In this section
We appreciate that your journey through fertility investigations, diagnosis and treatment can be very difficult.
We provide a counselling service which offers support, understanding and information for all our patients. Our Counsellors offer a professional, reliable service, are fully qualified and have specialist additional training in fertility issues.
Counselling offers you time and space to safely explore difficult thoughts and feelings in a confidential and supportive setting. We can help you gain insight and understanding, find new ways of coping emotionally, help you to manage bad news and support you with difficult decisions about future options.
Counselling is available to every couple or individual before, during and after treatment and you may be referred by your Doctor, Nurse, Embryologist or can request an appointment yourself. Donor patients are routinely referred to the counselling service to discuss implications of treatment and these should always be attended with your partner.
Our counsellors:
Beverley Loftus – Lead Counsellor
Beverley has worked at St. Marys Hospital as a Fertility Counsellor since 2008 and has experience in several other areas or practice including mental health, bereavement, and general private practice. Beverley qualified as a Person-Centred Counsellor in 2007 and received her Diploma from Salford University. Beverley continues to develop her skills by attending ongoing training courses and supervision to meet professional standards.
Beverley is a member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapy (BACP) and accredited by the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA).
Ruth Paterson – Counsellor
Ruth joined the team at St Mary’s Hospital in 2025, having qualified as a counsellor and psychotherapist from the University of Salford in 2020. She is experienced in supporting people with a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement, loss and relationship difficulties, as well as pregnancy loss, infertility and fertility treatment. She is passionate about supporting individuals and couples as they navigate their fertility journey. Her other interests are in arts, music and creativity for wellbeing.
Ruth is a member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) and the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA). She has researched and written about people’s experiences of fertility counselling and her work has recently been published in an international anthology about unexpected pathways to parenthood.
Appointments
Once you have been referred to the Department of Reproductive Medicine for fertility investigations and treatment, you can access the Counselling Service on the Unit. If you would like to make an appointment, please contact us on the telephone number listed below or call into reception and speak to a member of staff who would be happy to make an appointment on your behalf. You do not have to explain the reasons why you wish to see a Counsellor. We have Face to Face, Telephone and Video appointments available on different days and times of the week from Monday to Friday and they are 50 minutes long.
Please ask at Reception or call 0161 276 6000 (option 6) to book