Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Infertility Support From a Compassion-Driven Psychotherapist
Jessica Katz, LICSW, PMH-C, CCFP
A little about me, my mission, and you
I’m a board game lover, fantasy reader, and beagle rescuer.
Our time together is about you and your experiences, but I want to share a bit about me so you can choose the right therapist for you.
I was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency when I was 30 and I’m a mother through IVF.
The name "Empress Counseling” was inspired by the Empress Tarot Card. There was a point when I had to accept I might never be a mom, even though I've always felt like such a maternal person. I realized I could have maternal and nurturing energy and intentions, regardless of if or how I conceived. The Empress card became my symbol of "how" to be instead of "what" to be.
My training and education qualify me as a therapist, but my care style is about more than my formal credentials. Empathy and relationships are at the heart of my work with my clients.
Some providers have all the credentials but lack the ability to be human.
I’ll be human alongside you. I do my best to create an environment where you can relax, open up, and even laugh from time to time.
Don’t be surprised if we’re unpacking some heavy topics during a session and a well-timed, deadpan comment has us both cracking up.
No topic is off-limits. I'm not afraid to point out and therapeutically challenge self-sabotaging tendencies.
I’d love to get to know you and hear your incredible story.
You’re on a difficult path, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one.
I’ll help you cope with:
Your diagnosis and how it’s changed your idea of what your life and family would be like
Mental and physical setbacks
The chaos of undergoing infertility treatment
The constant worry and stress (whether you’re experiencing primary or secondary infertility, pregnancy after loss, or pregnancy after trying for a long time)
⭆If you’re dealing with infertility, currently pregnant, or navigating postpartum, it’s crucial to take care of yourself and your mental well-being.
Are my services the right fit for you?
View my services here:
My Therapy Toolbox
Qualifications for providing perinatal and infertility support
My certifications and background ensure I’m a helpful and knowledgeable member of your perinatal or infertility support team.
➤I’m an independently licensed psychotherapist in Massachusetts, Washington, and Arizona
➤I have my Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) and am a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional (CCFP)
➤I trained with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and Postpartum Support International
➤I specialize in working with individuals and couples undergoing infertility treatments
I’ve helped over 100 women and supported dozens of families as an infertility and perinatal counselor, and as a psychotherapist who works with clients facing stressful life situations that impact their mental and physical wellness
My approach to perinatal and infertility care
It can be so intimidating to reach out for help and find the right counselor for you.
That’s why the work we do together is evidence-backed and collaborative to help you:
✔Regain a sense of control in your life
✔Develop the ability to make decisions that support your goals
✔Learn healthy coping tools that you can rely on every step of the way
Your comfort and well-being are my priorities. Otherwise, we won’t be able to have honest and open conversations about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
To create a supportive and safe environment for you, my therapeutic style integrates:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Compassion-focused and Trauma-Informed methods
Mindfulness techniques
I also apply a feminist and social justice lens to my professional and personal life. This supports my belief that people of all identities and backgrounds deserve to feel seen and respected.
I affirm and provide care for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I believe all individuals and families deserve the best care.
Often, when people talk about perinatal or postpartum challenges, they default to gendered language or norms. But birthing people are not just cis-gendered women. We as a society have a lot of work to do to help ALL parents and children.
“You are worthy of rest. We don't have to earn rest. Rest is not a luxury, a privilege, or a bonus we must wait for once we are burned out.”
-Tricia Hersey, Author of Rest is Resistance
It starts with taking care of yourself and allowing yourself to be human first.
Hustle culture has done a great disservice to us, especially women. I don’t believe there’s a place for it.
I’ll always encourage you to give yourself time and space to process your experiences and make intentional decisions.
Common FAQs about pregnancy, postpartum, and infertility support:
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A: There are countless clinics that offer infertility support for women and couples (especially in major cities like Boston, Seattle, and Phoenix).
But you’re one out of thousands of patients passing through and you can feel it.
And if you don’t get pregnant, you’re left without support despite facing one of the most heartbreaking challenges life has to offer.
I’m here to support you no matter the outcome of your infertility experience.
You deserve ongoing encouragement and care whether or not you get pregnant.
I’m here for you…
➤If the two week wait has turned into countless weeks and constant heartbreak.
➤If you’re dealing with IVF treatments.
➤If you’re struggling with breast/chestfeeding.
➤If you’re having more breakdowns than your child.
➤Wherever you are in the process of growing your family, I’m here.
Learn more about my:
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A:
I only work with a limited number of clients at a time.
This allows me to focus on you, not only as a client but as a person who’s deserving of the best care and my full attention.
2. My main goal isn’t to help you get pregnant.
You likely have help for that already–some wanted and some unwanted (like your opinionated neighbor who thinks you’ll get pregnant if you “just relax and stop trying”).
Instead, I work with you to help you learn to trust yourself, your body, and your instincts again.
In this season of your life, you’re likely making some of the toughest decisions you’ve ever had to make.
It’s often not enough to figure out what you want. I help you determine why you want it, so you can gain deeper insights and the ability to achieve what is most fulfilling for you.
⇨This enables you to make decisions from a place of confidence and empowerment, rather than confusion, hopelessness, and guilt. -
A: You’re not defined by your bad days, even if they’ve turned into bad months and years.
This is only one chapter of your book and you will feel like yourself again. I’ll help you:
✔Forgive yourself for matters out of your control
✔Be confident that you can make good choices for yourself and your family
✔Develop thoughts and habits that support you and your health instead of working against you
It’s normal to feel numb, bitter, and angry at the world.
It’s okay if you’ve felt every negative emotion you can think of.
It’s also okay if getting pregnant or having a baby hasn’t made these feelings go away (maybe it’s even made them worse).
But you don’t have to stay in a place of relentless fear, anxiety, and depression.
Let’s talk about how I can help you work through all this with psychotherapy for infertility, pregnancy, or postpartum.
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A: I often start sessions by asking clients what feels most important to them. That can change from day to day.
Maybe one day it’s an IVF update. Then the next time you need to vent about a stressful day at work. Maybe you want to spend several sessions unpacking an emotional conversation with your mother.
I’ll help you work through whatever comes up for you. Although I specialize in infertility, I'm skilled in working with a wide variety of mental health challenges and stressful life events.
See my services here:
“Painful feelings are, by their very nature, temporary. They will weaken over time as long as we don’t prolong or amplify them through resistance or avoidance. The only way to eventually free ourselves from debilitating pain, therefore, is to be with it as it is. The only way out is through.”
— Kristin Neff, Author of “Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself
