming world of fertility clinics and emotional turmoil, she faced countless rounds of IVF with egg donors—each attempt filled with hope but met with heartbreak. This personal struggle has given Beth profound insight into the emotional and financial strain that infertility can bring, as well as the isolating pain that often accompanies it. With this experience, Beth understands the unique challenges her clients face and offers a compassionate, empathetic space where they can feel heard and supported. She works primarily with a psychodynamic approach, guiding clients toward self-discovery and healing. Long-term therapy is available for those needing ongoing support, and Beth begins each journey with a free consultation to ensure a comfortable and supportive therapeutic relationship. Based in Bristol, Beth offers both in-person sessions and remote therapy via Zoom. She also offers a free 30-min consultation to see if working together feels like a good fit. 

Meriel Whale – Counsellor for individuals and couples (UK: Lewes/East Sussex). Online/In-person in Lewes. www.merielwhalecounselling.co.uk
Meriel has been practising as a person-centred/integrative counsellor since 2010, and has been specialising in working with childless-not-by-choice clients since 2019, both online and face-to-face in Lewes, UK. She has a postgraduate diploma in person-centred counselling from the University of Brighton. Meriel works with the full spectrum of childless people, both couples and individuals, with a particular interest in those who are LGBTQIA+ and/or neurodiverse and is herself part of both of these communities. She has been involved in Gateway Women since the early days and has done both the Reignite and the Plan B courses with Jody. Meriel meets clients wherever they are in their journey and will walk with you to process what has happened to you, feel and express your grief, challenge shameful beliefs and support you to find your way to a future that is right for you.  Meriel has also written an excellent ‘primer’ for therapists on ‘10 Things You Need to Know about Involuntary Childlessness’ for Psychotherapy Excellence magazine which you can read here.

Gwyneth Wright – Counsellor, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist, Healing Shiatsu Practitioner, Authentic Movement Practitioner. (UK: Whitstable, Kent; Portugal: Algarve; Ireland). Online/In-Person. https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/gwyneth-wright
Gwyneth combines a mixture of psychodynamic and psychoanalytic talking therapies with body-oriented somatic therapies to support her clients as they find their way through life’s challenges. She describes her approach as ‘not mainstream’ but rather one where she goes with the flow and she will encourage that in you, towards whatever serves you best.’ Gwyneth believes that much can be gained from the enquiry into why we wanted to have children along with an examination of our own experiences of being parented; this is an important process that deserves time to unravel and which can be ultimately liberating. Having lost her own fertility young, twenty years ago, she searched desperately for understanding and supportive therapy as she thought her life had ended, and that there was nowhere on earth she could go that would shield her from the pain of separation. Through her own therapeutic healing journey, she arrived at the kind of life she never expected; a joyful and fulfilling one, rich in satisfying and heartfelt connections with so many others whether they have children or not. Gwyneth offers a free 20-minute phone call to arrange to meet either in person or online with no obligation to continue. Following this, she can offer weekly sessions at GBP£60 and is open to discussing finances in the first meeting. 

EUROPEAN Psychotherapists, Counsellors, Coaches & Practicioners (Alphabetic by name)

Cristina Archetti – Psychotherapist (Norway, Oslo). Online only (Support Groups starting April 2024). Working languages English and Italian. https://cristinaarchetti.com/
Cristina is a qualified psychotherapist trained in Identity-Oriented Psychotrauma Theory (IoPT). She supports involuntarily childless women in coming to terms with a life without children and helping them re-discover themselves and their joy for life. Diagnosed with ‘unexplained infertility’ in her 30s, Cristina has lived first-hand with the devastating shock—and the many aftershocks—that not being able to have a child involves. She is vocal in raising awareness of involuntary childlessness and is driven by the desire to help others so they do not have to face alone what can be the darkest crisis in one’s life. A World Childless Week Ambassador, Cristina is also the author of Childlessness in the Age of Communication: Deconstructing Silence, exploring what it means and how it feels to be childless in a society that revolves around family. Cristina offers psychotherapy sessions one-to-one and in groups. She also draws on her experience as a psychotherapist, researcher, and infertility survivor to run Support Groups that combine honouring our emotions (the heart) with reflections on issues that affect us as childless women (the mind), and strategies to improve our daily well-being (the body). Her working languages are English and Italian. Discover more here.

