Are you curious about the field of reproductive medicine and the evolution of therapy in this space? In this episode of “Quiet the Clock,” I interview Sharon Covington, a clinical social worker and director of psychological support services at Shady Grove Fertility, the largest reproductive medical practice in the US.
Sharon shares her personal journey into the field of reproductive medicine, which began with her own experience of reproductive loss and the lack of resources available at the time. She also discusses the use of self-disclosure in therapy and emphasizes the importance of therapists working through their own issues before sharing personal experiences with clients.
We also dive into the emotions and pain points that women experience when considering or undergoing fertility preservation. Sharon explains that the decision is often a gut-wrenching one, as it is not the first choice for most women. She also acknowledges that fertility preservation is not accessible to everyone and discusses the challenges of dealing with uncertainty in infertility treatment.
We even touch on the increase in women freezing their eggs during the COVID-19 pandemic and the complexities of egg freezing. Sharon emphasizes the importance of mental health professionals being well-informed and passionate about this work, and she encourages the next generation to get involved.
I hope you’ll tune in to this insightful conversation with Sharon Covington. As she says, “Personal experience is not professional training,” and it’s important to be well-versed and knowledgeable about the field of reproductive medicine.
About Sharon Covington:
Quotes:
- “I try to do everything particularly this point in my career to bring the kind of next generation along and to really make sure that people are well informed.”
- “I think that any kind of counseling that someone is doing offers a therapist an opportunity to begin to talk about this as an option and a as a question. One of the things that we see over and over again is how misinformed the public is about their fertility.”
- “Fertility preservation, there isn’t a guarantee, there’s no guarantees in any of this kind of treatment.”
- “Therapists really have to work through their own issues and be really very careful about that before they start sharing their own personal experience.”
- “70% of both mental health professionals and nurses who were working in the field came to it as a result of their personal experience.”
Key Points:
- Feelings and emotions [00:00:00] Sharon Covington explains the emotions and feelings of women who freeze their eggs, including the age range and reasons why women choose to do it.
- Introduction to “Quiet the Clock” [00:00:46] Beth Gulotta introduces her podcast “Quiet the Clock,” which aims to provide guidance and understanding for women navigating dating, motherhood, and egg freezing.
- Sharon Covington’s background and experience [00:02:41] Sharon Covington discusses her extensive work in the field of reproductive medicine, including her role as director of psychological support services at Shady Grove Fertility and her involvement in research, writing, and teaching.
- Therapists’ use of self-disclosure [00:08:24] Sharon Covington discusses the use of self-disclosure in therapy and the importance of being careful not to unduly influence clients.
- Emotions and pain points of women considering egg freezing [00:10:14] Beth Gulotta asks Sharon Covington about the emotions and pain points of women considering egg freezing, including financial, emotional, and physical aspects.
- Challenges and uncertainties of egg freezing [00:16:09] