At The ART Space, we believe infertility counseling can benefit anyone who’s experiencing challenges with conception and creating the family of their dreams. If you’re currently contemplating starting a family, had an unexpected diagnosis of infertility, undergoing fertility treatment, considering IVF, or you’re a past patient looking for further support, our professional and friendly practitioners are here to walk alongside you.

We understand that this stage of life can feel overwhelming, frustrating, and isolating. It can be difficult to explain to others what you’re going through, and that the desire to have a family is constantly on your mind. It’s a time of conflicting emotions and you may start to notice it creeping into and affecting every area of your life.

Making the decision to speak with a professional about taking care of yourself isn’t easy. But, sharing your story, speaking your truth, and exploring challenges can be a huge relief. You will emerge with a deeper level of insight into who you are, and what makes you tick. Counseling can help you to feel more empowered to make changes in your thought patterns and behaviors, and along the way, you will discover traits, skills, and techniques that can be used to address life’s unexpected hurdles.

Our registered fertility counselors can help individuals and couples seeking:

• Therapeutic and focused psychological interventions
• Assistance with developing and identifying practical strategies to help navigate the experience of ART
• To explore grief and loss that may accompany a reproductive or pregnancy loss
• Assistance with mental health conditions including anxiety and depression
• To explore the implications associated with creating a family through gamete (egg, sperm) or embryo donation
• Support for those progressing through pregnancy after ART
• To explore and come to terms with the decision to end treatment
• Support and guidance to become solo parents
• Treatment for the preservation of their fertility through egg storage
• Relational support to enhance connection and deepen intimacy

It’s important to know that there’s no right or wrong time to take a step into counseling. Every stage and phase of your fertility journey offers an opportunity to discover, learn, grow, and deepen your connection with yourself. Our practitioners are ready to work with you, no matter where you are, or what stage you are in.

• Pre-conception

  Making the decision to start a family can be exciting and overwhelming. Ambivalence, uncertainty, and feelings of loss can arise as women and couples contemplate whether they are ready to have a family. This can be a time when differing opinions and values may be brought to the surface and fears about parenting or becoming a parent may arise. We offer a safe and welcoming environment to openly explore the myriad of feelings and thoughts that can accompany this stage of life.

• Conception

  Falling pregnant and maintaining a pregnancy can be challenging. Beliefs and early education about pregnancy can shape how women and couples experience this time. If the transition to parenthood is delayed, high levels of worry, anxiety, depression, and fear can emerge. Social comparison is often difficult to avoid as life provides constant reminders of the effortlessness of others in getting pregnant.

  Reaching out and seeking counseling support can be helpful for women and couples to explore their feelings and responses during this challenging time. Building connection, opening communication, and tuning into supportive behaviors can help you to navigate your relationship with greater ease.

• Infertility

  A diagnosis of infertility or subfertility can be a shock. Your relationship to your body, dreams, and your future-self can take a big hit. Finding a safe and supportive place to unpack your emotional reaction can help you to explore your grief and to explore the options and choices that may be available.

  For women and couples, counseling can help you to explore ways to create a meaningful future. There is no one size fits all approach. Your needs, your thoughts, and your reactions are unique. At The ART Space our fertility counselors will honor where you’re at, and help you to work through this time at a pace that feels right for you.

• Assisted Reproductive Treatment 

  Stepping into ART can bring another wave of excitement and uncertainty. The medical approach to conception can feel overwhelming, and the techniques can feel invasive and sterile. This can be a time where the magic of your conception story may feel lost.

  Navigating the logistics of treatment alongside your life can feel exhausting and draining. Managing side effects, multiple cycles, and the emotional, psychological, and physical roller coaster can stretch your capacity to cope. Exhaustion may start to replace enthusiasm.

  Whether you are just stepping into this new world, or have been here for a while, counseling can help you explore the demands of treatment and to deepen your understanding of the impact and toll of assisted reproductive treatment on you and your partner.