Imelda Heaphy – Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist (Ireland: Wicklow) In-person and online. https://www.holdinghope.ie/
Imelda is an integrative counsellor and psychotherapist, and a pre-accredited member of the IACP. She’s interested in what it means to be human; in having true purpose and a sense of belonging. She believes that relationship is key to healing, growth and change and aims to nurture meaningful connections to guide clients through difficult experiences within the therapeutic relationship. Imelda works with individuals and also facilitates support groups for people experiencing loss, grief or living with illness. Being childless-not-by-choice herself after many years of fertility treatments, and having navigated the loss and heartbreak of that whilst dealing with the lack of emotional support available from fertility clinics, Imelda has deep insight into the emotional, physical and financial impacts of infertility. And with this, she meets clients where they are in their journey with compassion and empathy.

Nuala McDonnell – Counsellor & Psychotherapist (Ireland, Cork City): In-Person & Online. https://bit.ly/ICP-NualaMcDonnell
Nuala is a counsellor and therapist in private practice in Cork City and has a background of working in education and disability services. She trained in humanistic and integrative psychotherapy with the Flatstone Institute and has an M.Sc. in Adolescent Psychotherapy from Dublin Counselling & Therapy Centre. She is a member of ICP, and accredited with IAHIP. Nuala works with individuals and also facilitates groups in Women’s Well-Being, Effective Communication, Managing Stress in our Daily Lives, and Personal Development. In addition, Nuala is a part-time lecturer at UCC on the Social and Psychological Health Studies Diploma course and a part-time lecturer at PCI. Nuala is childless not by choice herself, and took part in a Gateway Women Reignite Weekend in London in 2019.

Sandra McNicol – Grief Therapist and Coach (Barcelona Spain).  Online only offered in both Spanish & English). https://www.childless.life/

Yvonne Maier – Dynamic Emotional Integration Trainer and Consultant. (Germany: Munich). Online/in-person. German/English https://yvonnemaier.squarespace.com/
Yvonne is a licensed Dynamic Emotional Integration^® (DEI) Trainer and Consultant in Germany. DEI is not therapy, but a way of focusing on the intelligence of our emotions and is based on the work of Karla McLaren, M.Ed., whose grand unified theory of emotions revalues even the most “negative” emotions. DEI focuses on the assumption that all our emotions are there for a reason and that we can access their intelligence, enabling us to work skillfully with them to improve every area of our life. In her childless-not-by-choice journey, which brought her to the one-year Online-Bee-Course 2018 with Jody Day, Yvonne experienced the importance of safe spaces for people who are childless-not-by-choice, especially around their emotions. Since 1997 Yvonne has worked as a theatre and voice coach (Theaterpädagogin, Grundlagenausbildung Bundesverband Theaterpädagogik; Stimmpädagogin nach der Lichtenberger Methode^®), and as a science journalist and editor for radio and web since 2007 (she has a M.A. in History and English Literature). Telling stories is her passion, both with words and with the body, and she integrates her theatre and voice work with DEI – because our emotions live in our bodies and can be expressed through them.

Margaret O’Connor – Psychotherapist (Ireland: Limerick). Online only www.arekidsforme.ie
Margaret is the founder of ‘Are Kids for Me?’ and is often featured in the Irish media discussing the childfree choice and has a podcast ‘The Are Kids for Me Podcast. A fully accredited member of the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, she has a Masters in Gender, Culture and Society, a BA in Counselling and Psychotherapy and BA in Social Science, and has been practising as a Counsellor and Psychotherapist since 2011. As well as supporting people working through ambivalence about becoming a parent, Margaret also works with those who are childless-not-by-choice, or childfree-by-choice. She is currently only offering sessions online.

