New York Support Groups

There are two different types of support groups in New York -- Peer-led Support Groups and Professionally-led Support Groups.

 Peer-led Support Groups

RESOLVE Peer-led Support Groups are informal opportunities for women and men experiencing infertility to connect with one another, to discuss their situations and to receive support from others who have had similar experiences or who are struggling with similar issues. Group moderators are volunteers and are not mental health professionals. Attendance is free. Please contact the group host before attending your first meeting.

Don’t see a support group in your area? Want to start a new group? The first step in the process is to attend a free one-hour TeleSeminar entitled “How to Start a Peer-Led Support Group”. After you attend that training you will be given instructions on next steps in the process. We hope to make this process as simple and straightforward for you as possible, while also ensuring that our hosts have been adequately prepared for their role as group leader.

Brooklyn Heights/Brooklyn General Infertility Support Group
Meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30PM
Please contact the host at resolvebrooklyn@gmail.com before attending your first meeting.

Little Neck General Infertility Support Group
Meets on the third Monday of every month at 7:15PM
Location: Panera Bread, 25441 Horace Harding EXPY, Little Neck, NY 11362
Please contact Melody Pourmoradi at mgpourmoradi@gmail.com before attending your first meeting.

New York City Adoption Support Group
Meets on the First Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM
Starbucks, 1559 2nd Avenue (at East 81st)
For more information, please contact Julie O'Connor at 646.320.3738 or julieo646@aol.com

Upper West Side New York City General Infertility Support Group
Meets bimonthly on Wednesday evenings
Upper West Side, NYC
For more informaton, please contact Alisyn or Jen at jensoch@gmail.com.

Upper East Side General Infertility Support Group
Meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM
Location: Cafe Nosh, 1509 2nd Avenue (between 78th and 79th street, Upper East Side)
Please contact Samantha at samanthathaywood@yahoo.com before attending your first meeting.

Mineola General Infertility Support Group
Meets on the third Friday of each month from 6:30PM to 9:00PM
Location: Panera Bread, 520 Jericho Turnpike, Mineola, NY
Host: Alison Ciaccio
Please contact Alison Ciacco at alisonciaccio@gmail.com before attending your first meeting.

Suffolk County/Long Island Adoption Peer-led Support Group
Meets on the first Monday of each month at 7:30PM
Host: Chemene
Please contact Chemene at Cvizzi9@gmail.com before attending your first meeting.

 Professionally-Led Support Groups

Professionally-led Support Groups are more structured than peer groups and form at various times throughout the year. They are led by trained and licensed therapists who are professional members of RESOLVE and specialize in assisting individuals and couples with the special challenges presented by the struggle of Infertility. Participation in professionally-led groups involves fees set by the individual therapist and a commitment to a specific number of sessions.

New York City
Women over 40: General Infertility Support Group
Meets every other Monday from 6:30PM to 8:00PM
Led by Ellen Shapiro, LCSW, 212.580.4412, esp607@aol.com
This is a group which will focus on the special challenges of trying to get pregnant in one's forties.  The group will discuss coping skills for dealing with the emotional roller coaster of infertility.  It will help women confront possibility of not having a genetic child and alternative ways of having a family, i.e. donor gametes or adoption.  The group provides a safe space for dealing with the sometimes overwhelming feelings of going through this crisis.
Fee: Initial interview - $75 and $45 per session.  6 session commitment required.
Location: 150 West 95th Street Suite 1A, New York, NY 10025

New York City – Manhattan
Moving from Infertility to Adoption Support Group
Meets Tuesdays from 7:00PM to 8:30PM
Led by Phyllis Lowinger, LCSW, 212.666.3400
How do you know when you are ready to adopt? What if the individuals in the relationship are in different places? These and other important issues will be explored in this group. The group also offers the opportunity for an individual to feel less isolated with this major life crisis.
Fee:  $45 per group session – 4 session commitment.  RSVP Required.
Location: 168 West 86th Street, Suite 1B, New York, NY 10024

