Infertility Counseling for Individuals & Couples
Navigating infertility can be an extremely overwhelming process. Issues of shame, self-esteem, identity, anxiety, depression, trauma, and sexual dysfunction are just some of things that can come up during the infertility process for individuals and couples. It’s common for infertility to take a toll on many different areas of your life, becoming a burden emotionally, socially, spiritually, and financially.
Most of us grow up with the belief that having children is an effortless part of life. When you’re given the label diagnosis of “infertility,” it’s common to feel like you’re damaged or broken because your body isn’t doing what it’s “supposed” to do. Infertility makes you question your beliefs about being a parent, and what a family or parent looks like.
You don’t have to go through this struggle alone. I can help you navigate your infertility journey and re-write your story, so it aligns with you and your goals. With individuals, I can help you learn stress management techniques and support you on this journey. With couples, I can help you learn new skills on how to communicate and support one another during this difficult process.
Sex Therapy for Infertility
While the topic of infertility brings up many other topics, such as stress, negative self-esteem, etc., few people talk about how infertility impacts sexuality. Sex can often go from hopeful and fun, to feeling like a chore, followed by a constant reminder of failure. The secure connection the couple has will weaken, and sometimes feel as though the security in the relationship as a whole as well. Over enough time, couples often stop having sex for pleasure, and instead focus solely on baby making, which often makes it difficult to present or engaged in the moment.
Some people lose all sexual identity during the infertility process. Women often feeling defined their body’s ability to carry a baby, and men often feeling defined by the quality of their sperm. Being told when you can and can’t have sex can impact self-esteem, and sometimes lead to performance issues with men, and some women experience dissociating or “shutting down,” making it more difficult to be present or engaged during sex. If left unchecked over time, these issues can have damaging effects.
Addressing infertility sexual struggles as soon as they come up is crucial in infertility counseling. I work with clients to process the infertility experiences, and issues of sexuality and dysfunction that arise, in order for individuals and couples to have a fulfilling sex life, even during their infertility journey.
Infertility Specialties
Stress Management
Intimacy & Desire
Communication
Sexual Dysfunction
Holistic Self-Care Planning
I offer virtual therapy sessions for individuals or couples experiencing infertility stress in the states of Washington & Oregon. Please contact me for more details.