Supporting you as you navigate fertility treatment…
You want to be a parent, but…
You had no idea it would be this hard. You assumed conceiving and having a baby would be a natural, problem-free process.
But no… this hasn’t been your experience at all.
It can be extremely stressful and isolating. Your friends seem to get pregnant easily. It’s hard enough when YOU don’t know why it’s so hard for you, but when your family asks questions… it makes you feel embarrassed or defensive, no matter how “well-meaning” they are. It’s enough to make you want to hide from everyone!
And if you’ve received an infertility diagnosis…
You may feel like your identity and dreams have been taken away.
You need extra support right now.
Unfortunately, friends and family often don’t understand what you’re going through – or they don’t know how to respond sensitively. Plus, it’s probably not easy for you to share your experience or emotions.
The emotional, physical, and financial burdens of infertility often take a toll on relationships and marriages, so even relying on your partner during this difficult time might not be feasible.
One thing is for sure, though…
You’re feeling particularly vulnerable and emotional right now, so you need someone in your corner.
As a fertility counselor, I can help.
You need a mental health professional who understands the emotional, psychological, and relational aspects of infertility and family-building.
Not only do I have specialized training in reproductive psychology, but I also have personal experience with infertility, which informs and guides my work as a therapist.
It’s natural to be stressed or anxious as you face complicated medical procedures, difficult decisions, and the uncertainty of infertility treatments.
You may have feelings of grief and depression as you cycle through fertility trials, vacillating between hope and disappointment.
You may wonder if you are to blame… or feel angry, powerless, or overwhelmed.
It’s a lot to go through, but you don’t have to do it alone!
Let’s do this… together.
Whether you come to counseling alone or with your partner, I provide a safe and supportive space to work through your emotions and take charge of your fertility journey.
Here, you can share your experience, address difficult issues, explore your feelings, and make important decisions.
You’ll also learn specific strategies, tools, and mind-body techniques to help manage the stress and anxiety.
As a result, you will feel more resilient and have a better quality of life.
Here are just some of the issues we can address….
- Coping with the stress of infertility
- The impact of infertility on relationships
- Improving communication and interpersonal skills with one’s partner
- Exploring infertility treatment options
- Support through IUI/IVF
- Secondary infertility
- Egg freezing/fertility preservation
- Exploring alternate family-building options (e.g., adoption or third-party reproduction)
- Child-free decision-making
- Pregnancy after infertility
- Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders after infertility
Embracing your unique journey to parenthood…
Not every parent’s journey to motherhood or fatherhood looks the same. I support people on all types of journeys to parenthood, including those who wish to build a family using third-party reproduction or adoption.
I work with heterosexual couples, same-sex couples, and single individuals wanting to start a family. Deciding whether to use a donor, adopt, or use a surrogate or gestational carrier can be an emotional process, and having the support of a therapist who specializes in this area can be very helpful.
I offer consultation and support for intended parents, which includes:
- Exploring different family-building options
- Understanding the issues involved in non-genetic or gestational family building and parenting
- Grieving the loss of a genetic child, pregnancy, or childbirth
- Selecting a donor, surrogate, or gestational carrier
- Navigating the adoption process
- Writing a letter to birth parents
- Working through expectations with extended family
- Addressing disclosure to friends, family, and co-workers
- Finding ways to talk with children about their conception
I’ll meet you where you are and support your family-building journey!
Call today. Let’s talk more about how I can help during your free consultation: (908) 507-8391.