Lori Metz, lcsw

Lori Metz, lcsw My specialties are fertility & relationships Utilizing a positive psychology approach, that includes

11/18/2025

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. Whether you’re an adoptee, a birth parent, an adoptive parent, or someone considering adoption as a path to parenthood, your story matters.

💬 Working with individuals and families navigating adoption, I know that every experience is unique—and every emotion is valid. Joy and grief can coexist. Questions can arise at every stage of life.

This month, we honor the complexities of adoption and the strength it takes to build a family in all its beautiful forms.

💛 If you’re seeking support, guidance, or simply a safe place to process your story, I’m here.

🔗 Learn more about my work supporting family-building through adoption and donor conception at the link in bio.

IVF access is under threat in South Carolina.The South Carolina Senate has scheduled another hearing for Senate Bill 323...
11/17/2025

IVF access is under threat in South Carolina.

The South Carolina Senate has scheduled another hearing for Senate Bill 323 on Tuesday, November 18th.

S. 323 would redefine a human embryo as “a human being that begins as a fertilized egg or zygote.” This change threatens access to IVF and other fertility treatments and could prevent doctors from practicing in accordance with clinical best practices.

Here’s how you can take action:

1. Email your State Senator today.
Share your family-building journey and why IVF access matters. https://resolve.quorum.us/campaign/146960/

2. Call members of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee.
Public testimony won’t be allowed at the upcoming hearing, so your calls and emails are the most powerful tools we have.

Join the Rally for Reproductive Justice
Tuesday, November 18th at 1 PM — Behind the South Carolina Statehouse

Stand in solidarity to protect IVF access and essential reproductive healthcare. Your presence sends a powerful message that South Carolinians are paying attention.

Let’s keep IVF safe, legal, and accessible in South Carolina.

Oppose Senate Bill 323. Take action today!

Many parents worry they need all the answers before talking with their child about donor conception.You don’t. What matt...
11/12/2025

Many parents worry they need all the answers before talking with their child about donor conception.

You don’t. What matters most is starting early, being honest, and keeping the conversation open as your child grows.

Children process information in stages. What they understand at age 3 will be different at 7, 12, or 18. That’s why sharing their conception story isn’t a single moment—it’s a lifelong dialogue built on trust and truth.

These are a few core topics families can begin talking about:

- Whether donor s***m, egg, or embryo was used

- Which parent(s) (if any) contributed gametes, if known

- What information is available about the donor

- The possibility of donor siblings or other genetic relatives

You don’t have to get it perfect—you just have to be real, responsive, and willing to return to the conversation over time.

Save this post for when you’re ready to talk, or share it with someone who might find it helpful.

11/10/2025

Attending this year’s American Society for Reproductive Medicine conference was an enriching experience—filled with new connections, innovative research, and meaningful conversations about how we can continue improving care for individuals and families along their fertility and family-building journeys.

From learning about emerging reproductive technologies and advancements in uterine transplant to exploring psychological strategies to reduce stress, every session deepened my appreciation for the intersection between emotional wellness and reproductive health.

It was also a privilege to connect with colleagues who share a passion for advancing access, inclusion, and compassionate care in the field of fertility.

🌸 The Blossoms of Hope installation perfectly captured the spirit of this conference—reminding us that growth, healing, and community are at the heart of what we do.

11/07/2025

Infertility affects millions globally, yet it's often shrouded in silence and misunderstanding. Whether you're navigating fertility treatments, considering donor conception, or exploring solo parenting, know that you're not alone.

As a therapist specializing in reproductive mental health, I understand the emotional complexities that accompany the path to parenthood. Grief, hope, anxiety, and resilience often intertwine on this journey.

November 2nd was World Fertility Day. Let's break the stigma surrounding infertility and open up conversations about reproductive health. Every story is unique, and every journey deserves acknowledgment and support.

If you're seeking guidance or someone to talk to, I'm here to help you navigate your path with compassion and understanding.

🔗 Learn more about my services and resources at lorimetz.net

There are two main types of surrogacy:Gestational Surrogacy – The surrogate (gestational carrier) becomes pregnant throu...
10/28/2025

There are two main types of surrogacy:

Gestational Surrogacy – The surrogate (gestational carrier) becomes pregnant through IVF using the intended parent(s)’ or donor gametes. She has no genetic connection to the child.

Traditional/Genetic Surrogacy – The surrogate’s own egg is fertilized with s***m from the intended father or a donor, making her both the egg donor and the gestational carrier. This option carries greater legal risk and is far less common today.

10/21/2025

🌈 Every family has a story—this one begins with a dream.
I Dreamed of You is a tender children's book that helps parents share the story of how their child came to be through egg donation.

This book offers a gentle, age-appropriate way to start conversations about donor conception, centered in love, hope, and the deep desire to become a parent.

