infertility trauma

This week we are sharing part 2 of my interview with Carolyn Robistow, a Licensed Professional Counselor, coach, and certified Brain Spotting Practitioner. 

If you haven’t listened to part 1 of this conversation (Episode #009- you can find it here) I highly encourage you to stop right now and go back and listen to that one first. In part 1, Carolyn shared her personal journey of experiencing infertility to now embracing and thriving in her amazing childfree life, and she so beautifully explains the amazing science of brainspotting, how you can start doing it right now,  and how brainspotting can be used to manage triggers, emotions, and unhealthy thought and behavior patterns specifically for those of us who have experienced infertility or loss. 

In this episode, Carolyn and I pick up right where we left off and dive into discussing the 3 pillars of change and how brainspotting can also be helpful to use in any type of habit change- whether that’s an unhealthy thought pattern or reaction we continue to find ourselves stuck in or a behavioral habit that we recognize isn’t serving us or empowering us to be our best self. I know for a lot of us on this journey, there is so much we wish we could change. While we can’t usually change our circumstances or the outcomes, we can change our thoughts, our behaviors, our routines, our habits, and the way we respond to stressors in our lives. Carolyn explains the science behind habit change and how we can use it to our advantage to get “unstuck” when we feel like what is working for everyone else isn’t working for us. 

I know this is one conversation that I plan to personally listen to again and again as I find myself in a place of wanting to create change in my own life. As always, I hope this episode sparks courage and ignites hope for you in the week ahead. 

This week I was able to finally meet with Rachel Lewis, grief coach, published author, and founder of Brava Mamas.  I have felt drawn to Rachel ever since I found her book last year, and I am so excited to have finally been able to connect with her after taking a break from the podcast over the summer. Rachel has such a gift with words and connecting with others on a genuine and personal level and I love her candor and passion for sharing her story and the legacy of her babies in heaven in a way that is inspiring, encouraging, honest and authentic. In this episode, Rachel and I talk about the reality of the experience of “unexpecting” and what that shift and process looks like  when you go from “expecting” a baby to “unexpecting”. Rachel shares practical tips to help listeners prepare for and navigate triggers after experiencing a loss, how to move forward “with” your life alongside your grief, and how loss, lament, love, and legacy can all intertwine in a really beautiful and authentic way throughout this lifelong healing process. I hope this episode sparks courage and ignites hope for you in the week ahead. Let’s dive in.

Hi friends, this week I invite my friend and Licensed Professional Counselor, Molly Dalva back on the show. 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. This week, 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. I hope this episode sparks courage and ignites hope for you in the week ahead. Let’s dive in.

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 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, 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. 

In this episode, you will hear the story behind Catalyst for Courage. While this podcast isn't about Lindsay, her 9 babies in heaven, or her miracle twins here on earth, this story is what started Catalyst for Courage and inspired Lindsay to want to support others who are walking through infertility, pregnancy & infant loss, or life after infertility & loss. Lindsay's story includes an unplanned pregnancy, many miscarriages, 2 ectopic pregnancies that both ended in emergency surgery, the loss of both of her falloppian tubes, IVF, failed embryo transfers, embryo loss, trauma, anxiety, and questioning her faith, a successful embryo transfer, the loss of a triplet in a multiples pregnancy, and a twin pregnancy after loss that resulted in a healthy, full-term delivery of her miracle babies.

For show notes and more information about this podcast, visit catalystforcourage.com/podcast

In this special Mothers Day bonus episode, find courage and hope for you to help you navigate and prepare for Mothers Day this week. My hope is that you will not only survive this week, but will do so while honoring your story and your journey of motherhood and holding onto hope. I’ll share 5 tips to help you prepare for Mothers Day and the emotional hangover you may feel afterwards,  and also  talk about ways you can care for yourself this week and honor your journey. You will also hear words of hope and encouragement from other real and very special women in this community who have also walked through the difficulties of infertility and pregnancy & infant loss. 

Whether you are still in a season of waiting to be a mother or if you are a bereaved mother, I hope this episode sparks courage and ignites hope for you in the week ahead and allows you to feel seen, valued, and supported, and also let’s you know that you aren’t alone.