You are not alone...
(In)fertility
Are attempts to control your fertility completely stressing you out? Do you experience significant anxiety, depression, anger, stress, grief, sadness, hopelessness and/or pessimism related to fertility? Does your desire to build a family overwhelm your thoughts? Do you have difficulty engaging in meaningful relationships and enjoyable activities? Or perhaps you are living in quiet shame and feeling isolated? 1 in 8 couples struggle with an infertility diagnosis, you are not alone, and I can help!
what is (in)fertility?
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, infertility (in heterosexual couples) is defined as "a disease of the reproductive system that impairs the body's ability to perform the basic function of reproduction. In rough terms, about one-third of infertility cases can be attributed to male factors, and about one-third to factors that affect women. For the remaining one-third of infertile couples, infertility is caused by a combination of problems in both partners or, in about 20 percent of cases, is unexplained. Couples are generally advised to seek medical help if they are unable to achieve pregnancy after a year of unprotected intercourse."
when therapy can help
It is not uncommon for one struggling with fertility challenges to experience feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, stress, grief, sleep and appetite disturbances and/or a profound sense of isolation- therapy can help! One might also seek therapeutic support for any of the following situations:
a new infertility diagnosis
when exploring treatment options
beginning IVF treatment
when you and your partner have differing opinions regarding treatment
pregnancy loss or failed IVF cycles
when considering 3rd party assistance such as egg/sperm/embryo donation or surrogacy
when exploring adoption or deciding to live child-free
pregnancy after infertility
individual & couples counseling
Studies have shown that it is not typically finances or physical endurance that inhibits fertility treatment, but rather the toll of emotional distress. Through individual and couples counseling, I can help you and your partner develop skills and tools to reduce anxiety, decrease isolation, receive grief support, improve communication, explore and clarify difficult thoughts and feelings in a safe environment, and discover your unknown strengths and resiliency.