Reproductive & Perinatal Loss
I am sorry for your loss.
Providing care to women, birthers, couples, and families impacted by infertility, pregnancy loss, and infant death forms the crux of my practice. These very real, life-altering losses are all too often diminished or unacknowledged entirely. Loved ones, acquaintances, colleagues, and even professionals may not know how to respond to your situation and can (with pure intentions) say or do things that cause more pain than comfort. Almost always, partners grieve reproductive and perinatal losses differently, which may make you feel alone in your bereavement. With the right support, though, you can learn to live with grief while also experiencing new hope, joy, and purpose.
I have worked with the pregnancy and infant loss community for nearly a decade, first as a volunteer and board member for an international nonprofit organization serving bereaved families and then as a medical social worker at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital. I recognize your loss and validate your grief, in whatever way that looks and feels to you. It is my privilege to hear your story and to help you navigate this next part of your life’s journey.
Infertility
Infertility is loss. Trying to conceive unsuccessfully month after month is emotionally, physically, socially, and oftentimes financially devastating. Whether you are trying to become a parent for the first time or are hoping to bring additional children into your family, being unable to do so can feel defeating. After a while, becoming pregnant may feel like an obsession, one that depletes your energy and distracts your attention from other aspects of your life. You can share this intimate loss with me without fear of judgement or dismissal. We will examine the impact of infertility on your emotional and physical health and on your personal relationships, and I can provide empathetic support as you process your grief and consider next steps that feel right for you.
Miscarriage & Stillbirth
You have the right to define your parenthood. Through my work in emergency rooms, delivery rooms, and post-surgical units, I am acutely aware that there is no universal standard of care for pregnancy loss. You may feel silenced in sharing your experience or forced to “move on” once you have physically recovered – this is called disenfranchised grief. I can support you in honoring your baby’s life, no matter how brief, and following your own timeline of bereavement and remembrance. I welcome siblings into session and am experienced in providing grief support to children/adolescents. Additionally, I can support you in addressing the often difficult and sensitive topics that follow a loss, including intimacy and future family planning.
Infant death
You are surviving the unimaginable. Whether your baby lived moments or months outside the womb, you were forced to say goodbye far too soon. I have worked with individuals and couples who have lost an infant to complications of prematurity, congenital health conditions, SIDS, accidents, and abuse. I have supported parents in navigating palliative, hospice, and comfort care for their newborn or infant and am intimately familiar with the NICU environment. I can be a safe space for you to process your trauma, to speak those unspoken words, and to grieve in the way that feels authentic to you. We can discuss how to support surviving siblings, manage grief triggers, and parent your late child’s legacy moving forward.