Are You and Your Partner Struggling To Become Pregnant?
You’ve reached that point in your life-that time when you and your partner are ready to conceive a child. It’s a thrilling decision, and perhaps something you’ve both wanted for a very long time. You try and try and try. You hear from everyone in your life “when are you going to have kids?” You try for a year, then decide to see a doctor. You go through a litany of testing. You are confused, angry, anxious, and frightened when you hear that you are one of the many that struggle with fertility (approximately 1 in 6 couples have a fertility issue). You don’t know where to go, who to talk to, who to tell. You are feeling like you’ve missed out on something that everyone else in life gets to experience. You are feeling isolated, sad, and angry.
You Are Not Alone In Your Struggle With Infertility
If the above describes you at all, you are not alone. Studies show that infertility can have a great affect on sexual functioning and satisfaction, marital satisfaction, communication, and adjustment. The need for someone to talk to is great so that these needs can be addressed.
Whether you come in as a couple, as an individual, or take advantage of group sessions with others experiencing the same difficulties, it is important to get started somewhere. Goals of counseling include negotiating the grieving process (because it is a loss), learn how to relinquish control and realize where you still have some control (become your best advocate), set goals that are appropriate and realistic, heal your relationships (your marriage, your friendships, your family relationships, etc), and finally to make decisions regarding your future parenting options.
Start Talking About it With People Who Get It!
Life Balance Counseling offers therapists who get it! Some therapists have even experienced the struggles of infertility themselves and can really dive into your feelings, feel empathy for your situation, and help you see to the other side.
If you choose the group option, you’ll get to hear other people’s stories. You’ll start to realize that you are in fact not alone in this process. You can share ideas, be a shoulder to cry on for someone else, an open ear for listening, and also know that all of this will be returned to you by your fellow group members. The power of groups is real and healing. Lauren Fallon, LCSW of Life Balance has teamed up with board certified music therapist and birth doula Kate Taylor to co-lead these groups that incorporate a variety of innovative tools to help you down this road towards healing and discovery.
You may believe that you could benefit from talking about your fertility struggles, but still have a few questions and concerns…
Please feel free to reach out to one of our qualified therapists to discuss your specific questions and concerns. You can email Lauren Fallon at lfallon@lbcounseling.com with any questions or concerns. You can also attend a workshop led by Kate Taylor and Lauren Fallon which will be a brief introduction into what you can expect from a fertility support group at Life Balance.
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