Course Overview This class will take participants through the evidence-based approach that emerged in this multi-year study of couples who unexpectedly overcame infertility. Practitioners will learn the statistical importance of the 9 transitions that couples experience and how they come to impact a client's sense of self, ability to cope, and willingness to stay engaged and connected life. We will teach practitioners how they can apply these transitions to bring emotional support and self-discovery for their clients who are either in treatment, considering treatment or those looking for alternative approaches to conception. Upon completion practitioners will be able to stage clients across these 9 transitions, apply strategies that help them to validate critical emotions and provide techniques to reframe common but powerful distortions in thinking that can impact a client's emotional health and well-being. Objectives: Understand the 9 key transitions that couples experienced from early “delays” in conceiving, to being in the throes of the struggle, to an unexpected conception Learn the role that societal expectations and pressures have on an infertile couple's identity and sense of self as they experience “month the month” disappointments Expose the impact of “becoming a patient” and the compliant behavior that accompanies the infertility “label” Examine the moments of transition and triggers that lead to acceptance of one's situation, allowing couples to reach back into life, achieving a level of awareness and renewal that dramatically alters their journey to parenthood and beyond Learn critical emotional support strategies and self-discovery tools that validate couples hopes and fears that you can apply to empower clients struggling to conceive.
