Fertility Counseling & Consultation Services
Fertility Counseling
The journey to becoming a parent is not a linear one. It can be filled with trials and tribulations. While fertility clinics may bring a lot of assistance you may still end up feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and at times depressed. Fertility counseling can help you to manage expectations while managing the stress that comes up during the process.
The fertility journey can feel isolating at times and presents unique challenges. As a therapist that specializes in this area, I recognize how delicate this time can be in a couple’s and individual’s life. I have specialized in fertility through additional training through the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
Areas that counseling can address in fertility includes:
Managing Expectations It is often unexpected that fertility may be ongoing and longterm. Many enter with hopes of getting pregnant early on, while not realizing the process may take months and years in some cases. The process may not end they way you dream. Counseling offers a space in which you and your partner can enter and discuss your dreams hopes and manage where you are now.
Intimacy At times during the fertility journey, intimacy can take a hit. Sometimes it feels like it takes away from the intimate connection and fun of sex to focus the efforts on becoming pregnant. Therapy is a perfect place to attempt to process frustrations and reconnect with your partner.
Stress Management Stress comes up quite a bit in the fertility journey. People often struggle with the ups and downs of testing, monitoring, and failed attempts. Therapy can help you to learn new techniques, reconnect with supports, as well as, build new copings skills to deal with the challenges for fertility.
Fertility Loss Society doesn’t address the loss that can happen in family planning enough. From the mourning of lost dreams, hopes, and what cannot be seen, to the morning of loss of life and failed attempts, it is important to address grief during this time. Grief does not have to be complicated for one to process the hurt and pain that arises. Grief is something we learn to grow around not out of. Through therapy you can process the hurt, your thoughts around this, and ways you can memorialize and honor what was lost.
Fertility Consultations
For some during the fertility journey they may utilize donor oocyte and gametes to assist in creating their family. At this time fertility consultations and evaluations are recommended by fertility clinics. This is a time to receive psychoeducation, support, and discuss any ethical concerns / dilemmas that may come up during this time. Delightful Counseling Services is equipped to offer donor recipient consultations at this time.