Gwyneth Wright – Counsellor, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist, Healing Shiatsu Practitioner, Authentic Movement Practitioner. (Portugal: Algarve; Ireland). Online/In-Person. https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/gwyneth-wright
Gwyneth combines a mixture of psychodynamic and psychoanalytic talking therapies with body-oriented somatic therapies to support her clients as they find their way through life’s challenges. She describes her approach as ‘not mainstream’ but rather one where she goes with the flow and she will encourage that in you, towards whatever serves you best.’ Gwyneth believes that much can be gained from the enquiry into why we wanted to have children along with an examination of our own experiences of being parented; this is an important process that deserves time to unravel and which can be ultimately liberating. Having lost her own fertility young, twenty years ago, she searched desperately for understanding and supportive therapy as she thought her life had ended, and that there was nowhere on earth she could go that would shield her from the pain of separation. Through her own therapeutic healing journey, she arrived at the kind of life she never expected; a joyful and fulfilling one, rich in satisfying and heartfelt connections with so many others whether they have children or not. Gwyneth offers a free 20-minute phone call to arrange to meet either in person or online with no obligation to continue. Following this, she can offer weekly sessions at GBP£60 and is open to discussing finances in the first meeting. 

USA Psychotherapists, Clinical Psychologists and Counsellors (alphabetic by surname)

Abigail Aldrich – Coach. (USA, East Coast): https://abigailaldrich.com/ Online only.
Abigail calls herself ‘a tiger coach’ and focuses her work with childless women on helping you to discover what she calls ‘The Tiger Powers’ (Intuition. Belief. Focus. Determination. Strength. Courage. Resourcefulness. Consistency. Resiliency) and put them to work to identify your purpose, create your own fulfilment, and solidify your legacy. In her mid-forties, her career background is arts conservation and project management, and she has an inspiring ‘can do’ attitude. Based on East Coast USA, she offers a 3-month package of weekly online 60-minute sessions with Voxer voice/text messaging support in between sessions. You can book a free consultation call through her website here.

Sara Avant Stover – Coach & IFS Practioner. (USA: Boulder, Colorado): Online/In-Person.
https://saraavantstover.com/offerings
The author of three books, a Certified IFS (Internal Family Systems) Practitioner, and a long-time women’s spirituality mentor and yoga and meditation teacher, Sara offers both personal and business ‘1-to-1 Mentoring’ packages. She also offers online courses and both in-person and online retreats for women around topics such as Becoming Whole, Befriending Your Inner Critic, Meditation, Healing from Heartbreak (like childlessness), and moving on after abortion. Sara interviewed me for her podcast, her Self, in June 2021 and it is both one of her most listened-to episodes and one of my favourites too. Listen to Sara interview Jody here, or read the transcript.

Sasha Cagen (USA, Providence, Rhode Island): Online only
http://sashacagen.com
Sasha is the author of the cult favourite book Quirkyalone: A Manifesto for Uncompromising Romantics, a landmark book putting a new twist on being a discerning single that got attention everywhere from the New York Times to CNN. Since 2011, Sasha has worked with women around the world, offering unique life coaching programs integrating body and mind intelligence to help women who have not followed traditional paths to get clear about what they really want and create their own versions of a “turned-on life.” Her coaching programs offer empowering support around being a “non-mother” for whatever reason and for women who are currently unpartnered (or partnered and wanting to find themselves again). You can see Sasha talk with Jody about childlessness and motherhood ambivalence here.

*NEW LISTING* Doha Chibani, LCSW-C. (USA: Maryland). Telehealth (online) only. https://dcmcc.org/ 
Doha (she/they) is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Maryland who provides therapeutic services in English, Arabic and French. She specializes in working with racial, ethnic, sexual and gender-marginalized identities that need to unpack the trauma caused by the dominant cultures around them. Having experienced her own path with childlessness, Doha has dedicated herself to support those who are experiencing the disenfranchised grief of childlessness, as well as those going through the trauma of the profit-making Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) industry.

