Fertility Journey Emotional Well-being Support Group
Group Type: Support Group
Goals of the Group:
- Provide a space to share your journey and listen to others’ experiences.
- Offer emotional support to decrease the sense of isolation.
- Facilitate engagement with others who understand the ups and downs of balancing treatments.
Who Is The Group For?
- Individuals trying for a baby who feel that the TTC journey has taken over their life and is difficult to share with friends/family.
- Those who have been trying for a few months or longer, have a diagnosis that might interfere with their fertility, or are in between IUI/IVF cycles.
- Currently, the group is being run only for women to maintain homogeneity.
Discussion Topics:
- Personal narratives and journeys around fertility
- Past experiences and beliefs about fertility and being a parent
- Related past trauma (e.g., pregnancy loss)
- Connection to the body and self-talk
- Social context: Gender stereotypes, cultural beliefs
- Navigating familial relationships and societal pressure
- Challenges and experiences of romantic partnerships through the lens of fertility journey
- Tradeoffs and reassessing life during the journey
- Balancing other roles while being on this journey
- Further resources and individual action plan (e.g., alternatives to TTC, adoption, ART)
What Will We Talk About?
The group will provide a safe space to discuss the above topics, share experiences, and offer support and suggestions.
Glimpse of the Session:
Sessions will involve sharing personal stories, reflective exercises, and group discussions. The order and specific topics may vary based on the needs and preferences of the group members and facilitators.
Please note that the session topics, order, and other details may be subject to change based on the needs and preferences of the group members and facilitators.
Facilitator Bio:
Facilitator: Rajeshwari Zephaniah
Ms. A. Rajeshwari is a dedicated Psychologist and Psycho-Oncologist with over 8 years of experience, currently practicing at Aster Clinics in Bengaluru and also working independently. She holds an M.Sc in Psychology from Montfort College, Bengaluru, and has supported more than 1,000 patients and their families in navigating emotional distress, pain management, end-of-life care, tobacco cessation, and major life transitions.
Her core expertise lies in delivering psycho-education and awareness sessions on cancer, stress management, and tobacco cessation; providing supportive psychotherapy to patients and caregivers; and addressing the psychosocial aspects of pain, palliative care, and terminal illness. She also works closely with children and families coping with cancer and its treatment. Ms. Rajeshwari has shared her work at national conferences and has published in the Indian Journal of Palliative Care and Cancer Reports.
Ms. A. Rajeshwari is a dedicated Psychologist and Psycho-Oncologist with over 8 years of experience, currently practicing at Aster Clinics in Bengaluru and also working independently. She holds an M.Sc in Psychology from Montfort College, Bengaluru, and has supported more than 1,000 patients and their families in navigating emotional distress, pain management, end-of-life care, tobacco cessation, and major life transitions.
Her core expertise lies in delivering psycho-education and awareness sessions on cancer, stress management, and tobacco cessation; providing supportive psychotherapy to patients and caregivers; and addressing the psychosocial aspects of pain, palliative care, and terminal illness. She also works closely with children and families coping with cancer and its treatment. Ms. Rajeshwari has shared her work at national conferences and has published in the Indian Journal of Palliative Care and Cancer Reports.
