Infertility Counseling

Growing up, you dreamed of having a baby, or two, or three. You never anticipated this struggle. When you make the decision to start a journey towards building your family, rarely does anyone anticipate having difficulty conceiving on their own.

An infertility diagnosis can feel devastating and overwhelming. The doubts, fears, stress, and sadness you’re feeling right now are all normal, but can feel awful.

The emotions you’re experiencing as you face the unknown road ahead and think about the road behind can be hard to manage. You’re frustrated, sad, and angry. You may be finding yourself crying easily or often, feeling irritable and losing your temper, or realizing that your days and nights are consumed with thoughts of finding a way to have a baby. You find yourself asking, “why me?”

Infertility isn’t fair.

You’re tired of people telling you that if you just relax, it will happen.  You’ve heard enough stories about someone’s neighbor’s friend who stopped trying and magically got pregnant.  The words and stories aren’t helpful, and they feel dismissive of your struggle and pain. It feels like people don’t get it, and they may not. Their words might be leaving you feeling even more isolated on this unwelcome road, and their words ignore that infertility is a medical diagnosis that you can’t wish away any more than you can wish away any other medical problem.

You may be finding yourself avoiding certain people or events. You’re allowed to decline that baby shower invitation. It’s okay. You may be spending countless hours reading blogs, participating in online forums, reading anything to help you cope and feel as though there are others out there and that there is hope. This is the time for you to take care of yourself and to find the support and understanding you want, need, and deserve.

I understand. I get it. I want to help.

The last thing you want when you’re looking for a therapist is someone who doesn’t understand infertility, all of the tests, all of the medications, all of the loneliness and sadness. You won’t have to explain fertilization reports, injectables, IVF, IUI, ICSI, DOR, POI, FSH, AMH, or the rest of the alphabet soup that’s become part of your daily existence.  I understand that you feel like a pin cushion, probably have bruises on your stomach and arms, and wonder when and if this will all lead to having a baby.

As an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Mental Health Professional Group, I regularly attend infertility trainings and conferences to stay up to date with the everchanging medical aspects of treatment so that here, you have a place where you will be heard, supported, and understood, and can process your thoughts, concerns, and decisions.

Infertility counseling can help you:

• process what’s happening
• make decisions
• learn how to cope
• gain understanding
• manage sadness, anger, and anxious thoughts
• decrease isolation
• feel supported
• express your needs to others
• learn evidence-based techniques to use to cope in the moment

Regardless of whether you’re considering treatment for infertility, have already started treatment, have experienced failed cycles, or are thinking about third party options, we can work together to manage the life you’re living right now. You don’t have to go through this feeling alone.

Staten Island Infertility Counseling

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