Gestational Surrogacy Support Group for Intended Mothers
A psychologist-led virtual process group for women navigating the emotional realities of building a family with a gestational carrier.
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Connect with other intended mothers in a supportive space where you can process infertility, grief, identity, relationships, uncertainty, and the transitions that can accompany the surrogacy journey.
Emotional Support During the Gestational Surrogacy Journey
Choosing gestational surrogacy can represent an exciting new path toward parenthood. It can also bring emotions that are difficult to anticipate or explain.
The medical, legal, and logistical steps of surrogacy are often clearly defined. The internal experience may receive far less attention. Intended mothers may find themselves navigating hope, grief, uncertainty, infertility-related trauma, changing expectations, and questions about attachment or maternal identity.
The Gestational Surrogacy Clinical Support and Process Group at Ebb & Flow Psychological Associates provides a professionally facilitated space to explore these experiences with women traveling a similar path.
Led by reproductive psychologist Dr. Rachel Brookland, this virtual support group is designed to help intended mothers feel understood, emotionally supported, and less alone throughout the gestational surrogacy process.
Who Is This Surrogacy Support Group For?
This group is designed for women who are considering or pursuing parenthood through gestational surrogacy.
It may be a good fit for intended mothers who are:
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Deciding whether gestational surrogacy is the right path
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Preparing to work with a gestational carrier
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Navigating the matching process
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Currently working with a gestational carrier
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Processing infertility, pregnancy loss, or medical trauma
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Seeking connection with other intended mothers
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Looking for support from a reproductive mental health professional
You do not need to be at a particular stage of the surrogacy journey or have everything figured out before joining.
What Is a Psychologist-Led Surrogacy Process Group?
A process group is different from a class, webinar, or educational seminar.
Rather than following a fixed curriculum, each session is shaped by the current experiences and emotional needs of the members attending. Participants are invited to talk about what is happening in their lives and receive support, perspective, and professional guidance in real time.
You may choose to share openly, listen to others, or participate at the level that feels appropriate for you.
The goal is not to tell you how you should feel about surrogacy. It is to provide a compassionate space where the full complexity of your experience can be acknowledged.
Common Emotional Themes in Gestational Surrogacy
Because this is a flexible process group, conversations will respond to what members bring into each session. Common areas of discussion may include:
Hope, Grief, and Changing Expectations
Holding hope for a new path toward parenthood while grieving the pregnancy or family-building experience that you once imagined.
The Intended Parent and GC Relationship
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Navigating communication, emotional boundaries, expectations, closeness, distance, and concerns about being too involved or not involved enough.
The Lasting Impact of Infertility
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Understanding how fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, medical trauma, or past disappointments may continue to influence the surrogacy experience.
Attachment During a Surrogate Pregnancy
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Processing bonding, uncertainty, milestones, and the emotional experience of preparing for a baby that is being carried by someone else.
Maternal Identity and Psychological Ownership
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Exploring fears about whether or not carrying the pregnancy will affect your identity, legitimacy, attachment, or experience of becoming a mother.
Real-Time Surrogacy Stressors
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Support around medical updates, setbacks, social disclosures, family reactions, legal milestones, relationship concerns, and difficult decisions.
What to Expect from the Virtual Support Group
This is a peer-based, psychologist-facilitated group designed to provide emotional support throughout the gestational surrogacy journey.
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A compassionate and respectful virtual environment
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Discussion guided by members’ real-life experiences
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Support from other intended mothers
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Facilitation by a reproductive psychologist
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Space to process both difficult and positive emotions
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Flexible attendance based on personal needs and availability
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A brief screening before joining the group
Virtual Gestational Surrogacy Support Group Details
Schedule
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Biweekly on Wednesdays.
Contact Ebb & Flow for upcoming dates and session times.
Session Format
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Virtual group sessions.
Flexible attendance based on your needs.
Cost Per Session
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$50 per session.
Facilitator
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Dr. Rachel Brookland, PsyD
Reproductive psychologist.
Participation Requirements
All prospective members complete a brief initial screening to help determine whether the group is clinically appropriate and aligned with their current support needs.
Because this is a clinical group, eligibility may depend on the participant’s location and the facilitator’s applicable licensing permissions.
Meet the Reproductive Psychologist Facilitating the Group
Dr. Rachel Brookland
Dr. Rachel Brookland is a reproductive psychologist with experience supporting individuals and families navigating infertility, third-party reproduction, pregnancy, and the emotional transitions involved in becoming a parent.
She created this virtual process group to give intended mothers a dedicated space to explore the psychological experience of gestational surrogacy. Her approach is compassionate, collaborative, and attentive to the complex emotions that may emerge before, during, and after the surrogacy process.
How to Join the Gestational Surrogacy Support Group
Submit an Inquiry
Reach out to Dr. Rachel Brookland via email at drbrookland@yourebbflow.com or the contact us page and provide a little information about where you are in the gestational surrogacy process.
Complete an Initial Screening
Dr. Brookland will connect with you for a short screening conversation. This provides an opportunity to discuss the group format, ask questions, and determine whether the group is a supportive clinical fit.
Receive the Group Information
Eligible participants will receive details about upcoming sessions, virtual access, payment, and participation expectations.
Find Support Along Your Path to Parenthood
Gestational surrogacy can bring hope and possibility while also creating emotional experiences that others may not fully understand.
You deserve a space where you can speak honestly about the process, connect with other intended mothers, and receive support from a reproductive mental health professional.
Contact Dr. Rachel Brookland at drbrookland@yourebbflow.com. All prospective participants complete a brief screening before joining.