Working with Infertility and Grief: A Practical Guide for Helping Professionals

Description

Working with Infertility and Grief: A Practical Guide for Helping Professionals explores issues of grief, including disenfranchised grief and chronic sorrow, related to infertility and reproductive loss. Out of the small handful of books related to this topic, this is the first of its kind geared toward equipping helping professionals who assist those grieving unrecognized losses. Written through the lens of the literary framework of The Hero’s Journey, this comprehensive practitioner guide directly targets mental health professionals working with clients, supervisees, or students who have experienced infertility, miscarriage, or death of an infant. This book is also for those who experienced it themselves. Readers will learn more about the crisis of infertility and reproductive loss, gain insight into the experience of those suffering, and acquire practical tools and strategies for helping and healing. This text is broad enough to be integrated into a course for a graduate program and specific enough to serve as a shelf reference for those in practice. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Contents About the Authors Acknowledgments Figures Introduction: What Is the Hero's Journey? The Hero's Journey The Separation Phase Need for the Journey Resistance Help and Hope Point of No Return Belly of the Whale The Quest Phase The Road of Trials Meeting the Guide Temptations Atonement Apotheosis The Ultimate Boon The Return Phase Refusal of the Return Doubt and Hope Navigating Two Worlds Freedom to Live Conclusion References Part One: The Biopsychosocial Crisis of Infertility Chapter One. The Diagnosis: So, You Can't Have a Baby: What's the Big Deal? What Can Helping Professionals Do? The Hero's Journey Conclusion References Chapter Two. Biological Impacts of Infertility: My Body Betrayed Me Causes of Infertility Female Factors Male Factors Unexplained Infertility Reproductive Loss Chemical and Ectopic Pregnancy Miscarriage Stillbirth Abortion Premature Birth and Early Infant Death Birth of Special Needs Children Sterilization Treatment Medications Surgical Procedures Assisted Conception Grieving Biological Losses Conclusion References Chapter Three. Psychological Impacts of Infertility: A Mind That Questions and a Heart That Hurts The Crisis of Grief Grief Mourning Bereavement Five Basic Reactions to Loss Abbreviated Grief Ambiguous Grief Complicated Grief Chronic Sorrow Disenfranchised Grief Secondary Losses Traumatic Grief The Crisis of Psychological Disorders Anxiety Depression Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Prolonged Grief Disorder The Crisis of Complex Emotions Loss of Identity and Feelings of Defectiveness, Incompetence, and Worthlessness Anger Marital Problems Social Isolation Conclusion References Chapter FOUR. Social Impacts of Infertility: One Is the Loneliest Number Relationships with a Spouse or Partner Sexual Intimacy Emotional Strain Lack of Support Outside the Relationship and Feelings of Inadequacy Disagreements Relationships with Friends and Family Friends and Family Social Media Relationship with Faith Relationship with Self Conclusion References Part Two: Who Suffers from Infertility? Chapter Five. Aging and Infertility: TICK, TICK, TICK ... Is That My Biological Clock? A Limited Window Cultural and Societal Influences Physical Complications Social Supports and Intimate Relationship Difficulties Financial Considerations Conclusion References Chapter Six. Non-Age-Related Infertility: I'm Still a Spring Chicken, So Where Are My Chicks? What Is Non-Age-Related Infertility? Types of Non-Age-Related Infertility How Is This Different from Other Kinds of Infertility? Congenital Issues Impacting Infertility Environmental Impacts on Fertility Medical Impacts on Fertility Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Heart Disease Cancer Sexually Transmitted Infections Complications Associated with Earlier Pregnancy Post-Abortion Infertility Mental Health and Fertility Anxiety and Depression Disordered Eating Non-Heterosexual Couples' Infertility Alternative Paths to Parenthood: Options for Non-Heteronormative Couples Conclusion References Chapter Seven. Femininity and Social Implications: Who Am I If I'm Not a Mother? Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Theory The Individual The Microsystem Intimate Partner Family Friends Professional Setting Religious Affiliation Healthcare Services The Mesosystem The Exosystem The Macrosystem Societal Views Community Effects The Chronosystem Conclusion References Chapter Eight. Male Factor Infertility: Dude, Am I Shooting Blanks? Male Infertility Age-Related Male Infertility Non-Age-Related Male Infertility Emotional Consequences of Male Infertility Male Relationships Intimate Partner Relationships Family Relationships Conclusion References Chapter Nine. Personal Choices in Growing a Nontraditional Family: Will You Stop Asking Me About Children? Social Pressures for Motherhood Pronatalist Policies Media Friends and Family The Changing American Family Birth Control Choosing Childlessness Nontraditional Routes to Parenthood Fertility Treatments Egg Donation, Sperm Donation, and Embryo Adoption Surrogacy Adoption Choosing to Remain Childless How the Hero Can Respond when Asked about Children Conclusion References Chapter Ten. Multicultural Considerations: Is Infertility an Equal Opportunity Condition? The RESPECTFUL Model Religion/Spiritual Identity Economic Class Background Sexual Identity Psychological Maturity Ethnic Identity Chronological Development Trauma Family History and Dynamics Unique Physical Characteristics Location of Residence and Language Differences Conclusion References Part Three: Strategies and Suggestions for the Helping Professional Chapter Eleven. A Plan of Action for the Clinician: Finding Happily Ever After The Therapeutic Process Intake Relationship Building Assessment Goal Setting Treatment Options Evaluating Progress Ending Major Theories of Psychology Families of Theories Cognitive Theory Foundational Beliefs of Cognitive Theory Change Process in Cognitive Theory Applying the Hero's Journey to Cognitive Theory Person-Centered Theory Foundational Beliefs of Person-Centered Theory Change Process in Person-Centered Theory Applying the Hero's Journey to Person-Centered Theory Narrative Theory Foundational Beliefs of Narrative Theory Change Process in Narrative Theory Applying the Hero's Journey to Narrative Theory Wellness and Self-Care Conclusion References Chapter Twelve. Working with Individuals, Partners, and Families: The Cast of Characters The Cast The Hero Physical Impacts of Infertility for the Hero Mental Impacts of Infertility for the Hero Emotional Impacts of Infertility for the Hero Spiritual Impacts of Infertility for the Hero Social Impacts of Infertility for the Hero The Partner Physical Impacts of Infertility on the Partner Mental Impacts of Infertility on the Partner Emotional Impacts of Infertility on the Partner Spiritual Impacts of Infertility on the Partner Social Impacts of Infertility on the Partner Family, Friends, and Children Specialized Therapeutic Approaches Couples Counseling Grief and Loss Counseling Expressive Arts Group Counseling Conclusion References Chapter Thirteen. The Clinical Supervisor's Role: Guiding the Hero's Journey The Supervisor's Role A Hero's Journey Tri-Level Infertility Supervision Model Infertility and Supervision Client Clinician/Supervisee Supervisor Tri-Level Infertility Supervision Case Conceptualization The Separation Phase The Quest Phase The Return Phase 50 Questions to Consider The Separation Phase The Quest Phase The Return Phase Conclusion References Chapter Fourteen. Counselor Educator Wisdom: The Sage How Is a Sage Different from an Expert? Using the Hero's Journey as a Teaching Resource Scholarship and Service Conclusion References Appendix A. Hero's Journey Group Plan Session #1 - Introductions and Group Expectations Warm Up Psychoeducation Session #2 - You Are a Hero: The Hero's Journey Warm Up Psychoeducation Session #3 - The Separation Phase Warm Up Psychoeducation Session #4 - The Quest Phase Warm Up Psychoeducation Session #5 - Grieving the Losses Warm Up Psychoeducation Session #6 - The Road of Trials Stage Warm Up Psychoeducation Session #7 - Guides and Tempters Warm Up Psychoeducation Session #8 - Plot Twist Warm Up Psychoeducation Session #9 - Apotheosis/ Climax of the Story Warm Up Psychoeducation Session #10 - Return and Healing Warm Up Psychoeducation Session #11 - Freedom to Live Warm Up Psychoeducation Session #12 - Ending Warm Up Psychoeducation Reference Appendix B. Seven Types of Conflict Glossary Index