Marisa Bernardo, BSW, RSW, Social Worker, Psychotherapist, is the founder of Defining Journeys, a counselling and support practice dedicated to individuals and families navigating the emotional complexities of fertility, surrogacy, reproductive health, and life-altering health challenges. She specializes in supporting people through infertility, oncofertility, reproductive loss, cancer, grief, and other life-altering health conditions and diagnoses.
As both an intended mother through surrogacy and a cancer survivor, Marisa brings the unique combination of lived experience and professional expertise to every session and support space. Her own journey as an intended parent revealed how overwhelming and isolating the surrogacy process can feel without guidance. Out of this experience, Defining Journeys was created to provide surrogacy counselling that walks intended parents through the process from A–Z: receiving ethical education, preparing emotionally, matching, navigating legal and medical systems, and building and sustaining healthy relationships with surrogates.
Today, Defining Journeys has expanded into a full counselling and psychotherapy practice, providing a safe space for those navigating fertility struggles, grief, health challenges, and major life transitions. Marisa’s work blends therapy, practical guidance, and community-building, offering clients compassionate support grounded in both lived and professional experience.
She is also deeply engaged in the fertility community as a board member of the Oasis Fertility Support Network, where she runs free support groups, develops accessible resources, and connects with the wider community through education, advocacy, and empowerment.
Marisa approaches her practice with compassion, empathy, and a strong commitment to advocacy, helping clients feel seen, supported, and empowered throughout their journey.