Philosophy & Bio

"Psycho-education and counseling are the solutions to learning how to complete your family and your life. I offer a warm, supportive, interactive approach that is based on rigorous study of issues, theories and experiences of people touched by infertility and adoption." - Joni S. Mantell, LCSW, Director of the Infertility and Adoption Counseling Center

The Way We Think

Counselors at the IAC Center are trained to help clients by using a unique lifelong short-term therapy model developed by IAC Center Director Joni Mantell. Constructed from psychoanalytic, developmental and adoption life cycle theories and research, this model successfully teaches people coping skills for dealing with the emotional and social issues related to infertility and adoption. Joni and the other center counselors work with people facing infertility and pre-adoptive and adoptive parents, adopted children and adults, and birthparents in groups, workshops and counseling sessions to resolve issues that may occur throughout the life cycle. The IAC Center recognizes the multiple perspectives and lifelong themes associated with adoption.

About Joni S. Mantell

Joni S. Mantell, LCSW, CSW, Director of IAC Center is a psychotherapist who has been providing individual, couples and group counseling for infertility and adoption issues since 1993. She has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and completed a 4-year certification program in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy at the Post-Graduate Center for Mental Health in NYC. She is the Adoption Coordinator for RESOLVE Northeast region, a Support Group Leader and a Board Member for Resolve NJ. She is an active member of the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, a psychotherapist for the American Fertility Association and a frequent speaker and consultant on infertility and adoption issues for Resolve, Adoptive Parents Committee, and other select adoption organizations and agencies. In addition to the IAC Center in Pennington, NJ, she has an office in NYC.