New York City – Manhattan
Couples General Infertility Support Group
Meets Mondays from 7:00PM to 8:30PM
Led by Phyllis Lowinger, LCSW, 212.666.3400
This group is provides a safe, non-judgmental environment in which couples can share their thoughts, feelings, joys and disappointments as they face the challenges posed by the infertility journey.
Fee:  $45 per group session – 4 session commitment.  RSVP Required.
Location: 168 West 86th Street, Suite 1B, New York, NY 10024

Women’s Parenting Through Egg Donation Support Group
Meets 2nd and 4th Wednesday evenings of the month from 7:00PM to 8:30PM
Led by Anne Malave, PhD., 212.787.1304
For those considering building their family through egg donation or those who are already in the process of pursuing egg donation.  Topics include: choosing a donor; how to talk about egg donation with the child and others; common experiences of the egg donation process; having a genetic connection with one parent and not the other; and past experiences in failed fertility treatments and their impact.
Fee:  $60 per group session - 4 session commitment.  RSVP Required.
Location: Location: 330 West 58th Street, Suite 406, New York, NY 10019

New York City – Manhattan (Midtown North /Columbus Circle)
Women’s Parenting After Egg Donation Support Group
Meets Wednesdays from 7:00PM to 8:30PM
Led by Anne Malave, PhD., 212.787.1304
For those women who have built their families through becoming the recipients of egg donation, in order to provide a safe, private environment in which to receive support, make connections and grow community, and discuss important and relevant topics (like “disclosure”), current research findings, and other useful information.
Fee:  $60 per group session – 4 session commitment.  RSVP Required.
Location: Location: 330 West 58th Street, Suite 406, New York, NY 10019

New York City – Manhattan (Midtown North/Columbus Circle)
Women's General Infertility Group
Meets 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 7:00PM to 8:30PM
Led by Anne Malave, PhD., 212.787.1304
Do you feel out of control?  Is your life on hold? Do you find yourself withdrawing from friends, family, and familiar places and activities?  Consider experiencing the safety of a professionally-led infertility support group where you can find understanding and support, and develop strategies for managing difficult feelings, decision-making, and reclaiming your life. You are not alone!
Fee:  $60 per group session – 4 session commitment.  RSVP Required.
Location: 330 West 58th Street, Suite 406, New York, NY 10019

Croton-on- Hudson
General Infertility Support Group for Women
Meets on Wednesdays
Led by Alexa Oth, LMSW, RYT, 917.612.6760, alexaoth@gmail.com, http://www.mindbodyhealthinfo.com
Topics will be addressed will be as needed including: feelings surrounding diagnosis, treatment options, early pregnancy loss, discussing infertility with friends and family, being pro-active about treatment and maintaining closeness with partner through infertility.
Fees: Initial interview is $60, which will be applied to final cost of group. Cost will depend on size of group. Commitment will be for 10 weeks.  RSVP and initial interview is required to participate.

Westchester County
Family Building via Egg/Sperm Donation
Meets on Wednesdays at 7:30PM
Led by Laura Landau, LCSW, CASAC at lauralandaulcsw@aol.com or 914.833.9473 or 917.435.0909.
This group is for men, women and couples who have suffered infertility and/or pregnancy losses and who wish to explore their thoughts and feelings with others in a healing environment. Topics discussed include complicated and often unresolved grief, exploring the decision making process, using a known vs. unknown donor, confidentiality, to disclose or not to disclose to family, friends and the resulting child/children.
Fees: Initial consultation - $60.00; 8-week group: $280.  An initial consultation is required prior to joining the group.
Location:  93 West Hickory Grove Dr., Larchmont, New York, 10538

If you would like to talk to RESOLVE support members or leaders, please contact Andy Schwarz, Media Relations, at 703.556.7172 or aschwarz@resolve.org.