In the article “I Am Childless, but Not by Choice,” published on August 30, 2024, in The Wall Street Journal, Eugenia Cheng writes of her deep grief over the infertility she has experienced. Although the author lives a life full of love and has tremendous accomplishments both professionally and personally, she details the void she’s faced being unable to have children. Unfortunately, Eugenia Cheng is not alone in feeling this way, and many women face similar challenges of involuntary childlessness. However, support for women facing infertility is available. Therapy for women, including miscarriage support, helps our clients navigate their grief and find resilience amidst the struggle; let’s explore more deeply the ways therapy can help women like Eugenia Cheng:
Healing the Heart: How Therapists Help With Grief After Pregnancy Loss
The grief felt by women following miscarriage or failed in vitro fertilization can be profound. Most people define grief as losing someone they have loved and lost. This narrow definition does not fully acknowledge the intense grief that comes with the loss of a pregnancy or the dream of becoming a parent. This type of grief can feel deeply personal and isolating, as it involves mourning not only what was but also the envisioned future. As therapists, we understand that grief is multifaceted and layered. While others may not fully grasp the depth of your pain, we do. With empathy and care, we are here to help you rebuild a sense of emotional connection and healing.
Rewriting the Narrative: How Therapy Supports Women Without Children
Many girls, even today, are conditioned for motherhood from a young age—playing with baby dolls, receiving praise for caregiving behavior, and hearing that they’ll be moms someday. The societal expectation that women become mothers is strong, and unconsciously, many women tie their value to their ability to raise a family. Unfortunately, when a woman is childless, this conditioning can brew feelings of inadequacy, shame, or guilt. The media further exacerbates this issue with constant depictions of family life in movies and TV shows, along with social media flooded with pregnancy announcements, baby showers, and gender reveal parties. There’s a noticeable absence of narratives around childlessness, and your therapist is here to bridge that gap and provide coping mechanisms.
Reclaiming Identity: How Therapy Helps Redefine Your Story
Societal pressures aside, many women have a deep, personal desire to experience motherhood and navigate the beautifully complex journey of parenthood. Infertility can shatter these dreams, and even after processing grief and rebuilding self-worth beyond societal expectations, many of our clients still find themselves asking, “What now?” Our therapists can help you find the answer to that by helping you:
- Identify new life goals
- Rediscover personal strengths
- Develop fulfilling relationships
- Explore new avenues of nurturing
- Continue to foster self-confidence without children
Compassionate Care for Women’s Health: Meet Therapist Sairah Abbasi
Sairah Abbasi is a licensed therapist in California specializing in women’s health, including infertility, miscarriage, and endometriosis. With a person-centered approach, Sairah collaborates with her clients on their healing journey, helping them rebuild self-worth, manage difficult emotions, and find new meaning. Through telehealth sessions, Sairah offers compassionate support for women facing the emotional challenges of childlessness and infertility.
To learn more about the support for women that licensed therapist Sairah Abbasi offers, please get in touch with our Intake Coordinator at 949-236-1990 or intakes@lisaeatontherapy.com. You can also learn more over at our Get Started Page.