NEW LISTING Tracey Cleantis, MA (USA, UT). Depth Life Coach. Global/Online Only. https://legendarylifecoach.net/
Tracey Cleantis, MA, is a best-selling author, Jungian psychotherapist, and depth life coach with over 25 years of experience. She specializes in helping individuals at the end of their thwarted motherhood journey to embrace the possibility of a vibrant and joyful future. Tracey provides compassionate, expert guidance to those grieving the experience of being childless not by choice, helping them honor their loss while uncovering new ways to bring fulfilment, creativity, and happiness into their lives. Her work empowers clients to transform their deeper hopes and dreams into a life that feels whole, meaningful, and uniquely their own. Tracey’s personal experience informs her professional expertise. When her own journey to conceive came to an end, she believed happiness was no longer possible. But she discovered otherwise—happiness not only is possible, but it can also become more expansive and fulfilling than imagined. With no resources to guide her from heartbreak to hope, she wrote The Next Happy: Let Go of the Life You Planned and Find a New Way Forward. She is also the author of An Invitation to Self-Care: Why Learning to Nurture Yourself Is the Key to the Life You’ve Always Wanted (Simon & Schuster), which shares practical tools for creating a life rooted in resilience, joy, and self-compassion. Tracey believes that the end of one story can mark the beginning of something extraordinary. She is passionate about helping clients see the possibilities for a life that is vibrant, fulfilling, and deeply aligned with their true selves. With Tracey’s guidance, clients uncover their next happy. Contact Tracey to arrange a free 15-minute discovery call.

Dr. Huong Diep (pronounced Hong Depp), PsyD, ABPP – Psychotherapist & Coach. (USA: CA, NV, SD, and NY) for psychotherapy and is open to international clients for coaching/consulting. Telehealth only. Visit www.drhdiep.com.
Huong (she/her) is a Board-Certified Clinical Psychologist who provides services in both English and Spanish. She is passionate about supporting and advocating for women’s mental health, particularly in de-stigmatizing childfree and childless communities. She specializes in the intersectionality of intergenerational trauma, the impacts on identity, the illusion of “choice,” ambiguous loss, and helping clients redefine what mothering or womanhood means to them. Huong identifies as childfree by circumstance and understands the added layers of cultural expectations that can lead to feelings of isolation and otherness. Huong is trained and certified in various modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS). However, her overall approach is grounded in humanistic psychology with a deep curiosity to understand her clients’ unique challenges and strengths. Please visit her website to learn more about her approach to self-understanding and empowerment.

Emily Donohue LMHC (New York State, USA): In-Person  Lower Manhattan; Telehealth NY State: https://www.emily-donahue.com/
Emily is childfree by choice herself after many years of wrestling with ambivalence. She offers a speciality called ‘childfree affirming therapy‘ on her website. However, if you are childless NOT by choice, please don’t be put off by this – both as a person and as a therapist her approach is sensitive and inclusive across the spectrum from childless to childfree and I would definitely schedule an introductory session with her to see if you feel like a good fit.

Maria Hill, Transformation Coach, (USA, Virginia): Online Only. mariaehill.com
Maria is a writer, teacher, coach, and transformative thinker. She is an expert on how cultures create and appropriate our identities, minds, and energies and knows that without clarity about how cultures create many of our problems, we will remain traumatized and stuck. She offers individual online coaching and, through her 8-week Magic Of Joy program, a transformational pathway to a new joy-based way of living. She uses cultural frameworks, energy practices, new joy-based archetypes, and a joy foundation/practice to help people make sense of the world and find their way to the new ecological world trying to be born. She loves discovering ahas! that enliven the imagination, open new doors of possibility, and establish much-deserved self-regard, especially for those who have been marginalized in some way. Maria is the founder of Sensitive Evolution and Magic Of Joy. She is a longtime member of the online Gateway W0men community (now under the umbrella of the Childless Collective), host of its subgroup for sensitive people and empaths, and a panellist on Jody’s Fireside Wisdom with Childless Elderwomen sessions.  She is a World Childless Week ambassador and creator of their Age of the Queen webinars. Maria is originally from New England in the US and now resides in Virginia.

