Consultations and Evaluations for Third Party Reproduction

Beth Cerrito-Cohen, PhD, PMH-C provides consultation and evaluation services for intended parents, prospective gestational carriers, egg/oocyte donors, known donor or known gestational carrier arrangements, and recipients of donor gametes (egg/oocyte, sperm, or embryo). Dr. Cerrito-Cohen has extensive training and experience working with reproductive mental health, including completing the training for Mental Health Professionals through the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, completion of a 2-year fellowship specializing in Women’s Health, and working since 2010 within the field of reproductive mental health.

Whether you are just starting this process or have been on the fertility road for some time, decisions about your options for growing your family can be daunting. Utilizing third party reproduction can come with a range of feelings, questions, decisions, and uncertainty. Similarly, making the decision about becoming a gamete donor or gestational carrier requires consideration, information, and support. Additionally, your fertility clinic, agency, or attorney may require that you receive an evaluation with a mental health provider. Meeting with a qualified and experienced mental health provider is an important step in the process.

Dr. Cerrito-Cohen can provide consultation and evaluation for the following:

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Gestational Carrier Arrangements
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Known Donor or Known Gestational Carrier Arrangements
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Recipients of anonymous donor egg, sperm, or embryo
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Prospective Gestational Carrier or Egg Donor Evaluations

DR. BETH CERRITO-COHEN

PhD, PMH-C
Office Location: Cary/Aplex
Phone: (919) 462-8308
Schedule Today!

Dr. Cerrito-Cohen is a Licensed Psychologist and Health Services Provider in North Carolina. She is also a Licensed Psychologist in New York. Dr. Cerrito-Cohen received her PhD in Clinical Psychology in 2008 from the University of Rochester in New York. She completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in women’s health and a post-degree certificate in marriage and family therapy at the University of Rochester Medical Center prior to starting a private therapy practice in 2010. She completed training to obtain her Perinatal Mental Health Certification and has additional training from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine for providing therapy and consultation to patients managing infertility, including those using third-party reproduction.

Dr. Cerrito-Cohen sees individuals (18 and older) and couples, specializing in the areas of perinatal, reproductive, and women’s health, including infertility or difficulties with fertility, pregnancy and post-partum issues, post-partum depression and post-partum anxiety, pregnancy/early infant/child loss, pregnancy after loss, complicated pregnancies (medical conditions, fetal anomalies, selective reduction), pregnancy termination/abortion, choosing single motherhood, lifestyle management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and educational consultations for third-party reproduction (use of a gestational carrier, donor gametes). Dr. Cerrito-Cohen also works with individuals to address depression, anxiety, panic, grief and loss, stressful life events/stress management, life transitions, relationship issues, coping with illness, weight management, and chronic pain. She is LGBTQ+ affirming and has training in writing psychological letters of support for gender-affirming procedures for transgender/gender non-conforming clients.

Dr. Cerrito-Cohen’s approach to therapy is “integrative.” This means that she draws from several different types of therapy (interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, Acceptance and Commitment therapy, client-centered, psychodynamic, family systems methods, etc.) to find what will best meet the needs of any given patient. She also strives to understand the person as a whole, including relationship and other environmental or contextual factors that influence your life and functioning.

Dr. Cerrito-Cohen believes that people have inherent strength and resilience and that during difficult times, it is an act of strength to lean on others or ask for help when it is needed. She views her role as a therapist as one of support and collaboration. Dr. Cerrito-Cohen will work together with you as you regain or discover your own strengths and develop solutions to the problems and concerns that are bringing you to therapy.

Gestational Carrier Arrangements

When intended parents have already identified a potential gestational carrier, the consultation and evaluation process involves three parts – a psychoeducational consultation session for the intended parents, a psychological evaluation of the gestational carrier (which includes administration of a standardized personality measure and a clinical interview with the gestational carrier and her spouse/partner, if applicable), and a joint meeting with the intended parents and gestational carrier (and the gestational carrier’s spouse/partner, if applicable). At the conclusion of these three sessions, a report will be provided for your fertility clinic and/or attorneys. Consultation and interview sessions are approximately 55 minutes each. The administration of the personality measure takes approximately 45-60 minutes.

