The Need
Are you experiencing a devastating reproductive nightmare or is it truly YOUR reality?

After months or even years of attempting to become pregnant, you are shocked to receive the diagnosis of INFERTILITY. As you nervously squirm in a cold sweat, the diagnostician uncovers your problem. The experience lacks warmth and seems so clinical to you, yet it is surreal. You ask questions, such as, "How could this be happening to me?" "Why is this happening to us?" "Was I wrong to wait so long?"

The testing may reveal a physical cause for infertility, but, all too often, it is unexplained. In this case, in particular, you feel completely help-less and guilt-full. You assumed it would be "a piece of cake" to have a baby. It was for your relatives and friends!

But you never get to have your cake and eat it, too. You feel that there is nothing you can do, but WAIT and try, try again, but to no avail.

You feel the stigma and isolation of infertility. What follows are many anxious moments, where you are overwhelmed. However, after much clinical testing, embarrassing manipulation, and frustration, you may be fortunate enough to conceive, either naturally or chemically with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), but the journey is a tough one for you. After all, you have no prior experience or mental conditioning skills to travel to such unknown territory in the world of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).

And then there are those who, no matter how hard they TRY, are left with feelings of hopelessness, inability to sleep, indecision, erratic bursts of anger and rage, and self-doubt, while fearing, all day and night, that the stork will never visit. The act of procreation becomes boring, tense, and lacks spontaneity and creativity. All the fun of the creative art is lost! It takes its toll...sooner or later.

Alice Domar, PHD, in her book, Conquering Infertility (2002), spoke about her research on how depression can set in after years of unsuccessful attempts, adding to anxiety and fears.

SO WHAT DO YOU DO? Despair? Flee? Give in to fear? Become prematurely resigned to a child-less life? Or do you grow from the experience as a creative person, learn what to do, and move forward confidently?

Self-love, courage, mental strength, as well as physical stamina, intelligent risk-taking, and decisiveness, are essential qualities that will help you withstand the rigors of baby-making. They can assist you to not only survive, but to thrive through the ART of procreation.

To be their creative selves, women are more than their physical bodies, when it comes to reproduction. So are men. They, indeed, are whole human beings in body, mind, and spirit. Researchers and others examined the coping strategies and the effects of stress on individuals and couples experiencing infertility (Pook, Krause, & Rohrle, 1999; McQuillan, Greil, White, & Jacob, 2003; Charlesworth, 2004; Parry, 2004; Schmidt, Holstein, Christensen, & Boivin, 2005; van den Akker, 2005; Petersen, Newton, Rosen, & Schulman, 2006).

Successful Mind/Body approaches have been implemented by clinicians to enhance fertility and improve coping strategies for infertility at the Mind/Body Medical Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School (Domar, Slawsby, Kessel, Clapp, Reizinger, Orav, 2000; Domar, 2002). Stress management can serve to reduce the stress itself, which can decrease the conflict in marriage, resulting from infertility, and improve the chances of setting up for a healthy outcome in pregnancy.

Our Holistic Program
How can you solve the "fertile mystery" that surrounds you? Are you a hands-on person who likes to step in and gain control of your Life? Are you tired of sitting around waiting in the wings to achieve conception, while time is of the essence?

Receptive individuals who are committed to taking action as proactive partners with Dr. Silverstein can join her in a warm, nurturing, and private environment for a program of six, 1.5-hr. sessions. Or open-minded individuals can partake in group weekend workshops that address the needs of mind, body, and spirit during reproductive challenges.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

As an adjunct to medical reproductive strategies, in this innovative program at The Summit Center for Ideal Performance, YOU will LEARN the following time-proven techniques to pave the way towards your goal of fertility enhancement, which can assist in laying down the nest egg for natural conception and productive IVF:

• Goal-Setting Strategies
• Relaxation Techniques
• Mental Rehearsal
• Future Pacing
• Mental Recall
• Thought Stopping
• Creative Imagery and Metaphors
• Positive Self-Talk
• Adventuring
• Auto-Hypnosis
• Productive Couple Communication

WHO CAN BENEFIT?

All those who:

• Have rigorously attempted pregnancy naturally or chemically without success
• Have fears of injections and procedures
• Wish to prepare mentally AND physically for procedures, such as egg retrieval
• Desire to learn to help themselves and take control
• Want to reach their creative potential as women, men and couples
• See a glimmer in their eyes of birthing a healthy bouncing baby

Make the investment in your future for the development of yourself and your naturally-occurring or lab-created diamond in the rough, that is, your NEWBORN BABY!

PLANT YOUR SEEDS in fertile soil NOW. Call for more information and schedule a FREE phone or e-mail consultation.

Dr. Silverstein is a recognized health educator, a registered nurse, and a published author on mental health nursing. She has assisted many clients towards reaching healthy outcomes for pre- and post-surgical procedures. Having endured four miscarriages, she is well-versed on how to surmount obstacles to achieve fertility, after successfully birthing four children.