New Group Forming

Psychotherapy Group

Women, Infertility, and Assisted Conception

Infertility is a common life crisis, affecting about 1 in 10 women.  Even in the best-case scenarios, when treatment leads to pregnancy, the experience of infertility can shake up a woman’s sense of wellbeing and negatively impact her life for years afterwards.  For many women, especially those under 35, the diagnosis of infertility has dramatic consequences, including symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as shifts in deeply felt expectations of herself, of family, and of her future.

It is now also normative for women to postpone having children until they are more securely established in their careers, or to consider becoming a single mother as a viable option to build a family.  These are important life choices that often result in difficulty conceiving, which is typically more difficult after age 35.

There are currently many medical options available to women struggling with infertility, including IVF, and donor assisted conception.  However, there is little support for the mental health issues resulting from these different procedures.  Medical professionals rarely give enough attention to the psychological and emotional impact of decisions about family building, especially regarding the needs of children who are conceived in these ways. 

If you, or someone you know, are interested in meeting with other women who have questions or concerns about infertility and assisted conception, a psychotherapy group is being formed to address life after infertility.  Topics of discussion will include why, when and how to share information with family, friends, and children, as well as take account of the distress often experienced in the course of creating a family.   

Time:                                     Thursdays 8:00-9:30pm

Location:                   5 West 19^th Street, 9^th Floor

                                    (close to the 2, 3, N, R lines and Union Square station)

For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact:

Nancy Freeman-Carroll, PsyD drnancyfreemancarroll@gmail.com (212) 665-0442

or

Lisa Wallner Samstag, PhD lisa.samstag@liu.edu (212) 633-1615

Support Group December 6,2012

FAMILY BUILDING NETWORK

MONTHLY  SUPPORT GROUP MEETING

 Thursday, December 6, 2012

 7-8:30PM

The FBN is a monthly support group that brings together families formed with the help of egg/sperm/embryo donation and/or surrogacy as well as parents-to-be; giving them the opportunity to ask questions, get answers to their concerns, share experiences and feel supported.

The decision to parent with the help of donors/surrogates involves multiple choices. Many parents are unsure whether they should tell their children about their conception. Even for those who make the decision to tell, the uncertainty of  how and when to begin this conversation can often result in years passing by and children not being told about their genetic origins.  Fear of “doing it wrong” or “being rejected” by their children seems to become the biggest roadblocks to talking and sharing.  

The monthly FBN meetings provide a safe and comfortable place where you need not feel alone or different.  Often, listening and sharing stories with others can give parents the confidence needed to not only start the talk with their children and others, but continue to grow the conversation.  

Discussions will  include:
·        Tools for talking about donor conception with children   ·        The importance of language in the disclosure story ·        How to answer questions from your child and others ·        How children's questions change over time ·        The latest books for parents and children
	Date: Time: Cost: Location: Contact:	Thursday, December 6, 2012 7:00-8:30 pm $25 per person, $40 per family 902 Broadway (between 20th-21st Sts. next to 920 Broadway), 13th Floor, NYC 10010 Patricia Mendell, LCSW, 212-819-1778 www.patriciamendell.com