Our Professional Team
Dara Roth Edney
(she/her)
Dara Roth Edney (BSW, MSW, RSW) is the founder and Clinical Director of Informed Fertility. As a Reproductive Counsellor, registered social worker and psychotherapist, she has built a full-time group practice dedicated to supporting people as they go through some of the hardest times of their lives and assisting those who require outside intervention in what for others, is a private and intimate experience.
Dara has been practicing since 2000, and is committed to providing services that are inclusive, empathetic, personalized and helpful, informed by her educational background and years of clinical and research experience, and inspired by her own long journey with infertility, IVF, loss, and ultimately, surrogacy. Personally, Dara experienced years of infertility herself, and eventually, after countless tests and surgeries, numerous unsuccessful intrauterine inseminations (IUIs) and multiple failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, turned to gestational surrogacy. Today, she and her partner are grateful to have two daughters, each carried by a different and wonderful gestational surrogate.
Professionally, Dara’s works closely with individuals and couples, guiding people through the family building process as well as life after infertility. She provides reproductive counselling, psycho-educational and decision-making coaching, and overall mental health supports, in particular around grief, loss, bereavement, trauma, interpersonal relationships, anxiety reduction techniques, and the complexities of identity and family building through donation and surrogacy. As part of this work, she also offers support to donor conceived adults grappling with new aspects of their identity and the complexities of changing family dynamics.
In her daily practice, Dara draws from numerous therapeutic models, including: Emotion-Focused, Solution-Focused/Oriented Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour and Narrative Therapy, and Structural and Systems Therapy. When appropriate, she also incorporates Positive Psychology, Coaching and Mindfulness methodologies. She is registered to practice in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan, and supports clients across Canada and internationally when traveling to Ontario for treatment. She also collaborates with clinics and affiliated professionals throughout North America to ensure the highest quality care when going through treatment.
In addition to counselling and coaching supports, required assessments for donation and surrogacy, as well as group and peer support facilitation, Dara works closely with professional and community organizations and is a regularly invited speaker at conferences, workshops, webinars/live stream talks, community organizations, university campuses and fertility clinics. She is an instructor in Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Social Work Professional Development Program, teaching their first course on fertility and assisted human reproduction. She is actively involved in government consultations, beginning in 2002, when she delivered an invited presentation to the Canadian Legislature House of Commons, Standing Committee on Health, in regard to Bill C-13 (legislation that led to the Assisted Human Reproductive Act), to more recently when she was an invited witness at the Ontario Legislature, presenting before the Standing Committee on Social Policy regarding Bill 28 (the All Families are Equal Act). In the years between and on an ongoing basis, Dara is involved in numerous other government consultations, as well as industry research.
Dara holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from the University of Toronto and Bachelors’ Degrees from York University (BSW) and McGill University (BA). She is a member of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS), is Past Chair of the Counselling Special Interest Group (CSIG) of the CFAS and current Chair of Donor Conception Canada. She is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and ASRM’s Mental Health Practitioner’s Group (MHPG) and a professional member of Fertility Matters, Canada’s patient support and advocacy group. She is a Registered Social Worker in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan (RSW/IJE), as well as a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).
Dara feels very fortunate that her professional training, long personal experience with infertility and her family’s journey through surrogacy (twice!) combine to provide a unique and empathetic perspective for Informed Fertility’s clients. Her ability to respond to the particular needs of intended parents, donors, surrogates and donor conceived adults allows her to provide support and guidance that gets to the heart of the matter, with compassion, respect and pragmatism.
Blair Wexler-Singer
(she/her)
Blair is passionate about supporting individuals, couples, and groups as they navigate family building through collaborative and assisted fertility options. She offers sensitive education and thoughtful guidance through every stage, from pre-conception and pregnancy to post-birth, and also supports those exploring adoption or considering a life without children.
She earned her Master of Social Work from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Dalhousie University. Her therapeutic approach is strengths-based, mindful, and solution-focused. Blair is a registered member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, the Alberta College of Social Workers, and the British Columbia College of Social Workers. She is also an active member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers and the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS), where she currently serves as Chair of the Counselling Special Interest Group (CSIG). Additionally, she is a professional member of Fertility Matters Canada, the national advocacy organization for fertility patients.
Prior to her work in fertility counselling, Blair spent over a decade as the Foster Care Coordinator at Jewish Family & Child Service (JF&CS), where she provided mentorship and support to foster and adoptive families. She developed and facilitated psycho-educational training workshops and conducted mandatory assessments for prospective foster, kinship, and adoptive caregivers.
Her professional focus deepened after her own personal experience as a gestational carrier for close friends. That journey profoundly shaped her path, leading to extensive training in Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) and ultimately a full-time transition into reproductive counselling, joining Informed Fertility in 2022.
Today, Blair provides compassionate counselling and assessments for third-party reproduction (donor and surrogate arrangements), pre-IVF and egg freezing consultations, as well as ongoing support for those coping with infertility, miscarriage, or reproductive grief.
Warm, flexible, and grounded in an inclusive, anti-discriminatory approach to care, Blair lives in Toronto with her family and beloved dog. She is proud to have been a gestational surrogate and is a passionate advocate and practitioner in the field of family building.
Claire Lung
(she/her)
Shih-Ju Claire Lung (BSc, MSW, RSW) is a Registered Social Worker licensed in Ontario with extensive clinical experience supporting individuals across community and hospital mental health settings. Her clinical work focuses on depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, and 2SLGBTQ+ mental health, with a specialized interest in fertility and family building.
