ALMETA’S PORCH COUNSELING

Hi, I'm Brittney!

My business, Almeta’s Porch Counseling, creates a warm and welcoming space for women and men who are going through reproductive grief, whether that is based on infertility, pregnancy loss, miscarriage, stillbirth, or a challenging time during pregnancy. Although having to deal with this kind of grief is unimaginable, there can also be healing… my goal is to support you in examining what healing may look like for you, and provide a place where you can feel comfortable feeling the spectrum of emotions that come with this level of grief. I believe that healing conversations are possible.

The topic of reproductive grief often goes unseen, and a silence that becomes unbearable. For the couples who are going through this pain and trying to figure out what they need from others, how to communicate their grief, and whether their support circles understand the depth of their emotions.

The intentionality of conversations during these challenging times is critical, and I found that there weren’t a alot of consistent spaces for couples to talk about their journey when they wanted to start or expand their family.

I started to do some research and found that not enough community or consistent spaces were dedicated to families that were experiencing this kind of devastation and needing a safe spot to land, whether that is consistent therapy or just knowing that you don’t have to process the feelings alone. This is a position you don’t want to be in, but ultimately will be ingrained in your story.

From my personal experience with second infertility and going through miscarriage, I understand the complexities that come from the joys and pains related to the stress and hope of believing that you are still capable of having the dream you desired, and trying to uplift yourself when adversity continues to happen.

Do you identify with any of these questions? If so, maybe you can find value in getting extra support.

• Do you need to vent when you know the time of the month is coming up, and you have to figure out how to relax regardless of the outcome?

• Dealing with the emotional frustrations of your relationship because of the pressure you have to start a family?

• Need encouragement before you have your ultrasounds? Especially if you have already previously been through a miscarriage, and need to find some light, even when fear kicks in. I’m here for you!

• What are your feelings about your fertility treatment visits, and trying to balance hope with fear because of the uncertainty of the outcome? Do you need to process your emotional responses to the fertility specialist, and how to prepare yourself for those visits?

• Leaning on your understanding of faith, and trying to naivgate how to let go of something and lean more into your belief systems?

• If you need to talk about every aspect within your story, from the time you got your positive pregnancy test, to the time when you found out that you had the ultrasound pictures stating that your baby didn’t make it? Let’s create your narrative and dive into those aspects (from the dates, timelines, instant reactions, perspectives on life, and your hope for the future).

Please know that you are seen; regardless of how much you have had to hide your emotions due to fear, guilt, blame, or sadness…these are moments in your life that will forever shape you; so know you have a place to finally find restoration and relief.