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Food, Feelings 
& Fertility

ONLINE COURSE: Not currently running - check out our support groups!

For those who dream of starting a family, doctor's visits, fertility tests, and procedures are seldom part of the picture. 

And yet, roughly 1 in 6 couples experience infertility in Canada, defined by the inability to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 or more months of regular unprotected sex. Despite how common infertility has become, feelings of shame and secrecy continue to surround the diagnosis. As such, we've developed this online course to help you feel supported through your journey. 

COURSE

SNAPSHOT

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  • Enjoy sessions online from the comfort of your own home

  • Learn stress management techniques 

  • Communication tips to improve relationships with partners, family, and friends

  • Evidence-based nutrition factors to enhance fertility naturally

  • Gain tools to move through difficult emotions 

  • LIVE weekly sessions held over 5 weeks

  • Multiple convenient times to best suit your schedule

DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

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Buy classes individually below or click here to purchase a class pass.

Patients of Markham Fertility Centre: contact your doctor for a promo code to receive the course for free thanks to Ferring.

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MODULE 1
November 1, 2021
12pm or 7pm
 Using Nutrition to Enhance Fertility

Learn about:

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  • How and why one's diet affects fertility 

  • Foods that decrease egg and sperm quality

  • Nutrients and foods that enhance egg quality in women 

  • Nutrients and foods that support sperm quality & quantity

  • Supplements that can help 

  • Evidence for and against various popular diets (i.e. paleo, keto, etc.) 

  • Lifestyle habits to avoid 

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MODULE 2
November 8, 2021
12pm or 7pm

Infertility: Moving Through Grief in Disguise

Learn about: 

  • The connection between infertility complicated grief—and why this matters

  • Healthy techniques and strategies to help you cope with loss(es) 

  • How to find meaning through hardship  

  • Responses to grief that promote and delay healing, according to research 

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MODULE 3
November 15, 2021
12pm or 7pm

Navigating Friendships and Family Dynamics Amidst Infertility

Learn about:  

  • Assertive communication skills 

  • How to set healthy boundaries 

  • Tips on how to respond to invasive, awkward, challenging, or ignorant comments and questions 

  • Positive ways to work through anger, jealousy, and more

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MODULE 4
November 22, 2021 
12pm or 7pm

Staying Connected During Crisis

Learn about:

 

  • How to maintain intimacy with your partner through fertility treatments

  • Communication techniques that connect 

  • The 5 most common communication mistakes among unhappy couples

  • Tips to process grief and obstacles as a team  

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MODULE 5
November 29, 2021 
12pm or 7pm

Processing and Moving Through Difficult Emotions

​At the end of this module, participants will have learned:

 

  • What neuroscience can teach us about anxiety and stress 

  • Tools to facilitate self-compassion 

  • The impact of shame and guilt and how to decrease negative self-talk

  • Cognitive-behavioural strategies aimed to change thought patterns in healthy ways

  • Body-based exercises that encourage feelings of safety and calm

  • Mindfulness-based stress reduction strategies 

Purchase a class pass

Class Pass
  • Are your services covered by insurance?
    Please visit this page for everything you need to know about insurance coverage.
  • What can I expect when I sign up for therapy?
    Please visit this page for detailed information about the therapy process.
  • Where are you located?
    We are located at 305 Renfrew Drive in Suite 101A. There is free parking in the front of our building. If you have accessibility needs, please contact hello@fresh-insight.ca. For detailed instructions on how to get to our Markham office, click here.
  • How can I book an appointment?
    Click here and complete our online form to book an appointment.
  • I'm nervous to come to therapy. Is that normal?
    Of course. Your therapist is a total stranger and we recognize that sharing your innermost thoughts can be scary and overwhelming at first. All of our clinicians are mindful about following whatever pace you'd like, whether this involves spending five sessions just getting to know one another or discussing your concerns right off the bat. Our therapists also take being non-judgmental, compassionate, and genuine very seriously and will be sure to be transparent with you about the therapy process so you know what to expect. Note that you are also welcome to bring a significant other, friend, or family with you for moral support if you feel this would be helpful for your first session; we just kindly ask that you let us know ahead of time when possible.
  • Do you offer free consultations?
    Yes, we offer free 10-minute phone consultations via telephone. Please contact hello@fresh-insight.ca or call (647) 689 - 5957, ext. 0 to book a consultation.
  • Do you offer a sliding scale?
    We provide sliding scale fees to a select number of individuals who do not have any insurance coverage. Please email hello@fresh-insight.ca for details about our sliding scale rates.
  • Do you have a cancellation policy?
    Yes. Please let us know if you cannot make an appointment 48 hours in advance to avoid a first-time cancellation charge of $50. After your first-time charge, you'll be charged the full session fee for future sessions that are not cancelled within the 48-hour window and no-show appointments.
  • Is it okay to take a break from therapy, even if I've been attending regularly?
    One of our missions at Fresh Insight is to foster a sense of personal empowerment in the people we support. While we are always here for you, we encourage you to take breaks from therapy to practice the tools you've learned to experience a sense of mastery and self-confidence. Please note that from an administrative perspective, files are automatically closed after 1.5 years of inactivity. Should you wish to receive any of our services again, we would treat your return as an opportunity to thoughtfully reassess your current needs, match you with the best therapist based on goals and availability, and send you an updated intake form to complete. If you're a returning patient wishing to resume therapy, please email hello@fresh-insight.ca.
  • What if my therapist and I run into each other in public?
    In the spirit of protecting your confidentiality, your therapist will always follow your lead. If you wish to greet them in public, they will engage in conversation with you. If you do not initiate contact, your therapist will respect this boundary and pretend that they do not know you. Your therapist will never take it personally if you do not wish to say hello.

WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER

Research shows support for the efficacy of group therapy when it comes to improving the general health of those struggling with infertility1. As such, a portion of each module will be dedicated to providing attendees with the opportunity to share their personal experiences with infertility. This can be done via video within the webinar or through the chat feature. 

1  2016. Najmeh, A et al. Global Journal of Health Science. “The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive group therapy on martial satisfaction and general health in women with infertility.” 

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