Preparing for Infertility Therapy: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Your First Session

Feb 1

Written By A G

Why Infertility Therapy Can Be a Game-Changer

Infertility isn’t just a medical condition—it’s an emotional experience that can impact your mental health, relationships, and overall well-being. From the rollercoaster of treatments to the uncertainty of what comes next, infertility can bring up feelings of grief, anxiety, frustration, and even loss of identity.

Therapy provides a safe space to process these emotions, helping individuals and couples navigate infertility with greater resilience and clarity. If you’re considering therapy for the first time, you may feel a mix of relief, nervousness, and even uncertainty about what to expect.

To help you prepare for your first session, here are five key questions to ask yourself. Taking a few moments to reflect on these can help you get the most out of therapy and gain a clearer understanding of your emotional needs.

1. What Are My Biggest Emotional Struggles Right Now?

Infertility affects people in different ways. Some struggle most with grief and loss, while others feel overwhelmed by decision-making, relationship stress, or anxiety about the future.

Before your first therapy session, take some time to identify the main emotions you’ve been experiencing lately. Ask yourself:

Am I feeling stuck in grief over failed treatments or pregnancy loss?
Is anxiety about the unknown making it hard to function day-to-day?
Am I struggling with anger, jealousy, or isolation?
Do I feel emotionally disconnected from my partner or support system?

There’s no right or wrong answer—this is simply an opportunity to check in with yourself and recognize what’s weighing on you the most.

How therapy helps: Your therapist will guide you in unpacking these emotions and provide strategies to help you manage them in healthier ways.

2. What Do I Hope to Get Out of Therapy?

Many people go into therapy knowing they need support but aren’t exactly sure what they want from it. That’s okay—therapy is a process, and clarity often comes with time. However, it can be helpful to think about your general goals before your first session.

Ask yourself:

Do I need tools to manage the emotional highs and lows of infertility?
Am I looking for guidance in making a big decision (e.g., continuing treatments, considering donor conception, exploring adoption)?
Do I want to strengthen my relationship and communication with my partner?
Would I benefit from support in setting boundaries with family and friends?

Having a few general goals in mind can help your therapist tailor their approach to best support you.

How therapy helps: Your therapist will help clarify and refine your goals, making sure you leave each session with practical steps toward emotional healing and resilience.

3. How Has Infertility Affected My Sense of Self?

Infertility can shake the foundation of how you see yourself. It’s not just about trying to conceive—it’s about the expectations you had for your life and what it means when those expectations shift.

Consider these questions:

Has infertility made me question my identity or sense of purpose?
Do I feel like I’m failing or letting myself (or others) down?
Has this experience changed the way I see my body or my worth?
Am I struggling with feelings of guilt, shame, or resentment?

Understanding how infertility has impacted your self-esteem and personal identity can be an important topic to explore in therapy.

How therapy helps: A therapist can help you rebuild confidence, reframe negative self-perceptions, and find ways to feel whole and valued regardless of the outcome of your fertility journey.

4. How Has Infertility Affected My Relationships?

Infertility can put stress on even the strongest relationships—whether it’s with a partner, family, or friends. It can create tension, miscommunication, or even feelings of isolation.

Think about how infertility has impacted your relationships:

Am I feeling disconnected from my partner?
Do I resent how others react (or don’t react) to my struggles?
Do pregnancy announcements, baby showers, or family gatherings feel painful?
Have I been withdrawing from social events or friendships?

Therapy can be an opportunity to work through these relational challenges and develop healthy ways to communicate your needs to loved ones.

How therapy helps: A therapist can teach relationship and communication skills that help you navigate difficult conversations, set boundaries, and maintain emotional closeness with those who matter most.

5. Am I Open to Exploring Different Coping Strategies?

Infertility is an unpredictable journey, and coping strategies that worked in the past may not be enough to handle the emotional ups and downs of this experience.

Before starting therapy, ask yourself:

Am I open to learning new ways to manage stress, grief, or anxiety?
Would I be willing to try mindfulness, journaling, or other therapeutic techniques?
How do I usually cope with difficult emotions, and is that approach still serving me?

Being open to exploring new coping strategies can make therapy even more effective. Even if certain methods feel unfamiliar at first, working with a therapist can help you find the ones that resonate most with you.

How therapy helps: Your therapist will introduce techniques tailored to your emotional needs, whether that’s mindfulness, guided journaling, cognitive behavioral strategies, or other therapeutic tools.

What to Expect in Your First Infertility Therapy Session

Now that you’ve reflected on these five questions, you may be wondering what your first therapy session will actually look like.

Here’s what to expect:

Your therapist will likely start by getting to know you—asking about your infertility journey, current emotions, and what you hope to gain from therapy.
There’s no pressure to share everything all at once—therapy is a gradual process, and you can open up at your own pace.
Your therapist will help identify key emotional challenges and offer initial guidance on how to manage stress, grief, or relationship concerns.
You’ll likely leave with a clearer sense of direction, whether that’s a new coping strategy, a journaling prompt, or simply a feeling of relief from being heard.

If you feel nervous or unsure going into your first session, that’s completely normal. Therapy is a space for support, not judgment, and taking this first step is a sign of strength.

Final Thoughts: Taking the First Step Toward Emotional Support

Infertility therapy isn’t about “fixing” anything—it’s about helping you feel more emotionally supported, validated, and equipped to handle the challenges of this journey.

By reflecting on these five questions before your first session, you’ll be better prepared to open up, engage in meaningful discussions, and find coping strategies that truly work for you.

You don’t have to go through this alone—support is available, and therapy can help you move through this experience with more clarity, resilience, and self-compassion.

Find Support Through Sagebrush Counseling

If you’re preparing for infertility therapy and want compassionate, specialized support, Sagebrush Counseling is here to help. We provide individual and couples counseling for those navigating fertility challenges, helping you process emotions, strengthen relationships, and regain a sense of balance.

Reach out today to schedule a session and take the first step toward emotional healing and support.

A G