Stress, anxiety, depression, guilt, and anger are all common when experiencing infertility. These feelings can put a strain on any relationship and make it difficult to love yourself and your partner.
Having an infertility counselor during this time can be beneficial in helping each person be able to communicate what the process has been like for them. Since it is common for couples to experience the frustrations of infertility differently, a counselor can give tools for better communication and help explain what has led each partner to experience what they are experiencing.
Biltmore Psychology and Counseling provides counseling for individuals and couples managing the emotional stresses associated with infertility. We encourage couples to seek counseling early on in their struggles. This way expectations and disappointments can be dealt with together with the help of a professional psychologist.
Creating, establishing, and repairing emotionally fulfilling relationships is an integral part of our mission. If you are struggling with the emotional stress of infertility, please call us at (480) 999-7070
Teletherapy & Video Counseling Sessions Available
Biltmore Psychology and Counseling offers teletherapy sessions as a way to participate in counseling without needing to be physically present at our office.
Request Appointment or Contact Us Below
Fill out the form below or call us at (480) 999-7070 for a free 10 minute consultation on how we can help.
Infertility Counseling FAQ
Signs You Should See an Infertility Counselor?
Infertility can be a time that bonds a relationship and helps the couple feel close, yet for many, this stressful time is one that can pull them apart. Below are a few signs that you should seek an infertility counselor:
- Intimacy is replaced with only “procreation sex”
- Arguments are increasing around how infertility should be addressed
- The couple cannot agree on when/if to pursue assisted reproductive technology to form a family
- Either partner is feeling anxious, depressed or despair
- Infertility is taking over the couple’s life
- The couple is lacking support from friends or family who understand their stress
What Can You Expect from Infertility Counseling?
Couples counseling for infertility will focus on identifying the places in the relationship that are causing distress, misunderstanding, or feelings of distance. At times of difficult decisions, it will focus on helping the couple express their needs, fears, and desires while also listening to the other partner’s perspectives.
If infertility has caused places of pain in the relationship, the focus will be to help the couple repair their relationship and feel supported by the other. Individual counseling for infertility will help the individual process through negative feelings of loss, grief, anger, confusion and stress related to the process.
How Infertility Can Impact a Relationship
Infertility is an inherently stressful process. Couples experiencing infertility go through grief, shame, self-blame, financial stress, scheduling stress, information overload, and despair. In fact, research shows that a woman going through infertility is as stressed as a woman diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.
Numerous big decisions and disappointments can stress event the best of relationships leaving many feeling misunderstood and unsupported. Couples can benefit from infertility counseling when the stress on the relationship reaches a tipping point and is starting to drive a wedge in the relationship. Yet, couples can also benefit from infertility counseling when they are first faced with infertility as a way to help them stay close through each decision and hard moment.
Further Reading: How Infertility Can Impact a Relationship
Can I Come for Infertility Counseling Without My Partner?
Yes! Individual counseling for infertility will help the individual process through negative feelings of loss, grief, anger, confusion and stress related to the process.
Meet our Team
DR. MELISSA ESTAVILLO, PsyD
Doctorate and Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, Arizona School of Professional Psychology
Practice Areas: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Relationship / Marriage Counseling, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD / Trauma, Grief, Spiritual Integration, Medical Counseling
DR. AUDREY SESSIONS, PsyD
Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, Arizona School of Professional Psychology
M.A. Clinical Psychology, Arizona School of Professional Psychology
M.S. Mental Health Counseling, Walden University
Practice Areas: Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Emotional Regulation, LGBTQ+, Race-Based Stress, Military and Veteran-Related Issues, General Mental Health, Couples Counseling, Multicultural Diversity and Inclusion, Mindfulness
SUSAN SELF, LPC
M.S. Counseling and Human Services, University of Toledo
B.S. Psychology, Bowling Green State University
Practice Areas: Relationship / Marriage Counseling, Pre-marital Counseling, Parenting, General Counseling, Anxiety and Depression, Individual Therapy, Career Decisions, Caring for Aging Relatives, Life Changes, Work/Life Stressors
NICOLE ELLIOTT, LPC
M.C. Counseling, Arizona State University
B.A. English (Literature), Arizona State University
Practice Areas: Adjustment Disorders, Anxiety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Cbt), Depression, Disability Counseling, Existential Therapy, Faith-Based Counseling, General Mental Health Counseling, Gerontological Counseling, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling, Mindful Self-Compassion (Msc)
ELIZABETH FELIX, LPC
M.A. Human Resources and Substance Abuse, Ottawa University
M.A. Professional Counseling, Ottawa University
B.A. Psychology, Ottawa University
Practice Areas: Trauma, Anxiety, PTSD, Grief, Life Transitions, Women’s Focused Issues, LGBTQ+, Parenting, Depression, Couples Counseling, Family Counseling, Faith-based Counseling, General Mental Health Counseling
HEATHER WHEELER, LCSW
Masters in Social Work, Arizona State University
B.A. Psychology, Arizona State University
Specialties: Anxiety, CBT, Depression, Grief Counseling, Couples Counseling, LGBTQ+, Mindfulness, Family Counseling, General Mental Health Counseling, Women-Focused Issues/New Mothers Counseling, and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
Our Location in Phoenix, AZ
We’re here for you.
Our infertility theropists apply professional expertise and understanding to provide the best holistic counseling services in Phoenix, AZ.
A 10-min consultation can help you determine whether our services would be the right fit for you. Call us today for a free phone consultation.
