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