Third-Party Reproductive Psychological Evaluations
Dr. Jen Viscusi is a licensed clinical psychologist providing third-party reproductive psychological evaluations and consultations for gestational carriers/surrogates, egg donors, sperm donors, embryo donors, intended parents, and known-donor or known-carrier arrangements.
Services are available in New York, New Jersey, and Florida, with secure telehealth provided where appropriate. My work is informed by current American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidance and tailored to the requirements of the individual, fertility clinic, or agency.
Specialized Psychological Evaluation for Third-Party Reproduction
Third-party reproduction involves psychological, relational, ethical, and practical considerations that are different from those encountered in routine therapy or general psychological assessment.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized experience in reproductive psychology, including infertility, pregnancy loss, reproductive decision-making, and third-party family building. I provide psychological evaluations and psychoeducational consultations for individuals and couples participating in gestational surrogacy, gamete donation, embryo donation, and known arrangements.
Each evaluation is tailored to the individual’s role, the structure of the arrangement, and the requirements of the referring fertility clinic or agency. My work is informed by current ASRM guidance where applicable and is designed to provide a thoughtful, clinically rigorous assessment while recognizing the personal and emotional complexity of third-party reproduction.
Psychological Evaluations for Gestational Carriers, Donors, and Intended Parents
I provide third-party reproductive psychological services for:
Gestational carriers / surrogates
Psychological evaluation and consultation addressing psychological history, motivations, expectations, coping, support, relationships, communication, and readiness for the proposed arrangement.
Egg donors
Evaluation and psychoeducation addressing motivation, psychological history, expectations, informed decision-making, disclosure, future contact, and the potential long-term implications of donation.
Sperm donors
Psychological evaluation and consultation for directed or other donor arrangements when screening, assessment, or psychoeducation is requested or required.
Embryo donors
Consultation and evaluation addressing the psychological, relational, family-building, disclosure, and future-contact considerations associated with embryo donation.
Intended parents
Psychoeducational consultation and psychological evaluation when requested or appropriate as part of a gestational-carrier, donor-gamete, or embryo-donation arrangement.
Known-donor and known-carrier arrangements
Specialized assessment and consultation addressing expectations, boundaries, communication, family relationships, disclosure, support, and the potential impact of an existing relationship between participants.
Requirements vary depending on the type of arrangement, fertility clinic, agency, and individuals involved. If you are unsure what type of psychological service has been requested, I can review the referral requirements with you before scheduling.
What a Third-Party Reproductive Psychological Evaluation May Include
The specific components of an evaluation depend on the participant’s role and the requirements of the referring clinic or agency.
An evaluation may include:
A comprehensive clinical interview
Relevant psychosocial, mental health, reproductive, and family history
PHQ-9 screening for depressive symptoms
GAD-7 screening for anxiety symptoms
Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) when clinically indicated or required
Discussion of motivations and expectations for the arrangement
Assessment of coping resources and available support
Exploration of communication, boundaries, relationships, and anticipated challenges
Discussion of disclosure and future family considerations when relevant
Assessment of psychological readiness and informed decision-making
A written psychological report or consultation letter when required by the fertility clinic or agency
Not every component is necessary for every participant or arrangement. The evaluation is structured around the specific referral question rather than applying an identical process to every case.
The Evaluation Process
Consultation
We begin by clarifying your role in the arrangement, the requirements of your fertility clinic or agency, and any documentation or psychological testing that has been requested.
Evaluation, Interview, and Measures
The evaluation includes the clinical interview or interviews appropriate to your arrangement, along with any psychological measures required for your specific evaluation.
Sessions are conducted through secure telehealth when appropriate.
Report and Next Steps
When a written report or consultation letter is required, it is prepared after all required interviews and assessment measures have been completed.
Reports are typically completed within 7–14 business days following completion of all required evaluation components.
ASRM-Informed Reproductive Psychology
Third-party reproduction requires attention to more than current psychological symptoms. Depending on the arrangement, the psychological process may address informed decision-making, motivations, expectations, relationships, family systems, disclosure, support, autonomy, coping, communication, and the potential long-term implications of third-party family building.
My evaluations and consultations are informed by current American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidance applicable to gestational carriers, gamete and embryo donation, and intended-parent consultation.
I am also a member of ASRM’s Mental Health Professional Group (MHPG) and remain engaged with evolving professional guidance and best practices related to the psychological aspects of reproductive medicine.
The goal is a process that is clinically rigorous and responsive to the requirements of the fertility program while remaining thoughtful and respectful of the individuals and families involved.
For Fertility Clinics, Agencies, and Legal Professionals
I welcome referrals from fertility clinics, reproductive endocrinologists, surrogacy and donor agencies, and legal professionals seeking a psychologist experienced in third-party reproductive evaluations.
I can coordinate directly regarding:
The type of evaluation or consultation required
Documentation expectations
Psychological testing requirements
Anticipated timelines
Report format and delivery
Communication and referral procedures
Reports are designed to be clear, clinically useful, and responsive to the referral question.
Frequently Asked
Questions
-
A third-party reproduction psychological evaluation is a specialized assessment or consultation for individuals participating in reproductive arrangements involving a gestational carrier, egg donor, sperm donor, embryo donor, or other third party.
The purpose and components of the process vary according to the participant’s role and the requirements of the fertility clinic or agency. Evaluations may address psychological history, motivations, expectations, coping, support, relationships, communication, informed decision-making, and readiness for the proposed arrangement.
-
Requirements vary by fertility program and by the type of third-party reproductive arrangement.
Prospective gestational carriers typically complete a psychological evaluation and counseling as part of the screening process. Donor arrangements may involve psychological evaluation, screening, or psychoeducational consultation. Intended parents may participate in a separate psychoeducational consultation, particularly when using a gestational carrier, donor gametes, or donated embryos.
Your fertility clinic or agency can usually tell you which services are required for your specific arrangement.
-
Yes. I provide psychological evaluations for prospective gestational carriers, including assessment of psychological history, motivations, expectations, support, coping, relationships, and other factors relevant to the proposed arrangement.
Depending on the circumstances and referral requirements, the carrier’s partner or primary support person may also participate in the process.
-
Yes. I provide intended-parent psychoeducational consultations and psychological evaluations when requested or appropriate for gestational-carrier, donor-gamete, embryo-donation, and known arrangements.
The process for intended parents is different from the psychological screening of a prospective carrier or donor and is tailored to the type of family-building arrangement involved.
-
Yes. My third-party reproductive evaluations and consultations are informed by current American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidance where applicable.
The specific process is also tailored to the requirements of the referring fertility clinic or agency and to the type of reproductive arrangement being considered.
-
I am licensed as a psychologist in New York, New Jersey, and Florida and provide third-party reproductive psychological services to individuals located in those states.
Secure telehealth is available where clinically and legally appropriate.
-
Many fertility clinics and agencies request a written psychological report, consultation letter, or other documentation following the evaluation.
Requirements vary by program, so I review the referring clinic or agency’s documentation expectations before the evaluation whenever possible.
-
Testing depends on the type of evaluation, the clinical circumstances, and the requirements of the fertility clinic or agency.
Measures may include the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) when clinically indicated or required. Psychological testing is considered together with the clinical interview and other relevant information rather than interpreted in isolation.
Request a Third-Party Reproductive Evaluation
If you are seeking an evaluation or consultation for yourself, a gestational carrier, a donor, intended parents, or a known arrangement, you are welcome to contact me to discuss the referral requirements and next steps.
Fertility clinics, agencies, and legal professionals interested in establishing a referral relationship may also schedule a brief professional consultation.