Infertility + Family Building

Finding Resilience in the Journey to Parenthood

The process to becoming parents rarely follows the straight line we expect. Instead of a joyful milestone, it can become a cycle of medical appointments, waiting rooms, and silent grief. Navigating the emotional complexities of IVF, donor conception, surrogacy, reciprocal IVF, or loss is exhausting and overwhelming. We provide a values-based approach to help you manage grief, reduce isolation, and find resilience regardless of how your family is built.

2. Third-Party Reproduction & Alternative Path

For clients exploring donor conception, surrogacy, or adoption.

Donor & Surrogacy Navigation: Processing the complex emotions surrounding genetic grief and defining what "family" means to you.
Intended Parent Support: Guidance on managing the relationship with surrogates and preparing for a non-traditional path to parenthood.
Values Alignment: Helping individuals and couples clarify their stance on ethical and logistical questions regarding third-party reproduction.

3. Perinatal Loss & Grief Counseling

A compassionate space to process the complex grief of pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and medical trauma.

Processing Pregnancy Loss: Compassionate support for miscarriage, stillbirth, and chemical pregnancies.
Grieving Failed Cycles: Validating the grief of negative pregnancy tests or failed transfers as genuine losses that deserve care.
Ending the Journey: Support for those transitioning to a child-free life after infertility, focusing on redefining identity and finding new purpose.

4. Pregnancy After Infertility

Addressing the unique anxiety that comes with a pregnancy achieved after struggle.

Managing "Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop": Tools to handle the fear of loss and the inability to "trust" the pregnancy.
Identity Transitions: Navigating the shift from "infertility patient" to "expectant parent" and the complex feelings of guilt or disconnect that can arise.

5. Postpartum & New Parenthood

Support for the "fourth trimester" and beyond.

Postpartum Adjustment: Addressing the reality of parenthood vs. the fantasy, including postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety (PPA).
Birth Trauma Processing: Healing from difficult birth experiences, particularly for those with a history of medical trauma during fertility treatment.

6. Couples Counseling for Family Building

Leveraging Carolyn’s Gottman Level 1 training.

Protecting the Partnership: Strategies to stop infertility from dominating every conversation and reclaiming intimacy outside of "trying".
Conflict Resolution: Navigating different coping styles (e.g., one partner wants to talk, the other withdraws).
Communication Tools: Practical exercises to discuss finances, treatment limits, and emotional needs without escalating into conflict.
For couples facing broader relationship challenges outside of fertility, see our Couples Therapy page.

Offering more than just a space to vent, I provide a specialized, evidence-based approach to help you maintain your mental health while navigating the medical system.

Using my experience with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and a Trauma-Informed lens, we will move beyond toxic positivity ("just relax") to address the reality of your experience. My goal is to equip you with tools to manage the anxiety of the wait, process medical stress, and ensure that your life is defined by your values, not just your fertility status.

I support individuals and couples through these key phases of the journey:

1. Fertility Treatment Support (IVF/IUI)

Focusing on the emotional stamina required for medicalized conception.

Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster: ACT-based tools to manage the anxiety of the "Two-Week Wait," treatment delays, and the uncertainty of outcomes.
Medical Trauma & Stress Management: Processing the physical and emotional impact of invasive procedures and medical environments using a trauma-informed lens.
Decision-Making Support: Values-based counseling to help you make difficult choices regarding treatment cessation, changing clinics, or escalating interventions.