Counselors' Perceptions of the Mental Health Aspects of Infertility for Heterosexual Women

Abstract

This qualitative study explores counselors' perceptions of the mental health aspects of infertility for heterosexual women by addressing the following five guiding questions: (1) How do licensed mental health counselors understand the infertility experience for the heterosexual woman client? (2) What is the counselors' experience of working with heterosexual women clients with infertility? (3) What do licensed mental health counselors ascribe as the goal of mental health treatment of infertility? (4) What are licensed mental health counselors' perceptions of appropriate mental health interventions for infertility? (5) What are licensed mental health counselors' perceptions of harmful mental health interventions for infertility? To address these questions, ten participant interviews were conducted with licensed mental health counselors in the state of North Dakota. Out of the interviews, ten themes emerged which addressed four of the five guiding questions. The fifth guiding question was addressed by using representative participant responses. Themes were substantiated by direct quotes from the participants. An examination of the literature was then conducted to analyze any gaps between emerged themes and the existing literature on the topic. These gaps were addressed in the discussion, which also includes limitations of the study and recommendations for future research.