Therapy for Infertility
Serving Women in San Diego, CA
You never imagined it would be this hard to get pregnant.
Once you make the decision that you want to become a mother, you envision what your life will look like when that day comes. You might even be able to picture your sweet baby's face.
When you have this desire in your heart, every month that you get a negative pregnancy test is soul-crushing. You're living your life two weeks at a time, counting the days to ovulation and then the days until you can take a pregnancy test.
It's beyond frustrating. Sure, you have hope every month or with every new treatment that you could have a positive outcome - but in the hard moments it's like you don't even recognize yourself anymore.
You look around and all you can see are other women who have the life you want. You are so aware of how easily others seem to fall pregnant, and that doesn't feel very fair at all.
Your friends and family can't relate, but they try. And you can't handle one more piece of unsolicited advice so you don't open up much to others anymore.
You wonder if it's your fault, or you blame yourself even it you don't have all the answers yet.
My Approach to Therapy for Infertility
Whether you are trying to conceive (TTC) or you have an official diagnosis of "infertility," this entire process is a terrifying ride you never agreed to get on. No one struggling with fertility challenges should have to face this journey without support from someone who gets it.
I am here to help you process the grief and pain that you've been walking around with. I will be with you every step of the way, as you navigate this journey. We will work towards letting go of the shame, guilt, and self-doubt. I will help you cope with the reality of day to day life. You deserve to have compassion for yourself, and let go of the things that are not yours to hang on to.
You deserve to be emotionally cared for during this journey. It is crucial to have the support you need to share your unique experience and concerns, connect with someone who gets it, and learn techniques to manage the wide range of emotions that may be coming up for you.
You will learn specific strategies and mind-body techniques to help you address your stress and anxiety.
What are the effects of Infertility?
The truth is- INFERTILITY SUCKS.
I'm just going to call it how I see it. It sucks the energy out of you and your relationship. It completely changes how you view the world, as there are reminders of (seemingly) abundant fertility everywhere.
And it challenges your view of self, your partner, and your future.
It's lonely, and isolating. It's scary. Depending on where you are in your fertility journey and the path you've chosen to take, there can be overwhelming decisions about the next treatments, financing said treatments, and evaluating the physical and emotional toll that treatments can take on you and your partner.
And the grief. There's so much grief.
It makes perfect sense that you are feeling the overwhelming stress of your experience. In fact, research has shown that women experiencing infertility have the same levels of anxiety and depression as women with potentially life-threatening diagnoses like cancer and heart disease.
And as common as the stats tell us that infertility is, most people really do not get it unless they have been through it themselves. About 1 in 8 couples struggles with fertility challenges. Some newer research is showing that women experience infertility at even higher rates than this. But infertility is not widely talked about.
Of course you are feeling alone and isolated in this process. Even if you have a supportive partner, you both cope with these stressors so much differently.
How can Therapy for Infertility Help Me?
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Process the grief & pain you have experienced in this journey.
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Advocate for yourself in your relationships & with care providers.
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Identify your needs & communicate them with others.
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Identify beliefs that are not serving you, and learn how they may be impacting your life.
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Evaluate your relationship with your body & process the challenging beliefs.
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Improve your relationship with your partner as you navigate your unique journey.
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Feel empowered by your choices.
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Feel grounded in your day-to-day life.
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Clarify the values that matter to you most, and make changes to prioritize them.
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Examine how your culture and family of origin impact your expectations of fertility & parenthood.
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Take a holistic view of your well-being by nurturing your mind, body & spirit in the therapy space.