Episode #006: What to Look for in a Therapist (with Licensed Professional Counselor Molly Dalva, LPC)
This week I have the pleasure of inviting back Molly Dalva, LPC. Molly joined us for episode 3 and talked about all things trauma and the way we may experience trauma through our journey with infertility or pregnancy & infant loss. Molly is the owner of Resilience LLC, a healing space offering compassionate and connected psychotherapy to those overcoming chronic stress and trauma. Molly has held designation as a certified clinical trauma professional, a certified clinical trauma specialist in the area of sexual exploitation and trafficking and has completed advanced trainings in somatic and attachment focused trauma therapies. Molly is passionate about being with clients who have experienced trauma, and I think one thing that makes her so great at what she does is her ability to provide a human-to-human connection in which clients can come to experience safety within themselves and in relationship with others. In this episode, we are talking about the process of therapy and how we truly believe EVERYONE can benefit from therapy. Molly explains what the therapy process is like from start to finish and identifies different types of therapy and how they each might benefit you, and she also shares some really practical information on what to look for in a therapist and ways to know if your therapist is the right fit for you. Molly also shares with us a little bit of inside scoop on what your therapist may be thinking, and how your therapist can partner with you when you face barriers in therapy.
Episode #005- Navigating Infertility + Loss from the Male Perspective and How to Support a Grieving Dad (with my husband David Blair)
This week I have the pleasure of interviewing my husband of nearly 9 years, my best friend, and the father of my 9 babies in heaven and 2 here on earth - David Blair.
With Father’s Day weekend coming up this week, I wanted to focus this week’s episode on Dads. Dads who have lost a baby and Dads who are still in waiting.
In this episode, David shares what his grieving process was like over our 7 year journey of recurrent pregnancy loss and we discuss the ways that his grief differed from mine, and how that impacted our marriage. He also shares how we grew to support and provide space for each other over the years, what we wish we could go back and tell ourselves in the very beginning, and how others can support a grieving Dad. David shares candidly and vulnerably and offers an honest perspective and insight on the ways our partner’s often experience and grieve in infertility & loss.
Episode #004: Working with a Fertility Specialist: When to Start, What the Process is Like, and What Your Doctor is Thinking (with Dr. Creighton Likes, III, MD)
This week I have the pleasure of interviewing my infertility doctor, Dr. Creighton E. Likes, III, MS, MD. Dr. Likes is a double-board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and the Medical Director of the Fertility Center of the Carolinas where he has been practicing reproductive medicine for 12 years.
In this episode, Dr. Likes shares what the process of working with an infertility specialist is like, what you expect, and when individuals and couples should consider seeing a specialist. He tells us what his thought process is like when working with a new patient and what he does when he has been working with a patient for a while who has not yet had success. Dr. Likes and I talk candidly about what it looks like to have difficult conversations with your doctor, when or how to ask for a second opinion, what to do next when a treatment cycle is unsuccessful, and how patients can find emotional support for the roller coaster journey of infertility.
Dr. Likes shared so much wisdom and hope, but I think my favorite thing he said was, “Any patient is allowed to feel what they feel and it is completely valid and understandable. This process is both emotional and physical. Having rapport with your physician and knowing that you can open up and express your feelings is really important. ” Thank you for being here, friend. I hope this episode sparks courage and ignites hope for you in the week ahead.
Episode #003: The Trauma of Infertility and Pregnancy Loss: What It Is, How to Heal, and How to Support Someone Experiencing It (with Licensed Professional Counselor Molly Dalva)
This week I have the pleasure of interviewing one of my closest friends- who also happens to be a Licensed Professional Counselor and expert on all things trauma- Molly Dalva. Molly is passionate about being with clients who have experienced trauma, and I think one thing that makes her so great at what she does is her ability to provide a human-to-human connection in which clients can come to experience safety within themselves and in relationship with others. In this episode, Molly breaks down the difference between traumatic stress and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), how trauma relates to infertility and pregnancy loss and what how different people may respond to this type of trauma (think fight, flight, or freeze.. plus a fourth response you may not have heard of!). Molly also shares what is happening in our brains and bodies when we experience trauma and when we are triggered, provides steps we can take to begin the healing process, and helps those of us who may love someone who has experienced trauma better understand their experience and know how to support them. Molly shared so much wisdom and hope, but I think my favorite thing she said was, “Your pain matters, your story matters, and you are deserving of support no matter what stage of healing you’re in.” Thank you for being here, friend. I hope this episode sparks courage and ignites hope for you in the week ahead.
Episode #002: All things IVF and How to Navigate the Hurdles of Trying Again When a Cycle is Unsuccessful (with IVF Coach Kristin Dillensnyder)
This week I have the pleasure of interviewing Kristin Dillensnyder- a 3 time IVF warrior that experienced 3 different outcomes… one cycle that worked, one cycle that didn’t and one cycle that ended in a miscarriage. As a certified life coach, Kristin became the person she needed during the hardest parts of infertility so other women who need IVF to grow their families will not be as consumed by their infertility as she was. In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to make the decision to move forward with IVF or to try again after an unsuccessful cycle, how to “fill you cup” after feeling depleted and consumed by your infertility journey, what she would go back and tell herself as she was going through IVF for the first time, and so many practical tips and tools you can implement in your own life, right now, wherever you are in your journey. Kristin shared so much wisdom and hope, but I think my favorite thing she said was, “It’s really important to believe that just because it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it can’t happen.” Thank you for being here, friend. I hope this episode sparks courage and ignites hope for you in the week ahead. Let’s dive in.