As a family building practitioner, Claire is committed to offering client-centred, inclusive, empathetic, and gender-affirming care to individuals, couples, and groups at various stages of their fertility journeys. She offers personalized guidance and support across pre-conception, assisted reproductive processes, pregnancy, decision-making around parenthood, and the unique experiences of queer family building, including donation, surrogacy and adoption. She also supports people exploring life after infertility. She also supports people exploring options of adoption or surrogacy, and life after infertility.
Claire earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and a Master of Education in Developmental Psychology and Education from Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Her therapeutic approach is flexible, personalized, and grounded in evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based interventions, and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). She practices from a trauma-informed and culturally responsive lens, with an awareness of how culture, identity, and systemic factors shape both mental health and reproductive experiences. Claire is a registered member in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and a member of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS).
As a Chinese immigrant and a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Claire brings a deep understanding of the complexities of navigating multiple identities, balancing cultural expectations, and searching for belonging. Her work is further shaped by her personal experience of building a family with her partner through donor conception and reciprocal IVF, which has deepened her insight into the emotional, relational, and identity-related aspects of fertility and family building.
Claire values openness and ongoing feedback, and views therapy as a collaborative process. She strives to ensure her work remains aligned with each client’s needs, goals, and pace, while creating an affirming and emotionally safe space.
Claire offers compassionate counselling, pre-IVF consultations, and implications counselling for intended parents. She is also fluent in Mandarin. She feels grateful that her professional training and personal journey have led her to the field of family building, and is honoured to support individuals, couples, and groups as they navigate their unique fertility journeys and pathways to build a family.
SHAHANA SITTAMPALAM
(she/her)
Shahana provides counselling and assessment across the fertility and perinatal continuum, including trying to conceive, pregnancy, postpartum, and alternative paths to parenthood. She is committed to creating a space where clients feel understood, supported, and better equipped to navigate each stage with clarity and confidence.
Much of Shahana’s earlier clinical work was shaped by her experience working at Mount Sinai Hospital, where she supported women across all stages of the perinatal period. Working alongside individuals balancing excitement with fear, uncertainty, and an often-overwhelming sense of responsibility, she gained a close understanding of the day-to-day realities of pregnancy – including the structure of care, medical monitoring, and the emotional weight of each step. Through this work, she developed a strong appreciation for how mental health evolves across the fertility and pregnancy continuum, including the stress of trying to conceive, the impact of waiting and uncertainty, and the ways identity, relationships, and expectations shift over time.
In addition, Shahana has conducted psychological assessments for adoption readiness, broadening her understanding of family-building beyond pregnancy. Since joining Informed Fertility, she has received additional training in assisted reproductive technologies and third-party reproduction, allowing her to support individuals and couples navigating fertility preservation for social, medical and identity reasons, IVF, donor conception, and surrogacy, with sensitivity to the emotional complexities and adjustments these paths involve.
Shahana’s connection to this work is also personal. Living with endometriosis has shaped her understanding of reproductive health in a meaningful way. She has experienced the uncertainty, frustration, and emotional toll of navigating symptoms, medical care, and questions about fertility. This perspective informs how she shows up with clients – bringing a grounded, honest presence and the ability to sit with both the clinical and emotional realities of their experiences.
She holds a Master of Psychology from Adler Professional Graduate School, a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences from McMaster University, and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Laurentian University. Her clinical training spans several major hospital settings, including Mount Sinai Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Trillium Health Partners, and Hamilton General Hospital, where she developed strong skills in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Her training includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), and mindfulness-based approaches, alongside experience in trauma-informed care and psychometric assessment. She has also contributed to clinical research and publications within hospital-based psychiatry settings, with a focus on improving access to evidence-based mental health care. Shahana is a member of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS).
Shahana offers a thoughtful and grounded approach, integrating evidence-based therapies with a clear understanding of the emotional and practical realities of the fertility and perinatal journey. She provides compassionate counselling, pre-IVF consultations, implications counselling for intended parents, and assessments for donors and surrogates. Her work is collaborative and tailored to each client’s needs, goals, and pace, creating a space where individuals and couples feel safe, respected, and supported. As clients navigate uncertainty, loss, complex emotions and decisions, she works alongside them to build clarity, resilience, and a sense of steadiness moving forward.
She is pleased to be part of the Informed Fertility team and values the opportunity to contribute to a practice grounded in thoughtful, ethical, and patient-centred care as she supports individuals, couples, and groups in navigating their own unique paths through fertility and family building.
Our Administrative Team
Amanda’s personal and professional life is motivated by a keen sense of empathy and kindness, as well as exceptional organizational skills. She understands the importance and value of making things as easy as possible for everyone around her, which she does every day for the counsellors and clients of Informed Fertility. Amanda’s identity is also closely associated with her strong work ethic. In addition to administrative support, her background includes personal organization services, brand management, and in her youth, helping to run her family’s farm. Amanda takes great pride in facilitating the smooth running of a business, and her commitment to high standards of client care ensures messages are returned quickly, and client needs are met with respect, flexibility and understanding.
Hannah loves helping people overcome barriers, so facilitating Informed Fertility clients access counselling supports is tremendously meaningful to her – which makes her the perfect person to step into Amanda’s shoes when she is away from the office for more than a few days.
Amanda and Hannah both know first-hand that a timely and compassionate administrative response can make a huge difference in people’s experience of and ability to access health and social services. They feel privileged to be the people behind the Informed Fertility counsellors who are so deeply committed to an inclusive, non-judgmental practice and have such a high degree of specialized expertise, in a field so challenging and emotional.
Memberships and Associations
