If you are reading this because you are on a journey of fertility challenges, I am sorry. Infertility is unfair, hard, sad, frustrating, a lot of waiting, with intermittent glimpses of hope. My heart feels for you.

If you are reading this because you know someone with fertility challenges, I applaud your willingness to learn more about the topic.

So, infertility and counseling. What’s the connection?

As previously and briefly mentioned, infertility is a lot. Initial emotions are usually grief, anger, and sadness. The grief in and of itself is a lot to deal with on its own!

Then enter the world of acronyms, appointments on top of appointments, monitoring one’s body for so many things, tough discussions, lots of decisions, finances to consider, and more. Fertility challenges tend to get really heavy, really fast. This is where counseling can be really beneficial. Counseling offers someone to process all of these emotions outside of your intimate circle. Someone who can be unbiased while still having knowledge around the subject. Someone to just listen. Someone to hold space for you to feel all of those feels.

As treatment progresses, there is still a rollercoaster of emotion. Immense hope that treatment will work. Still a ton of appointments. Medications to obtain. Medication schedules to learn, follow, and implement. Remember to eat, sleep, and exercise! Physical bodily changes with the protocols.

Still managing stress, anxiety, grief, depression. Trying so hard to keep yourself calm and balanced to give the treatments their fair chance. But that is so hard because your heart is so invested, yet you are also so guarded. Sounds like trying to ride a teeter-totter that is on a rollercoaster track! Counseling remains that safe space to process this rollercoaster of emotions.

Then comes the time to learn if treatment has succeeded or not. If so, there is excitement! It worked! Then, so many women’s thought processes go to “now I need to stay pregnant.” Enter a new level of anxiety, worry, and stress. Some may still need to manage medications. Some may start to experience first trimester symptoms on top of the fertility treatment symptoms. Needless to say, things still feel heavy.

If treatment hasn’t succeeded and you are facing a negative test or low HCG levels, enter a new level of despair and sadness. A new level of disappointment. A new level of grief. That is a lot to cope with after trying to be optimistic.

Whichever the outcome, trust that counseling remains a safe space to feel all of these feels, sort thoughts and emotions, and learn coping skills to help you through this stage.

Seeking therapy in this specific stage of life is a healthy place to process all of those emotions. It’s a safe space to let the frustrations out. It’s a safe place to cry a bucket of tears. It’s a safe place to slow down for a minute to catch your breath. It’s a place to collect your thoughts. It’s a safe space to weigh options to an unbiased, but knowledgeable, ear.

I have walked my own path in fertility experiences. I also have the perinatal training which speaks to helping those with fertility challenges. On some level, I get it. I can relate to those who are on this path. This allows me to have a unique way of connecting with you while you walk your journey. If you want to hear, I would be happy to share my experiences.