Mind & Body Wellness and the Fertility Journey
At Atlantic Reproductive Medicine, we know how emotional the journey to parenthood can be. To help support you every step of the way, psychologist Rachel Eshel, PsyD, sees patients right here in our clinic, making it easier to get the care you need.
Trying to have a baby can bring hope, but also frustration, sadness, and anxiety. These feelings are entirely normal. That’s why we’ve partnered with experienced counselors, support groups, and wellness professionals to provide the emotional and medical support you deserve on your path to growing your family.
Please take a look at the list of other professionals, support groups, and organizations on this page, which is linked below.
Click on the links below to find wellness resources:
Mental Health:
Wellness treatments:
Self-Nurturing Tips for Your Fertility Journey
- Strive to get at least seven hours of sleep a night
- Eat a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables
- Exercise daily for muscle tone, flexibility, and weight control
- Avoid putting toxins in your body such as alcohol, cannabis, vapes, tobacco
- Practice routine self-nurturing behaviors such as walking, meditation, listening to music
Professional Counseling
Atlantic Reproductive Medicine works closely with the following psychologists who have expertise in reproductive medicine. Rachel Eshel, PsyD is available to see patients at our clinic for their convenience as well as via telehealth.
Rachel Eshel, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist
Available on-site at Atlantic Reproductive and via telehealth
Member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
dreshel@tpctogether.com
(919) 249 – 8896
Ryan Blazei, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
539 Keisler Dr., Suite 201
Cary, NC 27518
www.ryanwblazeiphd.com
(919) 720-1452
Toni Nicolsen, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Member of American Society of Reproductive Medicine
8313 Six Forks Road, Suite 211
Raleigh, NC 27615
www.seasonsoflifetherapyservices.com
(919) 752-8629
Christina Celeste Rush, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Member of American Society of Reproductive Medicine
1002 North Church Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
christinarushphd.com
christina@christinarushphd.com
(919) 451-0570
Julia Woodward, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Director of the Duke Fertility Center’s Psychological Services Program
5601 Arringdon Park Drive, Suite 210
Durham, NC 27560
Website
(919) 572-8853
Support Groups
Choice Moms Your Unique Path to Parenthood
This group is for women that are thinking about becoming Choice Moms (Single Moms By Choice).
Date & Time: Meets the fourth Monday of every month at 6:00 P.M. PST.
Location: Virtual (Open to all, regardless of location)
Sign Up
Focused Virtual Support for Men
This group is open to men seeking peer-to-peer support with infertility and family building.
Date & Time: Meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 7:30 to 9:00 PM.
Location: Virtual (Open to all, regardless of location)
Sign Up
Navigating Infertility, Treatments, and Loss with Grace Infertility Foundation
This peer-led support group serves as a safe space for women who have been diagnosed with infertility and are navigating this journey without support.
Date & Time: Meets the second Wednesday of every month from 6:30-8:00 PM.
Location: Virtual (Open to all, regardless of location)
Sign Up
Candid Conversations Support Group
This fertility group is a peer-to-peer support group for fertility-related candid conversations.
Date & Time: Meets the first Thursday of the month from 7:00-8:00 PM ET.
Location: Virtual
Sign Up
Support Organizations
Atlantic Reproductive Medicine recommends to our patients the resources and professionals at Resolve: The National Infertility Organization.
Resolve offers peer-led and professionally-led support groups which are a safe space to meet others facing similar struggles with infertility and family building. ARMS patients can find a virtual or in-person support group in the Resolve directory.
Sexual Health and Couple Counseling
For our patients in need of sexual health and couple counseling, Atlantic Reproductive Medicine recommends Laurie Watson, PhD, MA, LMFT, LCMHC at Awakenings.
Dr. Watson, the Director of Awakenings, is a certified sex therapist, Doctor of Sexology, certified EFT therapist, and a certified addictions specialist from IICS. She has thirty years of experience working with couples and individuals about love and sex.
Learn more about Awakenings and Dr. Watson here: awakeningscenter.org
Miscarriage Support
Information compiled by Dr. Rachel Eshel, Licensed Psychologist, from a variety of sources, including:
Dr. Rayna Markin’s book– Psychotherapy for Pregnancy Loss
Postpartum Support International
RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association
Dr. Jessica Zucker, Psychologist
Dr. Pauline Boss, Therapist
Nutrition & Weight Management Counseling
Atlantic Reproductive recommends our patients to the following online nutritional counselors.
From trying to conceive through managing a healthy diet throughout pregnancy to establishing a healthy nutritionally balanced routine after having a baby, the nutrition experts below work to craft an evidence-based plan that actually works for your unique needs. Through regular check-ins and follow-up appointments, they track your progress and help you adjust your plan accordingly.
LifeStyle Medical Center
(onsite/virtual consultation)
1520 Sunday Drive, Suite 209, Raleigh, NC 27607
lifestylemedicalcenters.com
(919) 354-7077
Acupuncture and Fertility
Many of our patients at Atlantic Reproductive Medicine have found acupuncture to be a relaxing and helpful treatment during their fertility journey.
We are proud to partner with Triangle Acupuncture Clinic and all their board-certified acupuncturists.
Triangle Acupuncture Clinic has years of experience administering specialized acupuncture techniques that may help with irregular periods, and may enhance the fertility of both women and men.
Triangle Acupuncture Clinic
Triangle Acupuncture Clinic
(919) 854-7311 (Raleigh)
(919) 933-4480 (Chapel Hill)
Potential benefits of fertility acupuncture
Women who undergo fertility acupuncture sessions can experience:
- An Increase in Ovarian Blood Flow. Over the course of a woman’s life, the flow of blood to the ovaries slows down. Acupuncture may increase ovarian blood flow which in turn may help develop follicles.
- A Regulated Menstrual Cycle. Irregular periods are an issue for many women, regardless of their health. Missed periods can make it challenging to determine your fertile window (the time when ovulation occurs and conception is most likely). Fertility acupuncture can help balance and regulate your menstrual cycle.
- Stress Relief. The stress of dealing with reproductive issues can build up and potentially affect fertility. Stress can affect the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates hormone production. When stress is high for extended periods of time, the hypothalamus may suppress the release of certain hormones necessary for ovulation, thereby disrupting your menstrual cycle and making it more difficult to conceive.
Stress can also reduce sex drive thereby reducing the frequency of sexual activity and the chances of conception.
Men who undergo fertility acupuncture sessions may also benefit from acupuncture:
- Stress Relief. Stress in men can affect sperm production, motility, and quality of sperm, potentially reducing fertility.
On-site Acupuncture Treatments during Embryo Transfers
As a special service to Atlantic Reproductive Medicine patients, Triangle Acupuncturists can come to our clinic on the day of our patients’ embryo transfers for an acupuncture treatment.
Please contact Triangle Acupuncture Clinic directly if you are interested in setting up an onsite appointment during your embryo transfer.