Hi friends, this week I invite my friend and Licensed Professional Counselor, Molly Dalva back on the show. Molly joined us for episode 3 and talked about all things trauma and the way we may experience trauma through our journey with infertility or pregnancy & infant loss. This week, we are talking about the process of therapy and how we truly believe EVERYONE can benefit from therapy. Molly explains what the therapy process is like from start to finish and identifies different types of therapy and how they each might benefit you, and she also shares some really practical information on  what to look for in a therapist and ways to know if your therapist is the right fit for you. Molly also shares with us a little bit of inside scoop on what your therapist may be thinking, and how your therapist can partner with you when you face barriers in therapy. I hope this episode sparks courage and ignites hope for you in the week ahead. Let’s dive in.Support the show

With Father’s Day weekend coming up this week, I wanted to focus this week’s episode on Dads. Dads who have lost a baby and Dads who are still in waiting. Joining us this week is my husband, David Blair. In this episode, David shares what his grieving process was like over our 7 year journey of recurrent pregnancy loss and we discuss the ways that his grief differed from mine, and how that impacted our marriage.  He also shares how we grew to support and provide space for each other over the years, what we wish we could go back and tell ourselves in the very beginning, and how others can support a grieving Dad. David shares candidly and vulnerably and offers an honest perspective and insight on the ways our partner’s often experience and grieve in infertility & loss.Support the show

This week I have the pleasure of interviewing my infertility doctor, Dr. Creighton E. Likes, III, MS, MD. Dr. Likes is a double-board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and the Medical Director of the Fertility Center of the Carolinas where he has been practicing reproductive medicine for 12 years. Dr. Likes completed medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC, completed OB/Gyn Residency in Greenville, SC, and completed his REI Fellowship at Duke University. Dr. Likes is passionate about providing hope and support to individuals and couples who desire grow their families. In this episode, Dr. Likes shares what the process of working with an infertility specialist is like, what you expect, and when individuals and couples should consider seeing a specialist. He tells us what his thought process is like when working with a new patient and what he does when he has been working with a patient for a while who has not yet had success. Dr. Likes and I talk candidly about what it looks like to have difficult conversations with your doctor, when or how to ask for a second opinion, what to do next when a treatment cycle is unsuccessful, and how patients can find emotional support for the roller coaster journey of infertility. Dr. Likes shared so much wisdom and hope, but I think my favorite thing he said was, “Any patient is allowed to feel what they feel and it is completely valid and understandable. This process is both emotional and physical. Having rapport with your physician and knowing that you can open up and express your feelings is really important. ” Thank you for being here, friend. I hope this episode sparks courage and ignites hope for you in the week ahead. Support the show

This week I have the pleasure of interviewing one of my closest friends- who also happens to be a Licensed Professional Counselor and expert on all things trauma- Molly Dalva.  Molly is the owner of Resilience LLC, a healing space offering compassionate and connected psychotherapy to those overcoming chronic stress and trauma. Molly has held designation as a certified clinical trauma professional, a certified clinical trauma specialist in the area of sexual exploitation and trafficking and has completed advanced trainings in somatic and attachment focused trauma therapies. Molly is passionate about being with clients who have experienced trauma, and I think one thing that makes her so great at what she does is her ability to provide a human-to-human connection in which clients can come to experience safety within themselves and in relationship with others. In this episode, Molly breaks down the difference between traumatic stress and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), how trauma relates to infertility and pregnancy loss and what how different people may respond to this type of trauma (think fight, flight, or freeze.. plus a fourth response you may not have heard of!). Molly also shares what is happening in our brains and bodies when we experience trauma and when we are triggered, provides steps we can take to begin the healing process, and helps those of us who may love someone who has experienced trauma better understand their experience and know how to support them. Molly shared so much wisdom and hope, but I think my favorite thing she said was, “Your pain matters, your story matters, and you are deserving of support no matter what stage of healing you’re in.” Thank you for being here, friend. I hope this episode sparks courage and ignites hope for you in the week ahead. Support the show

