Infertility Therapy in Texas: How the “2016 Photo Challenge” challenged me

I'll be honest, the 2016 photo challenge trend that recently blew up my Instagram feed looked cute. I was all about a throwback, so I scrolled through my camera and was quickly reminded why this was an opt-out for me.

You see, in 2016, Emily was a few years post-graduate with her Master's Degree and on a road to nowhere but failed fertility treatments in 2016. I had done everything on my plan, checked the boxes, married the guy, got a master's, and now, I was ready to become a mom. Except for my journey, things wouldn't go quite as smoothly for me. 2016 was the year of being stuck. Lots of dead-end roads, fertility meds that didn't move the needle, and not much hope. Not my favorite season. And also a season that made me the therapist, and the human that I am.

So, back to the 2016 photo challenge — the one where you post a picture from “then” and one from “now.”

It was supposed to be light. Nostalgic. Harmless.

But when I went to find my photos…It was filled with a heavily documented infertility journey. Photos of medication lined up on the counter. Screenshots of appointment reminders. Receipts that made my stomach drop. A photo album full of fighting for hope.

2014/2015 - Before fertility challenges, we looked blissful. Quite the contrast.

Not because life was perfect… but because we didn’t yet know how much fertility struggles could change everything.

But in 2016… we looked lost.

Not just tired. Not just stressed.

Lost in the kind of grief that didn't make sense. Lost in waiting rooms and procedures. Lost in “maybe next month.” Lost in the rollercoaster of hope and heartbreak. Lost in the invisible pressure that infertility puts on a relationship.

If you’ve ever wondered whether therapy for infertility would help… that moment is part of the answer.

Because infertility isn’t only medical.

It’s emotional. Relational. Psychological.

And for many individuals and couples, it becomes a chronic stressor that impacts mental health, identity, perception of self, intimacy, and connection.

Infertility Can Change Your Relationship, Your Body, and Your Sense of Self

Infertility can Impact:

• Anxiety (anticipatory dread, spiraling, intrusive thoughts)

• Depression (numbness, hopelessness, low motivation)

• Relationship strain (miscommunication, resentment, disconnection)

• Sex and intimacy (pressure, avoidance, grief, loss of spontaneity)

• Body image and self-esteem (“My body is failing me”)

• Isolation (feeling behind, left out, misunderstood)

• Family and social dynamics (baby announcements, holidays, “helpful” comments)

• Financial stress (feeling stretched, unstable, or scared)

This is why infertility often feels like a trauma of repeated uncertainty.

You don’t just grieve one moment. You grieve again and again.

And when you’re searching for fertility counseling in Texas or an infertility therapist near me, it’s often because the weight has become too heavy to carry alone.

The Quietest Pain of Infertility: Feeling Like You Have to Explain Yourself

One of the hardest parts of infertility is how invisible it is.

You may look “fine” on the outside… while feeling shattered internally.

And that creates a specific kind of loneliness:

The loneliness of explaining something that words can’t fully hold.

Because you’re not just managing:

• appointments you didn’t choose

• outcomes you can’t control

• an emotional body that’s constantly bracing for impact

• the exhaustion of staying hopeful

You’re also managing everyone else’s misunderstandings.

“Well at least…”“Just relax…”“It’ll happen when it’s meant to…”“Have you tried…”

It’s not comfort.

It’s disconnection.

Why Working With an Infertility Therapist in Texas Can Be a Game-Changer

If you’re looking for infertility therapy in Texas, you may be craving something simple but rare:

A space where you don’t have to explain the whole world of it.

Because in fertility therapy, you deserve:

• validation without minimizing

• support without clichés

• space for grief without pressure

• tools for anxiety and emotional regulation

• help staying connected as a couple

• help finding yourself again as an individual

Therapy helps you do more than “cope”

Infertility therapy can help you:

• process grief and trauma responses

• work through shame and self-blame

• reduce anxiety spirals and emotional whiplash

• rebuild intimacy and communication

• navigate decision fatigue and burnout

• set boundaries around family, friends, and social media

• feel less alone in a season that can be deeply isolating

Couples Therapy for Infertility: When You Love Each Other But Still Feel Far Away

Infertility can create relationship patterns that confuse couples.

You might be thinking:

• “We used to be so close—why do we feel distant now?”

• “Why do we fight more?”

• “Why do I feel lonely even though I’m married?”

• “Why does it feel like we’re grieving differently?”

The truth is: couples often cope in opposite ways.

One partner may want to talk constantly. The other may shut down to survive.

One may feel hope. The other may feel dread.

One may be scanning for options. The other may feel exhausted by them.

A therapist who understands infertility can help you slow down, name what’s happening, and rebuild teamwork—without making either partner the “problem.”

The Added Benefit of a Fertility Therapist With Lived Experience

There’s a difference between a therapist who knows about infertility… and a therapist who has lived it.

When your therapist has lived a fertility experience:

You don’t have to explain:

• the emptiness of “no news.”

• the grief that shows up out of nowhere

• The way time becomes painful

• The way money becomes emotional

• The way hope can feel dangerous

• the exhaustion of bracing for disappointment

You get to simply arrive and be met with:

“I understand. And you’re not alone.”

That kind of emotional safety matters.

Because infertility isn’t just a chapter you “get through.”

It changes you.

And therapy helps you integrate the experience without losing yourself or your relationship.

Infertility Therapy Near Me (Texas): When to Reach Out

You may be ready for therapy if:

• You feel consumed by fertility stress or waiting

• You’re anxious, numb, or emotionally reactive

• You’re grieving quietly and feel isolated

• Your relationship feels strained or disconnected

• Intimacy feels pressured or painful

• You dread pregnancy announcements, baby showers, or holidays

• You feel behind in life or like your body betrayed you

• You’re tired of “being strong.”

You don’t have to reach a breaking point to get support.

You can start therapy because you deserve a place to breathe.

You Deserve Support That Understands Infertility

If you’ve ever looked back at a season like 2016 and realized your life was marked by: hope, grief, waiting, and survival…

I want you to know:

You aren't alone, and you don't have to do this alone.

And if you’re searching for infertility therapy in Texas—as an individual or a couple—we’re here.

Next step: Schedule a consultation for fertility counseling in Texas (virtual or in-person), and let’s support you through this season with compassion, clarity, and real tools that help.