Fertility Physicians of Northern California - Stress Reduction for Fertility 8 Week Program

Based on the practice of mindfulness-based stress reduction, FPNC offers 3 types of Stress Reduction for Fertility programs: a condensed 1-Day program, a full 8-Week program, and a customized Individual program.

The 1-Day Program is ideal for individuals and couples preferring a shorter program or wishing to experience the benefits of Mind-Body before committing to a longer program. Participants in the 1-Day program receive a discount toward the 8-Week Program. For full information on the 1-Day program, click here.

Individual stress reduction programs are ideal for folks who need a more custom program. These are typically scheduled as four 1.5 hour sessions, but can be customized to fit your personal schedule and needs.

Our ‘gold standard’ program – the 8-Week program – requires the most participation but offers the most long-term benefits. Read on for more details about our 8-week program.

We are happy to discuss all these options to help you find the best fit for you!

Choosing a mind-body approach can feel overwhelming when you are already swamped by the costs and strains of infertility treatments. In fact, mind-body practices actually help you make more room for yourself; they create strength, hope, and resilience for the challenge you are facing.

Stress and infertility are intimately related, and mind-body practices have helped couples and individuals find a deep sense of well-being. Optimal medical care requires optimal self-care. From a whole-person perspective, fertility treatments should include not only medicines and medical procedures, but also self-nurturance. The investment you make in caring for yourself is tiny compared to the rewards you will reap!

This 8-Week Program applies mindfulness, or moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness, to reduce the stress of infertility and enhance well-being. Mindfulness teaches how to skillfully work with your thoughts, emotions, and body in all the challenges infertility presents.

Designed for:	Women attempting to conceive and/or participating in fertility treatment. Partners are invited to participate in the 3rd Party Panel and All Day sessions. Open to patients of all fertility programs.
Cost:	$560 - The program fee includes a book with a workbook component and a companion MP3 CD to guide practices and skills, guidance from the leader throughout the program, one all-day session, and 25 hours of learning, support and assistance. PPO insurance plans that include mental health benefits and allow for out-of-network providers usually provide partial (often 50%) coverage. Statements will be available to forward to insurance for possible partial reimbursement.
Details:	Our next group will start February 8 (New Start Date). Pre-register here. This group will meet Wednesday evenings, 6:30 – 9:00 pm, in the Palo Alto office; plus one all-day Saturday session 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Dates may change depending on registrations. Please contact the program contact or leader for further details and updates. You can join the group up until the 2^nd meeting.
Registration:	Please register early as space is limited (12 participants for San Jose groups, 6 participants in Palo Alto groups). You can join the group up until the 2^nd meeting if there is space available. Registration is required to participate, and considered final with receipt of payment. Cancellations within 5 days of the first session will result in a $135 cancellation fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations after the program start. For information, call 800.597.2234 or request notification here.
Contact Person:	Janetti Marotta, PhD - (800) 597.2234
Special Info:	Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat, blanket or big towel for experiential exercises.

Infertility tends to overshadow everything else in life, maintain focus on past and future events, cause us to become excessively self-judgmental, and keep us on red-alert mode. Infertility represents a loss of control, where effort does not necessarily result in success. Through using awareness to cope, we create a space where we can heal and develop new perspectives out of which better strategies and stronger options emerge. Over the eight weeks, we explore different ways to come off “automatic pilot” and cultivate qualities that will not only support you through your fertility challenge, but through the rest of your life. These include:

We invite you to learn these time tested ways to manage stress, enhance well-being, and find your inner strength!

Research shows that participants in these types of programs experience significant decreases in stress-related physical symptoms (such as insomnia, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, back/neck pain, etc.) and possible increases in pregnancy rates.

For participants in FPNC’s 8-Week program, preliminary data show an average pregnancy rate of 50% and 87% fertility treatment continuation within 6 months of program completion, as well as significant decreases in depression and anxiety and significant increases in mindfulness skills. Plus, they rate their satisfaction with the program and leaders at 9+ out of 10!

Patients who have participated in our mind-body programs have really benefited!

“This program was enormously helpful for me. It ended two and a half years of isolation, because here were people I could talk to and they ‘got it’. I didn't have to explain anything. Just knowing other people were going through the same things we were was very comforting.” (8-week)

"If you are struggling with infertility, this workshop is invaluable! It will help you restore yourself, your heart, your outlook, and give you strength and tools to continue on this heartbreaking journey. It was worth every single penny and in a way, it saved my life!” (8-week)

“This program is wonderful. I think this program is the most meaningful, important experience of my life. I really thank you to my instructor. She is the most wonderful person I met. I was so encouraged. Thank you.” (8-week)

“The leader did a great job of teaching the group how to be calm and be in the moment. I feel much better equipped to deal with all of life’s challenges, including infertility. Connecting with other women was a huge help too.” (8-week)

“The Mind-Body Program with Janetti has been extremely helpful to me in maintaining my sanity throughout this fertility journey. She has helped me to look at this process in a different, more positive way. Coming to the place of needing fertility treatments was never something I planned or wanted to do. Participating in the program has helped me come to peace with my decisions for treatment and the possibilities of having non-genetic children. It is a challenging journey, but I have come to see the benefits and growth opportunities which are inherent to the process.” (8-week)

“The emotional support from the group really helped me overcome the stress of infertility. I have a more open and positive approach to infertility.” (8-week)

“I’m a different person than I was at the beginning. I had no idea I could be so poised and comfortable while going through an IVF cycle that was always at the risk of being cancelled. Highly recommended!” (8-week)

“I got so much out of this program in the form of knowledge, support, feeling good about myself, and building friendships than I ever thought was even possible. It’s a wonderful (treatment) component and highly recommended for anyone dealing with fertility issues. I loved the poems, meditations, the rituals, the husbands coming, and the panel was a great eye-opening experience. Janetti is a wonderful teacher with a deeply caring soul.” (8-week)

“The stress-reduction for fertility/mind-body program was very helpful for me in terms of helping ease the anxiety associated with fertility treatments and all of the personal difficulties I struggled with related to fertility. It also gave me a chance to meet many other women who share my concerns and struggles, making my journey so much easier.” (8-week)

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