This week I have the pleasure of interviewing Kristin Dillensnyder-  IVF coach and 3 time IVF warrior that experienced 3 different outcomes… one cycle that worked, one cycle that didn’t and one cycle that ended in a miscarriage. As a certified life coach, Kristin became the person she needed during the hardest parts of infertility so other women who need IVF to grow their families will not be as consumed by their infertility as she was. In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to make the decision to move forward with IVF or to try again after an unsuccessful cycle and how to “fill you cup”  after feeling depleted and consumed by your infertility journey. Kristin shares with us what she would go back and tell herself as she was going through IVF for the first time, and also shares so many practical tips and tools you can implement in your own life- right now- wherever you are in your journey. Kristin shared so much wisdom and hope, but I think my favorite thing she said was, “It’s really important to believe that just because it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it can’t happen.” Thank you for being here, friend. I hope this episode sparks courage and ignites hope for you in the week ahead. Support the show

In this episode, you will hear the story behind Catalyst for Courage. While this podcast isn't about Lindsay, her 9 babies in heaven, or her miracle twins here on earth, this story is what started Catalyst for Courage and inspired Lindsay to want to support others who are walking through infertility, pregnancy & infant loss, or life after infertility & loss. Lindsay's story includes an unplanned pregnancy, many miscarriages, 2 ectopic pregnancies that both ended in emergency surgery, the loss of both of her falloppian tubes, IVF, failed embryo transfers, embryo loss, trauma, anxiety, and questioning her faith, a successful embryo transfer, the loss of a triplet in a multiples pregnancy, and a twin pregnancy after loss that resulted in a healthy, full-term delivery of her miracle babies.For show notes and more information about this podcast, visit catalystforcourage.com/podcastSupport the show

In this special Mothers Day bonus episode, find courage and hope for you to help you navigate and prepare for Mothers Day this week. My hope is that you will not only survive this week, but will do so while honoring your story and your journey of motherhood and holding onto hope. I’ll share 5 tips to help you prepare for Mothers Day and the emotional hangover you may feel afterwards,  and also  talk about ways you can care for yourself this week and honor your journey. You will also hear words of hope and encouragement from other real and very special women in this community who have also walked through the difficulties of infertility and pregnancy & infant loss. Whether you are still in a season of waiting to be a mother or if you are a bereaved mother, I hope this episode sparks courage and ignites hope for you in the week ahead and allows you to feel seen, valued, and supported, and also let’s you know that you aren’t alone. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lindsayablair)

Catalyst for Courage was founded to be able to provide individualized support, resources, tools, knowledge, and a whole lot of encouragement and hope for those who have experienced infertility, pregnancy or infant loss, or are navigating life after infertility and loss. I'm your host, Lindsay Blair. I am a certified trauma specialist, infertility coach, and birth and bereavement doula with a passion to support others with stories like mine. When I experienced my first miscarriage in May of 2014, I didn’t know a single person who had gone through what I was going through. When I was referred to a fertility specialist in 2015 for recurrent pregnancy loss, I had no idea what to expect. When I started my first round of IVF in 2017, I had no one to help me prepare for the roller coaster of hormones and emotional ups and downs I was about to embark on. When I was pregnant for the 9th time after so many years of infertility trauma and repeated losses, I didn’t know how I would ever be able to manage my anxiety I felt or the triggers I faced on a near-daily basis. Catalyst for Courage was born out of a desire to be able to give others the support, knowledge, tools, and community I wish I had when I was going through the darkest, hardest, and loneliest parts of my story. I hope this podcast can ignite even just a spark of courage or a flicker of hope for you. You are not alone in your pain. You are not alone in your anger. You are not alone in your doubt. You are not alone in your waiting. You are not alone in your suffering. You are not alone in your grief.Wherever you are in your journey, you are welcome here just as you are. Your anger, your fear, your doubt, your confusion, your questions, your weariness, your anxiety, your trauma, your pain, and your suffering are all welcome here. I have no expectations for you and I’ll never put a timeline on your healing. I’ll just be right here, holding space for you and holding onto to hope for you- I’m believing that your story isn’t over and that this won’t always feel as hard as it feels right now.Thank you for letting me share the heart behind this podcast with you. I hope this podcast will be a place where you can come each week to find support, ignite hope, and take courage. You are not alone, friend. For show notes and more information about this podcast, visit catalystforcourage.com/podcastSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lindsayablair)