Mind & Body
Our ultimate goal here at Long Island IVF is to help maximize patients' chances of becoming pregnant. While that involves providing the highest quality of medical care, it also involves providing comprehensive services that treat more than just the physical symptoms of infertility. Going through treatments can cause stress on many levels... in marriages, emotionally, financially. Evidence is mounting, however, that alternative therapies, like acupuncture, fertility yoga, massage therapy and more, can enhance patients' abilities to become pregnant and improve overall well-being.
This is why we've developed a Mind Body program and a Wellness Center Team that offers complementary medicine and alternative therapies to our patients. We've partnered with area experts that are leaders in acupuncture, fertility yoga, hypnotherapy, massage therapy, and support groups -- and who specialize in working with patients and couples going through infertility treatments. Participation in these activities -- one or many at a time -- has been proven to help both women and men improve their coping skills, reduce stress levels, build self-esteem, optimize hormonal balance and enhance overall well-being
Please read below for a description of the services we offer.
Support Groups
Emotional support is key to wading through the waters of infertility, which at first glance may appear overwhelming and tumultuous. We at Long Island IVF understand that most women and men never expected to be faced with infertility, and this may be one of the most stressful times in a woman’s life. Infertility often comes as a tremendous shock as well as an emotional blow.
Feelings of distress, anxiety, and depression often accompany infertility. As the crux of mind body medicine focuses on the way in which stress hormones, anxiety, and depression physiologically affect the body, it is crucial to break the cycle. By reducing the body’s physical stress response, we actually calm and quiet the mind. Calming and quieting the mind, in turn, reduces the body’s stress response to an even greater degree. We do this by learning how to elicit the relaxation response, a term coined by Herbert Benson, M.D. of the Mind Body Institute at Harvard Medical Center. This is important for fertility, as it has been documented that the release of stress hormones from the brain, may inhibit the release of reproductive hormones.
We strive to make your fertility journey as smooth and calm as possible. The Mind Body Program includes small, intimate group sessions consisting of women undergoing fertility issues. This program provides a space where you can relax, a place where you are free to express whatever you are feeling ... a sacred circle of connection and support. Additionally, relaxation strategies are taught and practiced during each session. In this way, one not only has the opportunity to experience the relaxation response during the session, but will come away with new coping skills to take home and utilize on a regular basis. Strategies include breath work, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, focused mindfulness, and more.
As husbands and male partners may experience the infertility struggle differently from women, we are proud to offer our "Just For Guys" support group for men. It is often difficult for men to know how to support their spouses, and their own feelings may often be overlooked. This group provides a place for men to share their feelings and gain support.
For more information, contact: binabenisch@gmail.com.
Harriette Rovner Ferguson, LCSW
269F Middle Country Road, Smithtown, NY 11787
Tel: 631-979-2775
Email: HarrietRov@aol.com
Lisa Schiff, LCSW
1050 Hallock Ave., Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776
Tel: 631-901-8517
Email: lseshs@aol.com
Counseling
Long Island IVF concurs with the extensive research that recognizes the experience of infertility as a condition that affects their patients physically as well as emotionally and psychologically (and sometimes socially, maritally and financially), and why we believe it is important that all IVF patients meet with one of our mental health professionals before their treatment cycle is to begin. During this session our therapist will learn about the role infertility plays in your life while offering you support and suggestions on how to handle your treatment concerns. In addition, they will offer you resources and answer any questions you have about the choices you make while you are planning to grow your family. Our list of mental health professionals includes women that have had years of professional experience working specifically with individuals and couples experiencing infertility. Depending on the nature of the consultation their fees may vary and will be discussed when you make your appointment.
Nancy Berlow, LCSW
368 S. Oyster Bay Rd. Hicksville, NY
516-356-7109.
Nancy sees patients on Tuesdays and Sundays.
www.LongIslandPregnancyandInfantLoss.com
Bina Benisch, MS, RN
124 Main Street, Suite 16
Huntington, NY 11743
631-397-0096
binabenisch@gmail.com
Janet Philbin, LCSW
155 E. Main Street suite 170
Smithtown, NY 11787.
(516) 639-6286
www.facetsoflightcounselingcenter.com
Harriette Rovner
Stony Brook and Smithtown, NY.
Hours include early evenings and weekends.
631 979- 2775.
www.theinfertilitytherapist.com is under development.
Lisa Schiff, LCSW
1050 Hallock Avenue
Port Jefferson Station, NY
(631)901-8517
Aviva Zigelman, LCSW,
Great Neck, NY
516-625-1617 or 718-423-9705
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has a rich history and a proven track record in treating women's health conditions. It is gaining rapid popularity as an effective holistic health care modality and used in conjunction with western medicine for the treatment of infertility. Our acupuncturists help reduce the side-effects of and increase receptivity to fertility medications. They help in producing better quality follicles, enhancing uterine blood flow and preventing miscarriage. For men, acupuncture helps resolve underlying stress and improves the quality of sperm. Recent clinical studies have shown that acupuncture can improve pregnancy success rates. It is recommended that acupuncture begin as soon as a patient enters treatment with a reproductive endocrinologist.
Christine Bauer, DCh, LAc.245 Newtown Road, Plainview, NY 11803
Tel: 516-333-7770
www.drchristinebauer.com
Andrea E. Huggler, LAc.
L.I. Holistic Health Associates
399 Deer Park Avenue, Suite 1, Babylon, NY 11702
Tel: 631-539-9733
www.liholistic.com
1 Hollow Lane, Suite 300, Lake Success, NY 11042
Tel: 516-279-6694
Hidden Tao Acupuncture
2 Donald Street, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776
Tel: 631-331-1903
Email: hiddentao@hotmail.com
Fertility Yoga
Fertility Yoga is a way to redirect attention away from the stress of invasive treatments. Our group and individual yoga classes focus on relaxing poses, meditation and visualization to obtain an optimal hormonal balance. Meditation is also utilized in Partner Yoga which fosters trust and support through the shared experience.
Melissa BoydSatya Yoga and Pilates Studio
31Route 25A, Mount Sinai, NY 11766
Tel: 631-828-5996
Hypnotherapy
Our certified hypnotherapist will work with patients to encourage them to release fears and worries while they undergo infertility treatments. Hypnotherapy can help prospective parents let go of limiting thoughts and emotions about conception, pregnancy and a myriad of other issues that crop up during the process of bringing a baby into the world. Hypnotherapy works by its effect on the hypothalamus, which is the neural center at the base of the brain. The hypothalamus registers stress by turning emotions into physical responses via hormone levels, which has a direct effect on fertility. Hypnotherapy utilizes methods such as guided imagery, a technique that aids in relaxation and positive affirmations, which support hopeful attitudes.
Janet Philbin, LCSW269F Middle Country Road, Smithtown, NY, 11787
Tel: 516-639-6286
Email: hypnosisforhope@verizon.net
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy aims to alleviate the "stress-tension-pain" cycle through touch and pressure to interrupt negative impulses to the spinal cord. It reduces excess nerve activity within muscles and tissues and forces out toxic irritants that cause pain. Deep muscle relaxation and increased blood circulation to reproductive organs enhances the body's natural ability to conceive. Hands-on bodywork has shown to reduce anxiety of invasive medical treatments.
Nancy Barravecchio, LMTHome Office-Levittown, NY, House calls available
Tel: 516-297-9749
Port Jefferson
Tel: 631-471-3881
StonyBrook NY, Huntington Station, NY