Gestational Carrier & Surrogacy

Surrogacy is one of the most remarkable paths to parenthood available, and one of the most emotionally and logistically complex. Whether you are an intended parent preparing for a gestational carrier arrangement or a prospective gestational carrier seeking to move forward with the process, a psychological evaluation is a required and clinically important step. And it is not a hurdle. It is a professional assessment designed to ensure that everyone entering this arrangement is psychologically prepared, fully informed, and positioned for the best possible outcome.

 At Old Town Psychology, we provide expert gestational carrier and surrogacy psychological evaluations for intended parents and prospective surrogates in Alexandria, VA and beyond. We have immediate availability and extensive experience working with leading fertility clinics and agencies throughout the region.

What Is a Gestational Carrier & Surrogacy Evaluation?

A gestational carrier and surrogacy evaluation,  also called a psychological evaluation for surrogacy, a gestational carrier psychological screening, or a surrogate mental health assessment, is a formal psychological evaluation conducted by a licensed psychologist for the purpose of assessing the mental health, emotional readiness, and psychological suitability of individuals participating in a surrogacy arrangement. It is a required component of virtually all surrogacy arrangements and is mandated by fertility clinics, surrogacy agencies, and legal protocols to protect the well-being of all parties involved.

There are two distinct evaluation types, each serving a different purpose:

• Gestational Carrier Psychological Screening. This evaluation assesses a prospective surrogate’s psychological readiness and suitability for the surrogacy process. It is a comprehensive mental health assessment that examines emotional stability, motivations, understanding of the process and its demands, and the psychological factors that could affect a carrier’s ability to successfully navigate the experience. Most agencies and clinics require this evaluation before a carrier can be approved to proceed.
• Intended Parent Evaluation. This evaluation supports intended parents in understanding the full psychological and relational dimensions of entering a gestational carrier arrangement, including expectations, communication, decision-making, and the emotional journey of building a family through surrogacy. It is required by many agencies and clinics, and is clinically valuable regardless of whether it is mandated.

At Old Town Psychology, we have extensive experience conducting surrogacy evaluations for individuals working with a wide range of fertility agencies and clinics.  Our evaluations meet the standards required by leading organizations, and we are experienced working with heterosexual couples, LGBTQ couples, and single intended parents.

What Does a Gestational Carrier & Surrogacy Evaluation Help With?

A psychological evaluation for surrogacy does far more than produce a clearance document. It is a clinically substantive process that prepares all parties for the realities of the arrangement and helps surface and address any concerns before they become complications.

Assessing psychological readiness and suitability: For gestational carriers, the evaluation provides a thorough assessment of mental health history, emotional stability, motivations, support systems, and the psychological resources needed to navigate a process that is physically demanding, emotionally complex, and legally significant. For intended parents, it provides an opportunity to reflect honestly on expectations, fears, and readiness.

Setting expectations for the relationship with your gestational carrier: One of the most important dimensions of any surrogacy arrangement is the relationship between the intended parent or parents and the gestational carrier. The evaluation provides a structured space to explore what kind of relationship you envision, what level of contact and communication feels right, and how to align expectations before the process begins.

Embryo transfer planning and medical decision-making: The evaluation also addresses important questions around medical decisions,  including how many embryos to transfer, what the intended parents’ wishes are in the event of a multiple pregnancy, and how medical decisions will be made throughout the process. Addressing these questions in advance prevents conflict during an emotionally charged time.

Emotional expectations throughout the process: Surrogacy is a journey with distinct emotional phases, from the excitement of matching and transfer through the vulnerability of waiting and pregnancy, and ultimately to the profound transition of birth. The evaluation helps all parties develop realistic emotional expectations and identify the support structures they will need at each stage.

Disclosure and communication planning: The evaluation addresses questions around communication and disclosure as well, including how often and through what channels intended parents and carriers will communicate, how decisions will be made collaboratively, and how the child will be informed about their origins in the future. These conversations benefit from professional guidance, and the evaluation provides it.

Legal and ethical considerations, including agency requirements: The evaluation also covers the legal and ethical landscape of the arrangement, ensures that all parties understand the nature and implications of the agreements they are entering, and produces documentation that meets the requirements of the relevant agency, clinic, or legal counsel.

What Our Patients Say

"We brought our daughter in for testing and the OTP team was amazing. They were so kind, caring and great with children. My daughter is shy and takes a little time to warm up when first meeting someone new. The Doctor was patient and encouraging and my daughter had a wonderful time. They also provide fast results and meet with you to explain everything in the report. I would definitely recommend them."

"Very prompt response to our inquiry. Welcoming environment and very professional, thorough communication. The staff genuinely seems to care that your needs are met."

"Excellent service, knowledgeable staff, incredible responsiveness, diligence and follow through -- we feel lucky we found such a great therapy practice. We cannot recommend them highly enough!"

“My daughter took WISC-V test there and we are very pleased with our experience. They are professional, patient and wonderful throughout the entire process. My daughter had such a great time that she hardly felt that was a test - she even asked when she could take it again. I would highly recommend them to whoever needs child IQ testing services.”

“I took my children here for TAG testing. Both of my kids actually enjoyed their assessments. I was very pleased with the time and care taken to assess my children, the thoroughness of the report, and the fact that there was a follow-up session to discuss any questions that I had relative to the assessment included. Also-- the tea selection in the waiting room is top tier :)”

“Very prompt response to our inquiry. Welcoming environment and very professional, thorough communication. The staff genuinely seems to care that your needs are met.”

What Does a Gestational Carrier & Surrogacy Evaluation Look Like?

At Old Town Psychology, gestational carrier and surrogacy evaluations are conducted with the clinical thoroughness and personal care that a decision of this magnitude deserves. Evaluations are available via a secure, HIPAA-compliant video portal, offering flexibility for clients across the region and beyond.

Clinical Interview

For gestational carriers, the interview covers mental health history, current psychological functioning, personal and family circumstances, motivations for pursuing surrogacy, understanding of the process and its demands, and the support systems in place. For intended parents, the interview explores the path that led to surrogacy, expectations for the arrangement and the relationship with the carrier, emotional preparation for the process, and any concerns or uncertainties that would benefit from professional attention.

For carriers who have a partner or spouse, the partner is typically included in a portion of the evaluation, as their support and understanding of the commitment are relevant.

Comprehensive Report

Following the evaluation, we prepare a formal written report that documents the clinical findings, addresses the specific questions and requirements of the referring agency or clinic, and provides a professional opinion regarding psychological suitability and readiness. Reports are prepared to meet the documentation standards of the relevant fertility clinic, surrogacy agency, or legal team, and are delivered in a timely manner to keep the process moving forward.

Feedback and Consultation

We provide a feedback conversation following the evaluation to discuss the findings, address any questions, and ensure that the individual or couple leaves the process with a clear understanding of what was assessed, what the report contains, and what next steps look like. For individuals or couples who want continued psychological support throughout the surrogacy journey, our fertility counseling services are available as a natural complement to the evaluation.

Take the Next Step

A gestational carrier and surrogacy evaluation is one of the most meaningful steps in one of the most meaningful journeys a family can undertake. At Old Town Psychology, we bring both clinical expertise and genuine care to this process, ensuring that every person who comes through our door leaves better prepared for what lies ahead. We have immediate availability for surrogacy evaluations and work efficiently to meet agency and clinic timelines.

To schedule a gestational carrier or surrogacy evaluation or to ask any questions, contact us today.