Dr. Regina Lazarovich, Ph.D. (USA: California & New York State). Telehealth only. https://www.compasscbt.com/
Regina is a Clinical Psychologist who has dedicated her fifteen-year career to helping individuals struggling with anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), disordered eating/eating disorders, and body image concerns. Regina considers her decision not to have children a ‘forced choice’. Whether you identify as childfree, childless, or somewhere in between, Regina will meet you with compassion and help you navigate the myriad of complex emotions that are showing up on your journey so that you can find your way to a more meaningful and attuned life. Regina has helped hundreds of clients using several evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindful Self-Compassion, Health at Every Size (HAES), and Intuitive Eating.

Katie Maynard MSW, LICSW – Psychotherapist. (Washington State, USA): Online. Telehealth only. https://www.katiemaynard.com/
Kaite is a therapist offering online sessions only to clients in the state of Washington. As well as working with childless clients herself, Katie provides supervision for other clinicians as well as specialized consultation and training for topics including working with childless clients. Her Instagram profile @childlessnessintheroom is a treasure-trove of resources for therapists in how to better serve their non-parent clients.

Nanette Riendeau, LMFT – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. (California, USA). Online Telehealth only / Women’s Empowerment Coach (Global). Online only. Therapy practice website: https://therapywithnanette.com/ Coaching website: https://www.coachingwithnanette.com Coaching social media: Facebook – Instagram @childlessgrace
Nanette is a licensed psychotherapist in California and a women’s empowerment coach worldwide. She has an MA in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Drama Therapy and an MA in Women’s Spirituality. Childless by circumstance herself, Nanette is passionate about helping women without children identify and process their losses, dismantle harmful societal messages, and find new meaning so they can embrace their unique journey with confidence, satisfaction, and a sense of peace and purpose in the world. (You can really see this in action on her excellent social media work). Nanette has two separate practices for therapy and coaching as they are distinct services, and does not overlap clients between the two. Reach out for a complimentary consultation and to discuss if you are a better fit for therapy or coaching.

Beth Rivelli – Coach (US): http://www.bethrivellicoaching.com
Beth Rivelli is a professionally trained coach committed to working with women whose lives have been disrupted by divorce, those who are angsting about missing their motherhood timeline, or those who have missed it. She creates a safe place to land for those in their grief as they clear the clutter and find a new version of themselves and a future they want to create on the other side. Her foundational paradigm is ontological life coaching, meaning she believes that the relationship we have to ourselves is the genesis of every other relationship we have in our lives.

Marni Rosner, DSW, LCSW – Psychotherapist. (New York, NY): In-person and Telehealth. https://drmarnirosner.com/
Marni is a New York City-based licensed psychotherapist. For over 20 years, she has provided psychotherapy to individuals and couples struggling with anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, loss, and infertility. Marni has a special place in her heart for women who are childless not by choice. She understands that this type of loss is often complicated, and goes unacknowledged by our normal support systems. Marni is particularly skillful at helping women understand this loss from the perspective of the present moment as well as a personal historical context. She is also quite gifted at guiding women through their grief process, including helping them to imagine new and fulfilling identities and futures. She also loves helping women access the playful parts of themselves. Marni was the first person to formally study women who are living without children after infertility in our modern age, with numerous and seemingly unending treatment options available. Her research, which is also mentioned in Jody’s book Living the Life Unexpected can be found here.

Monica Serrao Kim, LMFT – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. (California, USA). Online Telehealth only.
https://www.monicamft.com/
Monica is a therapist offering online consultations to those in the state of California. Monica specializes in treating anxiety, depression, grief/loss, and trauma and she also has a particular interest in supporting women’s mental health issues related to family planning, baby ambivalence, difficulty conceiving and infertility, involuntary childlessness (childless not by choice, childless by circumstance), role transitions as well as how to flourish in peri/post-menopause.

Senna Shehadeh MA, LPC-Associate, LCDC-Associate, NCC, CCTP – Psychotherapist, Career Counselor & Motivational Counselor. (Austin, Texas, USA). In-person & Telehealth. 
https://sennatherapy.com/
Senna’s career was previously in business management and she chose to retrain as a therapist when she realized that her true passion was helping others navigate life’s difficulties and challenges. She is involuntarily childless herself due to premature ovarian failure and life circumstances, and is passionate about helping other people who find themselves childless adjust to this life they never planned. Senna helps clients navigate the challenges of hormonal fluctuations, and the anxiety and depression that can accompany perimenopause, as well as failed fertility treatment. Senna uses a holistic approach combining physical fitness, nutrition, CBT and ACT to manage symptoms and look forward to the possibility of a fulfilled life.

