A reproductive trauma involves a reproductive experience that involves feelings of fear, helplessness, loss of control, or a threat of harm to yourself or others. A reproductive trauma can occur in many forms. Some examples may include unanticipated decisions about the process of becoming a parent, experiences with infertility, unanticipated pregnancy or birth experiences, pregnancy loss, unexpected reproductive diagnoses, medical or elective abortions, confusing or overwhelming postpartum experiences, or attempts to build a family that did not result in parenthood (i.e. involuntary childlessness).
A reproductive trauma can have a profound impact on one’s sense of control over their reproductive experiences, their bodies, and their relationships.
Women who are navigating reproductive trauma often feel unheard, unsupported, and unacknowledged. They face incredibly difficult decisions in combination with complex, often overwhelming, emotions that make it difficult to fully process the experiences they have gone through. Oftentimes this results in longer term experiences with anxiety, indecision, and self-blame.
Read More on the Blog…. Creating Conscious Choices on Your Reproductive Journey
How Can Therapy Help You!
Therapy provides support to women as they process the emotions that have been a part of their reproductive journeys and make choices about how, and if, they want to move forward on their journey to building a family. We will work together to address feelings of anxiety, shame, powerlessness, and self-doubt so that you are empowered to work towards your reproductive goals in a way that feels authentic to you.
Topics We May Explore Together In Therapy Include:
- Setting realistic expectations of yourself and your body throughout reproductive experiences including pregnancy, fertility treatments, or postpartum recovery
- Addressing the impact of reproductive experiences on your relationships, including sex and intimacy concerns
- Clarifying the options available to you as you work towards goals of creating your family
- Reconnecting with your body after distressing experiences such as childbirth or fertility treatment
- Building clarity around difficult decisions related to continuing fertility treatment, additional pathways to building families, or living childfree
- Managing emotions, such as anxiety and self-doubt, accompanying difficult reproductive experiences
Let’s Connect!
I understand that the concerns bringing you into counseling are impacting the vision you have of yourself and your future family. As a therapist my goal is to provide you with a supportive space where you are able to have empowered, authentic conversations about your reproductive experiences. We will work together to address feelings of anxiety, shame, powerlessness, and self-doubt so that you can process through your experiences in a way that feels authentic to you.