Larissa House presents virtual workshop for perinatal support
Yesterday, June 22, 2026, I had the privilge of presenting a virtual workshop for Joy of Life Surrogacy Agency on perinatal mental health and support. According to their website, Joy of Life is a compassionate surrogacy agency committed to creating life, fostering joy and nurturing dreams. The workshop was geared towards Intended Parents and how the Intended Parents can support the Gestational Carriers (GCs), or surrogates.
I combined my background in perinatal mental health, trauma, and cross-cultural and multicultural relationships to educate Intended Parents about the stressors that Gestational Carriers face, their mental health needs, and practical ways for Intended Parents to provide emotional support to Gestational Carriers and reduce their stress. Many of the Intended Parents were from different cultures than the Gestational Carriers, so I presented ways that Intended Parents can foster compassionate, understanding, and supportive cross-cultural relationships.
Educating Intended Parents about the stressors that Gestational Carriers can face that impact their mental health and wellbeing during the perinatal process can help Intended Parents be more empathetic and supportive of the Gestational Carriers. Giving the Intended Parents practical tools to build and foster a healthy relationships with the Gestational Carriers can help Intended Parents feel more capable in contributing to a warm, compassionate, and collaborative relationship.
As an EMDR, couples, and perinatal therapist in San Francisco, I love using my background and combining the knowledge I have about trauma, perinatal mental health, and relationships to help people develop tools and build their confidence around creating healthy relationships. It was an honor to be invited to present to Joy of Life’s Intended Parents to help them develop understanding of the stressors that Gestational Carriers face and give them practical tools to show compassion, reduce stress, and support the mental health of the Gestational Carriers.
