Explore Our Support Groups

 

AllPaths Peer Support Groups are

  • free, virtual, and open to anyone who is struggling to build their family.
  • confidential spaces for open discussion with others who understand fertility and family building challenges.
  • drop-in sessions, so no long-term commitment is required.
  • for those who are newly diagnosed, have been in the trenches for years or anywhere in between.
  • led by trained volunteers, not mental health professionals.

Building a family can be a complicated, messy, lonely, and sometimes heartbreaking process, but you don’t have to navigate this challenging journey alone.

Step 1: Browse our full selection of peer-led support groups.

Step 3: Join our virtual meetings from the comfort of wherever you are!

AllPaths groups are peer-led and are not meant to be a replacement for professional mental health support.

If you are interested in connecting with a mental health professional who has experience with fertility and family building challenges, please visit our Directory.

Here are resources if you are in need of immediate crisis support. 

Peer Support Groups

(in alphabetical order)

Please note, we do not allow group observation by students or professionals. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

 

Seeking Calm: A Meditation for Election Day

This support space is for anyone who is looking to release tension and find calm amidst the emotional landscape of Election Day. Whether you’re feeling anxious, hopeful, or anything in between, this transformative hour is dedicated to cultivating peace and tranquility within your body and mind.

During our time together, we will explore:
Guided Meditations: Immerse yourself in calming visualizations to center your thoughts.
Gentle Breathwork: Learn techniques to deepen your breath and enhance relaxation.
Our goal is to not only bring you peace today, but also equip you with tools to navigate the days ahead with greater ease and calm.

Led by Carissa Spada, LMT, RYT, a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher, Licensed Massage Therapist, Mindfulness Coach and AllPaths peer support group leader, this free, virtual event is open to all members of our community.

Tuesday, Nov. 5 12-1p EST  |  Open to the entire AllPaths Community

Register Now

Adoption Group

This group is open to anyone considering adoption or in the process of building their family through adoption.  

This group typically meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7p EST.

Register Now

Building Military Families Group

This group is for those currently serving or veterans who are trying to grow their families.

Offered in partnership between Building Military Families Network and AllPaths Family Building, it is open both to people are not yet parenting or to those who are struggling to add another child to their family.

This group typically meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:30p EST.

Register Now

Cancer and Fertility Group

This group is open to anyone impacted by cancer and fertility, whether you are newly diagnosed with cancer, learning about your fertility preservation options (or lack thereof), or for those struggling with infertility after cancer.

This group meets every other month on the 4th Monday at 7:30p EST (2024: Feb/Apr/June/Aug/Oct/Dec).

Register Now

Childless After Fertility and Family Building Challenges Group

This group is open to anyone contemplating the decision to stop trying to conceive/fertility treatment and who are not necessarily considering family building through adoption, donor and/or surrogacy. This group will be led by a childless after fertility and family building challenges peer facilitator.

This group typically meets monthly on the 3rd Monday at 7p EST.

Register Now

Donor Conception Group

Our Donor Conception Peer Group is for people who are looking for an open discussion of the issues, decisions, and emotions surrounding this family building option.

The first session of the month is geared towards those who are considering donor egg, donor sperm, or donor embryo as a way to build their family and those who have begun the donor conception process, but are not yet pregnant/parenting.

The second session of the month is focused on those who are cycling, pregnant, or parenting. 

Typical Monthly Schedule
Session 1: 1st Tuesday or 1st Thursday of the month at 7p EST
Session 2: 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7p EST

Register Now

Expecting After Infertility and/or Loss Group

This group is focused on the range of emotions, from apprehension to joy, that can arise when expecting after experiencing infertility and/or loss. This group is open to pregnant people, and those who are dealing with waiting for birth through adoption or surrogacy.

This group meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 7:30p EST.

Register Now

Fertility and Family Building Group for Men

This group is open to any person who identifies as male that is struggling to become a parent, including but not limited to those with a male infertility diagnosis.

This group typically meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7p EST.

