Northern California Support Groups

There are two different types of support groups in Northern California -- 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.

East Bay/Trivalley General Infertility Support Group
Meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month
Location: East Bay/Trivalley, CA
Please contact Alison at trivalleyresolvegroup@gmail.com before attending your first meeting.

North Bay/Marin CA. General Infertility Peer-led Support Group
Meets on the second Thursday of each month from 7:00PM to 8:30PM
San Rafael, CA
Please contact Christina Forte at cforte15@gmail.com before attending your first meeting.

Monterey Peninsula General Infertility Support Group
Meeting days and times vary.
Host: Wendy
Please contact Wendy at montereywendy@gmail.com before attending your first meeting.

Placer County General Infertility Support Group
Hosts: Marilyn Griffin and Crystal Karakas
Meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month from 6:30PM - 8:00PM
Please contact Marilyn Griffin or Crystal Karakas before attending your first meeting to get location information. Contact: https://www.bigtent.com/groups/ifsupport

Sacramento General Infertility Support Group
Meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 6:30PM-8:00PM
Please contact Jannory before attending your first meeting to get location information. Contact: https://www.bigtent.com/groups/ifsupport

Sacramento Pregnancy after Infertility Support Group
Please go to: https://www.bigtent.com/groups/ifsupport for more information, meeting time and location.

Sacramento Pregnancy and Parenting after Infertility Support Group
Please go to: https://www.bigtent.com/groups/ifsupport for more information, meeting time and location.

South Bay General Infertility Support Group
Meets the first and third Sundays of the month at 7:00PM
390 Cambridge Avenue, Palo Alto (near California Avenue)
For more information, please contact Linda Pino at linda.resolve@gmail.com

 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.

Napa Valley
Women’s General Infertility Support Group
Meets on Wednesdays from 7:00PM – 8:30PM
Led by Fenella Das Gupta, PhD, LMFT at 415.717.3216 or fenella@comcast.net
This group is designed to provide support for women who are navigating the journey through infertility and meets at the Napa Valley Fertility Center, Trancas Street, Napa, CA 94558.
Cost: $40 per session. 4 week initial commitment

Novato, CA
Women’s IVF Cycling Support Group
Meets on Tuesdays from 6:30PM – 8:00PM
Led by Fenella Das Gupta, PhD, LMFT at 415.717.3216 or fenella@comcast.net/
This group is designed to meet the unique needs of women who are currently cycling.
Cost: $40 per session. 4 week initial commitment.

Encinitas, CA
General Infertility Support Group
Meets every other Tuesday from 6:30PM to 8:00PM
Led by Amoreena Berg, MFT at amoreena@gmail.com or 510.444.2772
A welcoming, diverse group for anyone experiencing infertility problems. Join us to learn mind-body based practices and techniques to ease the stress of infertility. We discuss treatment and family building options, encourage questions and conversation, and provide support and understanding in challenging times.
4 Session Commitment--Cost: $40 per individual RSVP Required

Orinda, CA
Women’s General Infertility Support Group
Meets every other Monday from 6:30PM to 8:00PM
Led by Amoreena Berg, MFT at 650.224.1796 or amoreena@gmail.com.
This group will help you feel less isolated, empower you with knowledge and validate your emotional response to the life crises of infertility. You are not alone! The goal of this group is to support you through this journey and give you mindfulness tools to help cope with the ups and downs.
Cost: $40 per session, 4 sessions paid upfront

Orinda, CA
Women’s Mind/Body Infertility Support Group
Meets every other Tuesday from 6:30PM to 8:00PM
Led by Amoreena Berg, MFT at 650.224.1796 or amoreena@gmail.com
The mind/body infertility support group consists of 4 sessions bi-weekly with the option to continue longer. The group will provide patients with tools to get the stress of infertility under control. We will discuss treatment and family building options, encourage questions and conversation, and provide support and understanding in challenging times.
Cost: $40 per session, 4 sessions paid upfront

Petaluma, CA
Women’s General Infertility Support Group
Meets Mondays from 8:00PM to 9:30PM.
Led by Fenella Das Gupta, PhD, LMFT at 415.717.3216 or fenella@comcast.net/
This group is designed to provide support for women who are navigating the journey through infertility, and is held at 7 Fourth Street, Suite 56, Petaluma, CA.
Cost: $40 per session. 4 week initial commitment.

San Francisco, CA
Secondary Infertility Support Group
Meets: Tuesdays from 10:30AM - Noon  at 1197 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Led by Beth Jaeger-Skigen, LCSW at 415.317.4893, beth@therapistsf.org or visit www.therapistsf.org.
Members of this infertility support group come together to share feelings, and creative ways to cope with the challenges of secondary infertility. Members help one another work through feelings of anger and depression, as well as support each other through successes.  All aspects of secondary infertility will be covered including recurrent miscarriage, third party reproduction, IVF, when to stop treatment, and adoption. The group welcomes lesbian, married, partnered, and single women.
6 session commitment required with the option of continuing.
Fee: $360 RSVP and an initial consultation is required.

San Francisco, CA
General Infertility Support Group
Meets: Thursdays from 6:00PM - 8:30PM  at 1197 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Led by Beth Jaeger-Skigen, LCSW at 415.317.4893, beth@therapistsf.org or visit www.therapistsf.org.
Members of this infertility support group come together to share feelings, and creative ways to cope with the challenges of infertility. Members help one another work through feelings of anger and depression, as well as support each other through successes.  All aspects of infertility will be covered including recurrent miscarriage, third party reproduction, IVF, when to stop treatment, and adoption. The group welcomes lesbian, married, partnered, and single women. 6 session commitment required with the option of continuing.
Fee: $360 for the 6 weeks of group. There is a 6 week minimum.

San Francisco, CA
Women’s Ovum Donation Support Group
Meets on Tuesdays from 7:00PM – 8:30PM at 1197 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Led by Led by Beth Jaeger-Skigen, LCSW at 415.317.4893, beth@therapistsf.org or visit www.therapistsf.org.
Topics include: choosing a donor; deciding if 3rd part reproduction is right for you; how to talk to your child and others about your child's unique beginnings; common experiences of the egg donation process; having a genetic connection with one parent and not the other; coping with feelings of grief about your infertility as well as the impact of past experiences of failed treatment and/or pregnancy loss(es) *This group is for women who wish to explore their thoughts and feelings with others in a healing environment.
6 session commitment is required with the option of continuing.
Fee:  Initial Interview and $360. RSVP is required.

San Rafael, CA
Women’s Donor Egg Recipient Support Group
Meets Thursdays from 6:00PM to 7:30PM
Led by Fenella Das Gupta, PhD, LMFT at 415.717.3216 or fenella@comcast.net/
This group is designed to address the unique challenges, thoughts and feelings experienced by women who choose to build their families through egg donor.
Cost: $40 per session. 4 week initial commitment.

Attention Media: 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.