Fertility Counseling With Couples: A Theoretical Approach
Abstract
Couples face significant concerns while undergoing fertility treatment as they cope with complex decision-making, rigid medication schedules, side effects, and the ongoing process of dealing with the diagnosis of infertility. This highlights the increasing need for counselors to become educated and specialized in the unique support fertility patients require. Attachment theory and emotionally focused therapy can help counselors understand how to work with couples experiencing infertility, providing opportunities for new bonding, connection through grief and loss, and potentially a more smooth transition into parenthood.
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Infertility-related stressors reduce psychological resilience, which in turn affects social relationships, marital intimacy, and sexual functions.
“These prevailing stressors reduce their psychological resilience, which in turn affects their social relationships [9], marital intimacy [3], and sexual functions [29].”
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- Authors
- Koser, K.
- Affiliations
- Aporia Counseling & Psychotherapy, PLLC, Millersburg, OH, USA
- Corresponding author
- Koser, Kristy
- ORCID
- Koser, Kristy
- Venue
- The Family Journal
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2019-11-20
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 25-32
- ISSN
- 1066-4807 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-3950
- OpenAlex
- W2990535496
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2
- FWCI
- 0.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Family Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Keywords
- fertility counseling, infertility, couples, attachment theory, emotionally focused therapy, grief and loss, transition to parenthood, decision-making, infertility treatment
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