Jackie Toth, MA, LMFT (California, USA). In-person (Santa Barbara) and online (California). https://www.jacquelyntoth.com/
Jackie is a licensed psychotherapist who offers in-person and online therapy to California residents, as well as workshops and groups on childlessness for individuals from outside of California as well. She identifies as childless-by-choice, recognizing the term does not fully convey the complexities and nuances of this part of one’s identity. Jackie’s approach to childfree-by-choice and childless-not-by-choice clients incorporates a generous and compassionately curious stance informed by radical grief theory, which views grief as a practice that can deepen one’s exploration into their sense of self by liberating the parts of our stories that have been silenced or shamed, thus leading us to a renewed sense of belonging in and to the larger world. Jackie has training in Jungian, narrative, and feminist psychology and is passionate about working with childless individuals who identify as people-pleasers, as well as those in middle age and beyond looking to story their lives in ways that challenge the status quo.

Emily Wesley LICSW / MSW. (USA: Kent, Washington State WA) Online Only. https://meetmonarch.com/therapist/emily-wesley-counseling-kent-wa and https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/emily-wesley-kent-wa/948119

CANADIAN Psychotherapists,Counsellors, Coaches & Practioners (alphabetic by surname)

Catherine-Emmanuelle Delisle – Psychotherapist (Montreal, Canada): Online only.
https://femmesansenfant.com
Catherine-Emmanuelle is the founder of the award-winning French/English website ‘FemmeSansEnfant‘ and is also a therapist working with childless people. She works in both French and English, online and in-person, as well as being available as a workplace and conference speaker on the issues facing people without children. You can find her also on Facebook here and has created a short video called  ‘4 Good Reasons to Choose Me as a Therapist.’ Catherine-Emmanuelle is a licensed Gateway Women workshop facilitator in North America and you can find out more about her Reignite Weekend workshops here. Book a free 30-min introductory session here.

Tanya Hubbard – Registered Therapeutic Counsellor and Coach (Vancouver area, Canada & Internationally). Online only.
https://www.tanyahubbard.com 
Tanya is a counsellor and coach who works holistically, meaning that her work incorporates your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual self, and that she approaches everything she does with attention to the social and cultural context. Tanya incorporates body awareness into her talk therapy sessions and, depending on your needs, she can draw from somatic work, CBT, DBT, narrative and feminist therapy, mindfulness techniques, and solution-focused based therapy.

Sheri Johnson (Canada, Ontario): Online only
https://sherijohnson.ca/
Sheri Johnson helps women who are childless by circumstance to awaken their worth in a world that makes them feel inadequate. Her passion is inspiring these women to live joyful lives of meaning instead of lack. After 3 miscarriages and 6 years of infertility, Sheri’s coaching background and spiritual training led her to discover a process for navigating the triggers, the feelings of exclusion and the lack of purpose. You can listen to a 2022 podcast interview she recorded with Jody here. You can book a free ‘Alignment Call’ with Sheri here.

Sarah Jane Smith – Coach (British Columbia, Canada): Online/In-person.
https://www.embodiedpossibility.com/

Harmony Ziegler: Akoya Lifestyle & Wellness Therapy – Registered Clinical Counsellor (British Columbia, Canada): https://www.akoyatherapy.com/ In-person & online
Harmony specializes in therapy for people with the greatest power to impact positive world change: mindful leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives & game-changers. Akoya is an innovative therapeutic approach including therapy online, therapy outdoors, and one-on-one therapy retreats in luxurious Tofino or laid-back Courtenay, BC. This is therapy at nature’s pace – think therapy meets wellness vacation. Wherever you live in British Columbia, Akoya welcomes you. Our work together may include a focus on your strengths, immersion in nature, art as therapy, sensory awareness, and self-regulation practices. Harmony is childless not by choice and a hysterectomy survivor. Listen to her podcast interview about balancing entrepreneurship and childlessness grief here.

