Primary/Secondary Infertility

For individuals/couples struggling to add a child/children to their family, the physical, emotional, spiritual as well as financial stressors that often accompany this experiences can take a significant toll on mental health and in relationships. Those dealing with fertility issues are often faced with heartbreaking losses and complex decisions with long reaching consequences that affect one’s life and relationships.

For individuals/couples who decide to access assisted reproductive technologies (ART), counselling services can be helpful to:

• Provide support and develop coping skills to help manage the high levels of social, emotional and relationship stress that often accompany this experience

• Assist you in learning techniques such as meditation and relaxation training to complement your medical treatments

• Provide treatment for phobias related to medical procedures (e.g. fear of needles) or experiences that may accompany a pregnancy (e.g. fear of vomiting)

• Facilitate discussions between partners regarding differences in perspectives and emotional investment in pursuing various treatment options

• Help explore your thoughts and feelings regarding decisions surrounding treatment options and assist you in communicating your needs to your care providers

• Work through feelings of anger, grief and loss that may accompany infertility, unsuccessful treatments, miscarriage etc..

• Address and explore the impact of the experience of infertility on your life and in your relationship

• Assist you in dealing with any pre-existing mental health difficulties that are exacerbated by this experience

• Help you to gain closure and move forward if you are considering ending treatments and deciding to live child-free or exploring alternative options to create or build your family