Back in January of last year (2024), the HFEA made the difficult decision to remove funding for support services for donor-conceived people (DCP) and donors within the Opening the Register (OTR) cohort. This decision took effect in September 2024, and affects all those that were conceived or donated post-August 1991.
This decision does not affect anyone conceived or donating pre-August 1991, including the Donor Conceived Register (DCR) or associated counselling services. If you fall into this category then you are entitled to two free specialist counselling sessions and further sessions at a subsidised rate. More information can be found here: Counselling service – Liverpool Womens NHS Foundation Trust
This leaves a huge gap in support provision for anyone conceived or donating post August 1991. Donor Conceived UK intends to be part of the solution for future support services and continues to be active in the discussions around what this could look like, but as it stands, the infrastructure simply isn’t there.
Recent years have seen an increase in people coming forward to seek information from the HFEA Registers about their genetic relatives, and people finding out they are donor conceived in shock DNA discoveries. If this is you, you may be seeking professional support or guidance.
At Donor Conceived UK, we understand the people find huge value in a peer-led support community made up of those with the same lived experience and those who have walked this path ahead of them. There will always be someone available to listen, signpost or advise- email us at info@donorconceiveduk.org.uk
Many of us have sought the expertise of therapeutic counsellors to help process the donor conceived experience and we are just beginning to pull together a trusted therapists directory so that its easier for you to get the support you need without having to spend sessions educating therapists on the landscape, laws and typical situations surrounding DCPs lives!
This is just the beginning of what we are trying to achieve infrastructure-wise as Donor Conceived UK, but at least it hopefully prevents a few people having to go on a wild goose chase filtering through directories and directories of therapists!
Please find below a list of trusted therapists who are either DCP themselves or have supported other members of the DCUK Community:
Hannah-Phoebe Bowen – Counsellor in East London and Online (mBACP)
I am a donor-conceived person working as a counsellor so I have both personal life experience and the professional experience of listening to others whose experiences of being DC and/or experiencing NPE may be similar and different to my own. I offer long or short term talk therapy in East London and online. I also have additional training and life experience of neurodivergence and queerness which may intersect with your experience of being DC.
I aim for a way of working that gives space for your overlapping identities and centres your needs and autonomy as a client in exploring your feelings, experiences, thoughts and identity.
Please do get in touch via https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/hannah-phoebe-bowen
Joanna Howe – Intermediary and Counsellor in East Sussex and Online (MBACP)
Joanna has experience working with the Donor Conceived (DC) community working as an Intermediary and counsellor for DCP and their donors and has recently been involved with and featured on the ITV documentary, Born from the Same Stranger (2024), which documented the unique journeys of several donor conceived contributors discovering information about themselves and genetic relatives.
Joanna has been working as an intermediary with PAC-UK since 2021 working with adopted adults and birth families wishing to connect. She has a special interest in adoption and the DC world and is passionate about the service and the importance of the work. Joanna, a member of the BACP, is a qualified Counsellor and Couples Counsellor and has additional experience working with clients with acquired brain injury(ABI) and does voluntary work with her local hospice, as a Bereavement Counsellor, which she finds hugely rewarding.
Joanna email: joanna@joannahowecounselling.co.uk
Jimi D Katsis – Integrative Therapist in Bristol and Online (MA Psych, DipSw, MBACP)
Throughout my therapeutic journey, I’ve been deeply privileged to witness the profound and intricate landscape of donor conception. In my work, I’ve come to understand that this isn’t just a biological fact—it’s a deeply human story of identity that can feel both overwhelming and incredibly personal.
Discovering you’re donor-conceived isn’t something you just brush off. It’s a complex puzzle that touches the very core of who you are. Through my work, I’ve seen how this journey can stir up a whirlwind of emotions—confusion, curiosity, anger, wonder—and each of those feelings is totally valid.
My approach is straightforward: I’m here to walk alongside you as you navigate this deeply personal terrain. No judgement, no “cookie-cutter” solutions. Just a commitment to helping you unpack your story, challenge the narratives that don’t serve you, and ultimately find a sense of self that feels authentically, powerfully yours.
I believe that within every challenge lies an opportunity for profound personal growth. Together, we’ll explore the intricate layers of your identity, transforming what might feel like uncertainty into a source of genuine strength and self-understanding.
Jimi’s website: www.jimikatsis.com
Catherine van Maanen – Integrative Counsellor in London and Online (MBACP)
Catherine (who goes by Cat), being donor-conceived herself, brings a unique combination of personal insight and professional expertise. Her lived experience allows her to deeply understand the nuanced needs and challenges of donor-conceived people, whilst her skills as a therapist equip her to support clients in navigating these complexities. This dual perspective enriches her practice, enabling her to provide compassionate, informed, and tailored care for individuals seeking a therapist who truly comprehends their journey. Cat has experience working with donor-conceived people, as well as with themes that can often arise within the community. The main areas that Cat works with include: eating disorders, body image and self-esteem, chronic pain, identity, bullying, and complex trauma (although she is trained to work with other areas too). Cat’s approach is holistic in that it brings both body and mind into the therapy (through experiential exercises which do not involve physical touch).
As humans, the way we relate is a definitive part of our species: the need to belong. Cat’s therapeutic approach allows clients to feel seen and heard; maybe for the first time in their life. She uses her personality and warmth to create a safe, authentic connection that cannot be manufactured and is entirely necessary for therapy to take place.
Cat’s email: catherinejvanmaanen@gmail.com
Cat’s website: cvmtherapy.com
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