Available in English, Spanish (Soñé Contigo), and Mandarin, I Dreamed of You honors the unique paths families take—and the joy of finally holding your long-awaited child.

📚 Learn more or order your copy at lorimetz.net/book

10/16/2025

In this episode, Dr. Bayer shares a wealth of information for those who are beginning or in the process of trying to conceive. I recorded it with her, and I could not resist listening to it twice.

She provides the information you want to know and learn when trying to conceive.

Hear about:

🩺 What happens on your first visit to the fertility clinic?

🩺 The medical intake process.

🩺 An overview of the tests you will receive.

🩺 Potential protocols so that you feel more informed.

And so much more. Listen now: https://www.lorimetz.net/life-podcast/fertility-101-with-dr-arielle-bayer

Reciprocal IVF (RIVF): How It WorksReciprocal In Vitro Fertilization (RIVF) is a fertility treatment often used by LGBTQ...
10/14/2025

Reciprocal IVF (RIVF): How It Works

Reciprocal In Vitro Fertilization (RIVF) is a fertility treatment often used by LGBTQ+ couples who want to share in the biological and physical roles of creating a child. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Egg Retrieval – One partner undergoes IVF to stimulate the ovaries and retrieve eggs.
Step 2: Fertilization – The eggs are fertilized with s***m in a lab to create embryos.
Step 3: Embryo Transfer – An embryo is transferred into the uterus of the other partner, who then carries the pregnancy.

This process allows both partners to be involved—one as the genetic parent (providing the egg) and the other as the gestational parent (carrying the pregnancy).

For many LGBTQ+ families, RIVF is empowering because it creates a tangible sense of shared involvement in family building. It’s one of several assisted reproduction options that affirm the diverse ways families are made today.

10/07/2025

This is a podcast you won't want to miss! It's chock-full of practical, easy-to-understand information that answers so many questions for those trying to conceive, and even if you’re not, it’s just good, straightforward information about nutrition and what to eat.

Hear about:

🥑 The impact of foods that might be part of your daily diet.

🥑 Ways to incorporate foods that bring pleasure into your diet.

🥑 Some of those items you may want to avoid.

And so much more! Click here: https://www.lorimetz.net/life-podcast/nutrition-101-when-trying-to-conceive-with-dar-godfrey

10/01/2025

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

For many, the path to parenthood is paved with heartbreak. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss can leave deep emotional scars—and for those continuing to try to conceive, grief often walks hand-in-hand with hope.

💬 You may find yourself mourning one moment and planning fertility treatments the next.
💬 You may feel disconnected from your body, anxious about the future, or unsure how to talk about what you’ve lost.

Please know that you are not alone in this complicated space.
As a therapist, I’ve witnessed the strength it takes to keep moving forward while honoring what’s been lost. Grief and hope can coexist—and both deserve care.

🧡 This month, we hold space for remembrance, resilience, and healing.

If you’re navigating loss while continuing your family-building journey, support is available—emotionally, therapeutically, and in community.

When you’re building your family with the help of a known donor, you’re not just making a medical decision—you’re enteri...
09/30/2025

When you’re building your family with the help of a known donor, you’re not just making a medical decision—you’re entering into a relationship that can shape your child’s life for years to come. Joint counseling sessions provide a space for everyone involved to establish a strong foundation for the relationship.

Why it matters:
➡️ Shared understanding
➡️ Stronger communication
➡️ Child-centered focus
➡️ Exploring “what if” scenarios
➡️ Reducing future conflict

For many families, this process isn’t about solving problems—it’s about preventing them. Joint counseling helps set the stage for healthy, respectful, and lasting connections that honor everyone’s role, especially the child’s.

Address

119 West 57th Street, Suite 1100
New York, NY
10019

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Working together, to put the pieces together.

I have adopted a positive psychology, approach that includes mindfulness and cognitive behavioral health in partnering with my patients in an optimistic goal-oriented manner.

Often times a person initially calls when they’re feeling sad, alone, depressed, confused, and need to talk. It’s an opportunity to explore, feeling a bit out of control, stress, self-image, self-confidence, professional choices, counterproductive habits, and pain. Making that initial phone call (to me or any professional) is the first step towards change. It’s an opportunity to achieve, and I am excited to help along that path.

I work with individuals, couples, and families, specializing in relationships and fertility. I assist people through life’s transitions personally, and professionally. Any of life’s challenges that can potentially lead to depression, anxiety, low self-image, decreased self-confidence, loneliness, or behaviors they would like to change.

I find that a positive approach, in conjunction with mindfulness, cognitive behavioral health, behavior modification, self-exploration, and reality-based decision making works well for most people. I also believe in the power of pausing. It is typically powerful when those I work with are able to take a moment, to pause and gain perspective of what they are experiencing.