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Chapter 2 - Reproductive Psychology and Fertility Counseling

from I - Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2022

By
Susan Klock
Edited by
Sharon N. Covington
Sharon N. Covington
Affiliation:
Shady Grove Fertility, Rockville, MD
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Summary

This chapter provides an overview of the psychology of infertility as an aspect of reproductive psychology, and the field of fertility counseling.The changing role of reproduction in modern society is reviewed.Major theories related to reproductive psychology, including grief and loss, stress and coping, as well as posttraumatic growth are discussed. Additionally, the history of infertility counseling is described. The US and international guidelines for the provision of psychological services, both assessment and counseling, are provided.The formats for the provision of clinical care are discussed and the clinical research on the impact of psychological services is reviewed. The qualifications for mental health professionals practicing as fertility counselors are also included.

Keywords

infertilitypsychologyreproductioncounselingassessmenttherapygriefposttraumatic growthfertility counseling
Type
Chapter
Information
Fertility Counseling: Clinical Guide , pp. 31 - 38
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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