Scheduling and Costs

$800

Consultation and evaluation services are charged at a self-pay rate; insurances do not cover these types of services, therefore we are unable to bill insurance for these sessions. Also note that the intended parent(s) are responsible for payment of all sessions involved in Gestational Carrier or Known Donor arrangements, even sessions attended by only the gestational carrier or known donor.

To schedule an evaluation or consultation appointment, please contact (919) 462-8308, option 2 (for the Cary/Apex office). Appointments area available in person or via telehealth.

 

Known Donor or Known Gestational Carrier Arrangements

A known donor or known gestational carrier is someone who has a prior relationship to the intended parent(s). It could be a family member, friend, or even an acquaintance. These evaluations focus on the unique considerations when there is the expectation of an ongoing relationship among individuals after the fertility process has been completed. The consultation and evaluation process involves the same three steps as detailed above – a psychoeducational consultation for the intended parent(s), a psychological evaluation for the gamete (egg/oocyte or sperm) donor or gestational carrier, and a joint meeting. At the conclusion of these three sessions, a report will be provided for your fertility clinic and/or attorneys. Consultation and interview sessions are approximately 55 minutes each. The administration of the personality measure takes approximately 45-60 minutes.

Scheduling and Costs

$800

Consultation and evaluation services are charged at a self-pay rate; insurances do not cover these types of services, therefore we are unable to bill insurance for these sessions. Also note that the intended parent(s) are responsible for payment of all sessions involved in Gestational Carrier or Known Donor arrangements, even sessions attended by only the gestational carrier or known donor.

To schedule an evaluation or consultation appointment, please contact (919) 462-8308, option 2 (for the Cary/Apex office). Appointments area available in person or via telehealth.

 

Recipients of anonymous donor egg, sperm, or embryo

Individuals and couples who plan to use donor egg, donor sperm, or donor embryo often benefit from a psychoeducational consultation and counseling session with a professional who has training and experience in reproductive mental health. This session can be an opportunity to openly talk about and process feelings, questions, concerns, and hopes with someone well-versed in the experience. Education about the psychosocial issues associated with using donor gametes is also part of this consultation session. Sessions are approximately 55 minutes.

Scheduling and Costs

$200

Consultation and evaluation services are charged at a self-pay rate; insurances do not cover these types of services, therefore we are unable to bill insurance for these sessions. Also note that the intended parent(s) are responsible for payment of all sessions involved in Gestational Carrier or Known Donor arrangements, even sessions attended by only the gestational carrier or known donor.

To schedule an evaluation or consultation appointment, please contact (919) 462-8308, option 2 (for the Cary/Apex office). Appointments area available in person or via telehealth.

 

Prospective Gestational Carrier or Egg Donor Evaluations

Individuals who would like to become a gestational carrier or egg donor are often required to complete a psychological evaluation prior to being accepted by an egg bank or agency that facilitates donor or gestational carrier matching. An evaluation includes a clinical interview (the gestational carrier’s or donor’s spouse/partner, if applicable, must also attend this interview session) and the administration of a standardized personality assessment. Occasionally, a second interview session may be needed. A report is provided for the agency or attorney. Interview sessions are approximately 55 minutes each. The administration of the personality measure takes approximately 45-60 minutes.

Scheduling and Costs

$500

Consultation and evaluation services are charged at a self-pay rate; insurances do not cover these types of services, therefore we are unable to bill insurance for these sessions. Also note that the intended parent(s) are responsible for payment of all sessions involved in Gestational Carrier or Known Donor arrangements, even sessions attended by only the gestational carrier or known donor.

To schedule an evaluation or consultation appointment, please contact (919) 462-8308, option 2 (for the Cary/Apex office). Appointments area available in person or via telehealth.