Infertility Therapy Berkeley
You had your hopes crushed again with another negative pregnancy test.
You’ve gone from doctor to specialist, have tried apps to track sleep and ovulation, changed your diet, gone to acupuncturists and yoga classes, tried different combinations of herbal teas, tinctures, and vitamins. You may even be trying IVF. You are doing an amazing job of keeping your spirits up and hope alive both because you need to believe in the dream of having a family and because you worry that sadness might impact your chances of conceiving. You’re doing everything you can - you’re doing everything right! But as you push ahead, going from appointment to appointment, never losing faith, not one fertility specialist has asked how you’re feeling or coping. Your partner tries to be supportive, but they are also going through this difficult experience and their way of dealing is to move forward! You want to move forward too, but you can’t without acknowledging the pain. A big part of you is grieving, and no one sees it. You’re left feeling like you’re going through this alone.
It’s hard to talk about infertility.
You know infertility is common, especially as so many adults choose to have children later in life. Still, it’s not something that people share openly. The topic brings up feelings of shame, guilt, anger, and hopelessness. And no one ever talks about the grief associated with losing the ability to have a biological child, with having to shift your dream of what a family might be, with letting go of the hope you feel every time you take a pregnancy test and it’s negative again…or get a positive test that ends in miscarriage.
It’s ok to grieve and hope at the same time.
I’m Robyn, an infertility therapist in Berkeley, CA that understands the rollercoaster of emotions that go with trying to build a family while dealing with reproductive challenges. I specialize in disenfranchised grief. You may not be familiar with this term - it’s not widely known. It refers to deep grief that is not recognized, accepted, or mourned publicly or socially. It is the grief that people don’t want to talk about because they either don’t understand the complexity of the losses that you are experiencing, don’t know what to say, or don’t realize the pain associated with the losses. I’ve had my own battles with infertility and know how isolating it can be. In our sessions, you will have space to share how this loss has impacted you without the pressure to “focus on the future”. I will recognize and help you process and mourn the many losses that infertility brings. You will be able to feel hope while feeling your grief - this duality is part of the experience and can’t be ignored.
Talk to someone that understands.
You don’t have to go through this alone. If you want to process your grief so that you can fully embrace your hope for your future family, contact me to book a FREE 15 minute consultation at 510-519-1779 or click the button below to schedule a video or phone meeting. Get the support and understanding you deserve!
Frequently Asked Questions
of Infertility Therapists in Berkeley
-
An infertility therapist helps you process the layered emotions that come with reproductive challenges. An infertility counselor focuses more on educating and providing guidance around different fertility treatment options.
-
An infertility therapist is a mental health specialist who provides support to individuals struggling with reproductive challenges. Women who are diagnosed with infertility frequently have symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sometimes, PTSD. In addition, infertility can impact relationships and intimacy. According to the National Institutes of Health, ~40% of women struggling with infertility meet criteria for a depression or anxiety diagnosis. If you are someone struggling with the impact of infertility, finding a therapist that you can talk to can help.
