Having difficulties while trying to build your family can have a big impact on a relationship. Experiencing infertility, pregnancy loss, or other reproductive challenges can affect the way you connect with your partner, and can lead to less connectedness and intimacy.
For heterosexual couples, I often hear the woman talk about how she feels alone in her suffering. The man feels the need to be strong and optimistic, never really showing how much the loss and failures are affecting him. We work together to help you communicate about your feelings so that you both feel like you are experiencing this struggle together.
We work through dealing with the intense emotions these painful conversations can bring up, so that you can get back to a place of connection and intimacy.
For LGBTQ couples, it can be frustrating to know that in order to build your family, you need the help of outside parties. We work together to help both partners communicate about how this experience feels for them. We’ll talk about how to be validating and supportive, and how to work through the difficult emotions of a journey that requires so much hoop-jumping.
Build a strong, happy relationship
even when facing failure and grief
This journey is so difficult, frustrating and painful. It is helpful to have someone by your side who understands you and can provide the support you need. This doesn’t always come naturally, it can take work to become a partnership that is able to do this.
I can help guide you by providing skills to use, and then giving you a safe space to practice these skills together. Don’t let infertility and family-building challenges get in the way of your love.
Here’s what couples therapy looks like at Infertility Counseling Center:
Couple’s therapy at Infertility Counseling Center starts with an initial assessment appointment. This is where you’ll share your story with me, tell me more about your relationship, and set goals of where you’d like your relationship to be.
During therapy we’ll focus on how to communicate about each partner’s feelings and grief, and then learn coping skills to manage your own feelings, as well as skills on how to be supportive and validating for your partner. You’ll be able to talk in a safe, supportive, validating place.
I’ll listen to you, teach you how to listen to each other, and provide a place to practice the skills while being coached. We’ll work towards your goals until you feel like you are in a better place as a couple.
Please reach out if you’re struggling. You don’t have to do this alone.
Infertility Resources
Acceptance + Hope
Accept the hard realities of your infertility journey, but also have hope that things will work out for you? It's possible! Having spent the last 10 years surrounded by infertility, both personally and professionally, I get that infertility is complicated. The emotions felt during the process can make you feel like you’re doing mental gymnastics. At an Olympic level. The bouncing back and forth between the good and sad,[read more]
Pregnancy Loss Support: What NOT to say
I get it. Handling tough emotions isn’t easy, and neither is supporting someone who is going through tough times. [read more]
Alabama and IVF
Here are 5 tips on how to manage the anxiety and unknowns surrounding the Alabama Supreme Court decision to classify embryos created in IVF as children, and the aftermath.
