Infertility support group

After working in the adoption field for several years, women and couples struggling with infertility have a special place in my heart. There are so many wonderful couples out there who would make amazing parents and yet they struggle to bring a child into their loving home.

Last week on the Today show they did a 2 day segment on infertility (you can view the segment here). The segment shared that the findings of a 2000 Harvard Medical School study, which showed that participation in an infertility support group can actually increase a woman’s chances of conceiving in a given menstrual cycle over 50 percent, jumping from 20 to 54 percent. Dr. Linda Applegarth, Director of Psychological Services at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, explained that not only are support groups important for women to find common ground with others and a safe space to share their feelings, but they can also be a wealth of knowledge regarding appropriate information about where to go for good infertility treatment.

With these promising results I have decided to start a support group here in the California Central Valley for women struggling with infertility. The group will meet on Tuesday evenings starting in April. For information on this group please email me at csoareslcsw@gmail.com. Also visit my website group's website here.

The Benefits of Group Therapy

I have talked quite a bit on my blog about the benefits of individual therapy, but I wanted to touch on all the benefits of group therapy. The approach in group therapy is different but still leads to self discovery. Amongst a group of peers often times deeper self discovery occurs along with life long bonds made with fellow group members.

You may wonder though how you know if group therapy is for you or if you should lean towards individual therapy. Here are some tips for you:

1. Individual therapy is best if you have recently had a trauma or death, an alcohol/drug dependence diagnosis, or if you have had a severe depressive episode. Especially if you have never sought treatment for any of these concerns it is often best to first receive individual therapy and then transition into group therapy.

2. Group therapy may be a better option for you if you are feeling isolated, alone with your feelings or unable to talk to anyone. I often hear from my clients that their friends/family are "tried of hearing about their problems" and they have no one to talk to. Just knowing you aren't alone and others are in similar situations can be very beneficial and lead to group exploration.

3. Working with a group can be a great option for you also if you feel stunted in your current individual therapeutic relationship. Often times individual therapy can only take you so far and then group work can take it further. When people come into a group setting and interact freely with other group members, they often will recreate the difficulties that brought them into therapy to begin with.

4. Group therapy offers you more than one opinion. You will get immediate feedback from not only the therapist but the other group members. You also get the experience of seeing others work through their own problems while you work on yours, often drawing from their experience.

5. If you feel especially hesitant about group work then start off with individual therapy to lay a foundation and start self exploration. Many therapist offer both individual and group therapy, feel free to inquire about your options when you contact a therapist.

On a final note, some individuals worry about the confidentiality of group work. Upon the commencement of the group everyone signs a confidentiality agreement. What is discussed in the group stays within group members only. When each group member shares freely, everyone has their own need and respect for confidentiality.

If you live in the Central Valley and are interested in group or individual therapy please feel free to contact me.