Göteborgs IVF Klinik

Meet our psychologist

Counselling support, couples therapy and sexology expertise — with particular experience in infertility.

Klas Abrahamsson, Licensed Psychologist

Klas Abrahamsson is a licensed psychologist with advanced training in general crisis support, couples therapy, pain management, vaginismus, sexology and existential psychology. He has also worked with fertility issues and infertility since 2015, including at the Reproductive Medicine Centre in Malmö. In addition, Klas has for many years worked within trans-specific care and is well acquainted with the particular challenges some LGBTQI+ people may face when building a family.

Klas has many years’ experience working with couples. His primary approach is IBCT (Integrative Behavioural Couples Therapy), an evidence-based treatment method — essentially a CBT/ACT-derived therapy developed for couples.

Book psychologist

Further details & more info — click to read

Acute stress and crisis reactions

Sometimes life takes a sharp turn. An accident, an event or difficult news can pull the rug from under your feet and make everything sway. Doubt and hopelessness take over and keep a firm grip.

In such an acute stress or crisis reaction it’s often hard to see your situation clearly. Coping with what has happened — and with what lies immediately ahead — can feel nearly impossible. It also becomes difficult to make wise decisions and find a sensible direction.

With professional support it can be easier to sort through all the feelings and impressions, to gradually heal and find a way forward.

Decision-focused counselling before difficult choices

Things don’t always turn out as planned. Many who find themselves involuntarily childless recognise this all too well.

When it comes to the wish for a child, many factors may be involved: age, medical conditions, genetic variations, one partner having few or no viable gametes, differing wishes within a couple, or not having found a suitable partner and therefore considering single parenthood.

There are many paths to parenthood. Our psychologist is well-versed in the options available to those who want to become parents — within healthcare and beyond.

By mapping and analysing the options that apply to you, it becomes easier to arrive at thoughtful, well-considered decisions about the future.

Strategies for relationships, work & social situations

For some people experiencing infertility, the surrounding world is what feels most burdensome. Suddenly there are baby bumps and strollers everywhere; parents are eager for grandchildren; siblings get pregnant; friends talk about feeding and diapers; colleagues discuss parental leave and days off for sick children. Some even complain about how hard it is to have kids or that they sleep too little. What you long for the most seems taken for granted — even lamented — by others. It can be difficult to feel happy for yet another pregnancy announcement, and invitations to christenings or baby showers may feel overwhelming.

Together with our psychologist you can identify strategies that fit you (and your partner) for handling different social relationships in the best way while you keep pursuing a much-wanted child.

Couples therapy (IBCT)

Who might benefit from couples therapy?

Different couples have different reasons for seeking therapy. There is no right or wrong, and rarely a “too late”. Some want to make a good relationship even better; others feel stuck; some are unsure whether they want to continue together; and some want help to handle a separation as responsibly as possible.

Common issues include communication difficulties, conflict, imbalance in desire and intimacy, trust crises, different priorities and wishes, reactions when life changes, and more.

Beyond traditional couples, therapy can also support relationships between family members (siblings, parent–child), in blended families, polyamorous relationships, or even friendships — any close relationship in a difficult situation that the people involved struggle to manage on their own.

How does it work?

We begin by mapping both strengths and challenges in your relationship. Typically there is an initial joint session, then one individual session with each partner, followed by another joint session where we decide together on a suitable way of working. In many cases this involves 10–15 sessions in total, though sometimes more or fewer are needed.

Psychological reactions to infertility

People affected by infertility often experience significant psychological strain. While it looks different for everyone, it’s commonly an emotional roller-coaster.

Hope and hopelessness, courage and discouragement, worry, longing, jealousy and despair may alternate — or appear all at once. Well-intended advice from family and friends can feel heavy, even painful. Things that used to be enjoyable can feel dull and meaningless. Relationships are affected — sometimes strengthened, but there can also be friction and conflict. Looming over everything is uncertainty.

These are just examples of normal reactions to the life crisis that infertility can bring. If you would like professional support, you are welcome to contact Klas and book a session — on site or online.

Sexual desire difficulties

For most people, sexuality is an important part of life. Having access to one’s sexual desire is often a key factor for general wellbeing and health.

It is natural for desire to vary over time — in partnered sex and in solo sex/masturbation. Sometimes, however, both low and high desire can cause problems and distress for the individual or friction within relationships.

Desire cannot be forced, but there are many tools to create the conditions for accessing the desire that is yours. Communication about sex and desire can be difficult in relationships, and mutual responsiveness is not always easy.

Individually or together with a partner, you can get professional help from our experienced psychologist to map and handle the challenges that exist for you. It is important to increase awareness of both the factors that boost desire and the ones that inhibit it.

Desire-related difficulties can sometimes be connected to issues of sexual function, which can of course be addressed in parallel.

Sexual function problems (vaginismus, vulvodynia, ED)

For many, sex and intimacy are affected by pain or functional difficulties — for example erection problems. Sometimes these are stress- or performance-related; sometimes medical; often several factors interact.

There are many aids for sexual function — medical and technical. Trying different options, combined with patience, often yields very positive results. Other healthcare providers can sometimes help as well, such as physicians or physiotherapists.

Individually or as a couple, you can get professional help from our psychologist to map and manage your specific challenges. If needed, you can also get support in contacting other specialists.

Problems with sexual function may be linked to desire difficulties, which can be treated in parallel.

Stress related to non-normative family building

Becoming or wanting to become a parent is a profound transition for anyone. For those forming families outside heteronormative or monogamy norms, there are often additional challenges. These may include worries or negative experiences with healthcare or authorities, ambivalent or critical attitudes from family, friends or employers, and sometimes very concrete legal and practical issues.

Our psychologist has long experience supporting people who want to become parents in non-normative family constellations — regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or whether one, two or several people plan to share parental responsibilities in equal or varying ways.

By mapping and analysing the specific challenges relevant to you, it becomes easier to reach well-considered decisions about the future.

Pain management related to endometriosis or similar conditions

Pain associated with endometriosis and similar conditions often requires medical treatment. Sometimes the pain — chronic or periodic — is so extensive that psychological treatment can also help, as a complement.

Pain can also affect both sexual desire and sexual function, which may interact and increase distress. This too can be a central focus in therapy.

Often the work involves finding tools to handle remaining pain and to shift focus and attention. Additional support from other providers (e.g., physicians or physiotherapists) may sometimes be needed.

With our experienced psychologist you can get professional help to map and handle the challenges specific to you and your pain condition.

Meet our Psychologist

Meet our psychologist

Klas Abrahamsson, Licensed Psychologist