Register Now

IVF Group

This group is open to anyone who is doing IVF for any reason (infertility, genetic testing purposes, reciprocal IVF, fertility preservation, etc.) and is not yet parenting.

This group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 7p EST.

Register Now

LGBTQ+ TTC/Fertility Group

This group is open to anyone under the LGBTQ+ rainbow who are trying to grow their families. It is a partnership between Family Equality, LGBTQ+ Perinatal Wellness Center and AllPaths Family Building. Registration is required via this link.

This group typically meets on alternating Wednesdays.

 

 

Mindfulness during Family Building

This 60-minute mindfulness exploration is for anyone navigating a family building journey who would like to learn skills and strategies that will be supportive for the stressors they may encounter. Practices may include guided meditation, affirmations, visualizations, or gentle movement. Participants are encouraged to have a journal or something similar for writing. 

This group typically meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 6:30-7:30p EST.

Carissa Spada, LMT has been serving others through the wellness field for over 20 years. She is a massage therapist, yoga and mindfulness meditation coach specializing in fertility. Having experienced her own personal fertility challenges, and ultimately IVF, she can relate and understand how trying this journey can be. Carissa supports all of her clients in reducing stress and achieving optimal health as they more deeply relate to their own inner wisdom. 

Register Now

One and No Longer Trying for Another Group

This peer group provides support to those who are contemplating the decision, or have made the decision, to stop trying for a sibling and are finding peace with having one child.

This group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7p EST.

Register Now

Parenting After Group

This group is open to those parenting after infertility, loss, and family building struggles from birth through the first year postpartum/post-adoption to connect with others in similar situations. All are welcome, regardless of path to parenthood!

This group typically meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at 7:30p EST.

Register Now

Parenting Newborns After Family Building Challenges

This group is open to anyone who has welcomed a little one (or multiple little ones), into their lives, from any path to parenthood. The transition from struggling to grow your family to life with newborns (aged birth to four months) can be challenging. This group will provide targeted support, as well as connection to resources around infant care/development (feeding, sleep, etc.) and parental well-being as you embark on the next phase of your journey. 

This group typically meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month from 12-1p EST.

Emily Lindblad is a Birth, Postpartum and Bereavement Doula, Certified Breastfeeding Educator, Infant Massage Instructor and Pediatric Sleep Consultant who has worked with a variety of perinatal populations as a family support specialist and educator. She is the Operations Manager of AllPaths Family Building. Emily’s own experiences with infertility, pregnancy loss, a high-risk pregnancy and subsequent NICU stay, and perinatal mental health and anxiety disorders underscores her passion for supporting people during challenging periods in their family’s evolution.

Register Now

Pregnancy Loss Group

This group is open to people parenting or not yet parenting. It offers support to those who have experienced miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, chemical pregnancy, TFMR, and/or recurrent pregnancy loss.

This group typically meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:30p EST.

Register Now

Primary Infertility Group

This group is focused on those navigating an infertility diagnosis and potential treatment options who are not yet parenting.

It meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:30p EST and the 4th Thursday of the month at 7p EST.

Register Now

Primary Pregnancy Loss Group

This group is open to anyone who has experienced pregnancy loss(es) and is not yet parenting. It offers support to those who have experienced miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, chemical pregnancy, TFMR, and/or recurrent pregnancy loss.

This group typically meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 7:30p EST.

Register Now

Surrogacy Group

This group is open to all at any stage of building a family through the gestational carrier/surrogacy process, from decision-making to parenting.

This group typically meets on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:30p EST.

Register Now

Trying for Another Group

This peer group provides support to those facing the unique challenges and frustrations of struggling to add another child to their family, including those navigating a secondary infertility diagnosis.

This group typically meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month at 7p EST.

Register Now

Trying To Conceive Group

This group is for anyone not yet parenting who is struggling to conceive and not pursuing fertility treatment at this time.

This group typically meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:30p EST.

Register Now

Not sure what group(s) would be the best fit for you at this point in your family building journey?
Get in touch at admin@allpathsfb.org!

The unbiased care, empathy and support from everyone is incredible. The most encouraging group of [people] I’ve ever met.