Gestational Carrier Counseling in Dallas

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Meet Jana M. Rupnow, LPC
Psychotherapist & Author
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Offices in Dallas Metroplex
801 E. Campbell Road, #152
Richardson, TX 75081
5600 Lovers Lane,
Dallas TX 75209
214-520-4141 (phone)
972-588-8061 (fax)

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Home > Gestational Carrier Consultation > Gestational Carrier Evaluation

Counseling Gestational Carrier/Intended Parent Relationships

Carrying a child for another couple is a complex and dynamic process that requires effective communication and a high level of coping skills. The GC/IP relationship begins weeks before a pregnancy is achieved and may continue after delivery. Intended parents should attend an intended parent counseling session at the beginning of their journey to cover the unique aspects of this birthing experience. Counseling and screening is key to understanding this special, in some cases, life-long relationship.

The screening process for known gestational carriers includes a 60-90 minute psychological interview also known as a mental health status exam. The psychological interview includes questions outlined by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
There are 5 possible steps in the gestational carrier screening and counseling process (listed below). All steps are recommended for a successful relationship, although not every step is required in each case. Your process will be determined by your clinic, agency, psychotherapist and relationship to your carrier or the intended parents.

Gestational Carrier Screening and Counseling Process

Mental Health Status Exam Interview in office/Skype
Psychological Narrative (Full Report)
Intended Parents Counseling Session
Objective Personality Testing
Joint (IP and GC) Counseling Session(s)
Follow-up interviews or sessions if needed hourly (fee prorated)

Request a 'Fertility Consultation' appointment online or call 214-520-4141. You will receive a confirmation email after you request your appointment time. For video conference appointments, consent paperwork and payment must be received in advance.

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Psychological Report (Full length)

Fee: $150.00

Full length psychological reports are narrative reports required by certain clinics and agencies after a mental status exam. These are most applicable to egg donation screening and gestational carrier screening.

Personality Administration and Report

Fee: $190.00

In adherence with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines, clinics and agencies require donors and gestational carriers to have an objective personality test as part of the qualification process. This test rules out mental disorders and other psychological problems that could negatively interfere with the process. The test also determines if the donor or carrier's self-report answers were honest.

We have the ability to offer both the MMPI-2 and PAI for personality testing. Read more about each test and reporting below:

As an objective approach to assessing human personality, the MMPI has long “set the standard.” Copyrighted in 1943 and revised as the MMPI-2 Test in 1989, it remains–as it has been for decades–the most widely used of all personality tests.

No test instrument nor practical application of that instrument is better than its interpretation. Since 1969, Caldwell Report has endeavored to set the interpretive standard. Widely known for its accuracy, depth, and clinical utility, each Caldwell Report is backed by the expertise of Alex B. Caldwell, Ph.D

The Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) is an objective inventory of adult personality that assesses psycho-pathological syndromes and provides information relevant for clinical diagnosis, treatment planning, and screening for psychopathology. Scoring and reporting is provided through PariConnect.

Fee is for test only and does not include sessions with professional.

Schedule an appointment online, email jana@janarupnow.com or call 214-520-4141. For video conference appointments, consent paperwork and payment must be received in advance. If a full psychological report or mental status interview are required, please add those options to your package.

Intended Parents Session + Report

Fee: $245.00

Intended parents are encouraged by their doctor and the ASRM to attend counseling prior to an egg or sperm donation procedure or before using a gestational carrier. Counseling for IPs includes the exploration of complex social issues and feelings that may be hard to voice. This counseling session is not intended to be a test you must pass prior to treatment but rather a place to discuss your concerns.

IP counseling is approx 1 hour and covers the topics recommended by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, (ASRM). A brief report for your physician or clinic is included in the fee. A narrative report will be an additional fee.

ASRM Topics for Intended Parent Egg Donation Counseling

What are our best options considering our finances?
Will my child be upset with me for choosing to conceive this way?
How do we choose a donor?
Should we tell our child about his/her donor conception?
Will I feel like my child isn't really mine?
How can I cope with the grief of not having a biological child?
Should we tell our family members about using a donor?
How do we deal with questions from others?
What if this treatment doesn't work?
What role will the donor have in our lives, if any?

ASRM Topics for Intended Parent Gestational Carriers (click for more)

Request an appointment or email jana@janarupnow.com.

Gestational Carrier and Intended Parent Joint Session

Gestational Carrier and Intended Parent Joint Session

Fee: $250.00

After the gestational carrier's (GC) mental status interview is complete, the GC and intended parents (IP) attend a 70 minute joint counseling session. During the joint session, members meet with the same counselor to outline expectations and discuss concerns. This session should be conducted face-to-face or through video conference. Joint or individual follow-up sessions are encouraged for the duration of the pregnancy through delivery if needed.

Individual GC sessions or MMPI testing and reporting are separate fees.

Joint Session

Fee: $250.00

Joint sessions for intended parents and known donors are important to manage expectations and discuss the long-term psycho-social aspect of donation conception on both future families and the children born through donation conception.

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Donors/GC Session

Fee: $255.00

A Mental Status Interview is a 60 minute psychological interview conducted by a mental health professional in office or through video conferencing. Potential egg, sperm, embryo donors or gestational carriers that must be screened will be interviewed according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines.

Request an appointment online, email jana@janarupnow.com or call 214-520-4141. If a personality test and/or full psychological report are required, please add those options to your package.