AUSTRALIAN & NZ Psychotherapists, Counsellors, Coaches & Practioners (alphabetic by surname)

Anne Altimore – Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Coach. Australia (Melbourne): https://www.lifeafterivf.com.au
A qualified psychotherapist, counsellor and coach, Anne offers a variety of ways to work with her to support you after your fertility journey ended without a child – and this also includes those who had other forms of fertility treatment. She works with both individuals and couples and understands how complex and multi-faceted transitioning into life as a non-parent can be, both from her own and her clinical experience. Contact Anne to book a free, no-obligation 30-min consultation call here.

Dr Vicki Connop – Psychologist (Auckland, NZ): In-person & online
https://www.wiseminds.co.nz/
Vicki is a Registered Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in public mental health services and private practice.  She specialises in mindfulness-based therapies and somatic psychology (working with emotion held in the body). She has a strong interest in the teachings of Buddhist psychology and yoga and is also a qualified yoga teacher, integrating a number of different therapeutic modalities in her work. She works both in-person and online.

Judy Graham – Counsellor & Psychotherapist.  Australia (Gold Coast) https://www.womenhood.com.au
Judy is a Counsellor and founder of WomenHood, where she provides support specifically for women who are childless not by choice.  She draws on her own experience of childlessness, along with training in grief, trauma, and somatic psychotherapy, to offer understanding and compassionate care wherever you’re at in your experience of childlessness. She is highly attuned to the impact that social, cultural and personal experiences can have on self-concept and healing the heartbreak and exclusion that can come with childlessness.  Judy works with women online in Australia & New Zealand, and offers in-person sessions on the Gold Coast. You’re welcome to contact Judy here for a free, no-obligation chat about working together. Judy is also a licensed Gateway Women Reignite workshop facilitator for Australia & NZ and you can find out more about her workshops for Gateway Women here.

Narelle Hudson – Counsellor. (Australia, Brisbane). In-person/online www.narellehudson.org
Narelle is a qualified counsellor (ACA registered) and the author of ‘The Baby Dream: Learning to Live with Infertility and Loss’ and she specialises in working with grief, loss, and trauma with a focus on infertility, IVF or being childless-not-by-choice. As well as being a counsellor, Narelle is Reiki and Seichim Practitioner as well as a qualified Crystal Healing Therapist and a massage therapist. She offers counselling sessions in-person and online.

Jo Popplestone – Coach (Australia: Sydney and Global) Online only. https://jopopplestone.com
Jo is an accredited coach with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She specialises in working with women (& men) when they want to move beyond their grief and are ready to embark on creating a newly defined future. This often involves exploring limiting beliefs and the importance of defining what it means to live a purposeful and fulfilled life. Jo is originally from the UK and has her own experience of infertility and creating a new life for herself, this included moving to Australia where she has lived since 2014. Jo loves being outdoors in nature and enjoys trail running, bushwalking, kayaking and sailing; it’s where she feels most alive. She’s used coaching in her own life to expand her horizons to explore what is possible and in 2023, Jo ran her first 50km Ultra Trail in the Blue Mountains. Jo has also found using coaching as an approach has opened up opportunities in her career, this has included a significant job promotion and assisted her in making a decision in early 2024 to take a six-month sabbatical to take ‘time out’ to consider the next chapter in her life. Jo is passionate about using coaching to journey alongside others as they explore what makes them feel ‘alive, fulfilled and living a purposeful life,’ and assisting them in creating the pathway towards their desired future.

Sarah Roberts – Counsellor (Australia, Brisbane): http://www.theemptycradle.com
Sarah is the founder of The Empty Cradle which offers support to childless women to grieve losses, navigate complex thoughts and feelings, feel more confident in social spaces and workplaces and move forward with confidence in their futures. She works both in-person and online and is also a licensed Gateway Women workshop facilitator for Australia and New Zealand, and you can find out more about her workshops for Gateway Women here.