Coping With Infertility, Miscarriage, and Neonatal Loss: Finding Perspective and Creating Meaning

by Amy Wenzel PhD

Overview

This wise, compassionate book teaches proven cognitive-behavioral strategies for coping with infertility and pregnancy loss. You will learn about common grief experiences that occur with such losses, as well as ways to find perspective and meaning, identify and change unhelpful thoughts, gain acceptance, reconnect with others, and reengage in life. 

Pregnancy loss can be devastating, regardless of whether it is early or late in pregnancy or in the short period after a baby is born. In many instances, similar emotions are experienced when a couple learns that their fertility treatments were unsuccessful.

Here the well-known psychologist Amy Wenzel applies the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy—a thoroughly-researched approach for treating mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and stress-related disorders— to the experience of reproductive loss. She offers strategies for coping with loss and provides a step-by-step guide to reengaging in life. With warmth and compassion, she helps readers journey toward healing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433816925
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	03/17/2014
Series:	APA LifeTools Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	267
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Amy Wenzel, PhD, is owner of Wenzel Consulting, LLC, clinical assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, adjunct faculty at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and affiliate at the Postpartum Stress Center.
 
She is the author or editor of 14 books and approximately 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, many on the topic of cognitive behavioral therapy and perinatal psychology. She lectures internationally on these topics and regularly provides workshops and webinars to clinicians who are acquiring skill in cognitive behavioral therapy.
 
Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (now the Brain and Behavior Foundation). She currently divides her time between scholarly writing and research, training and consultation, and clinical practice.
 
Visit Dr. Wenzel's website ( http://dramywenzel.com/ ) for a full description of her professional activities.
 

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 3

Chapter 1 Normalizing Emotional Experiences 13

Chapter 2 Getting By in the First Weeks 35

Chapter 3 Getting Involved in Life in the Later Weeks 63

Chapter 4 Coping With Disturbing Thoughts and Images of the Loss 87

Chapter 5 Coping With Disturbing Thoughts and Images About the Future 115

Chapter 6 Interacting With Others 133

Chapter 7 Gradual Exposure to Avoided Situations 163

Chapter 8 Problem Solving and Decision Making 181

Chapter 9 Staying Mindful and Achieving Acceptance 201

Chapter 10 Creating a New Normal and Finding Meaning 223

Postscript 243

Appendix: Mindfulness Resources 247

Notes 249

Index 253

About the Author 267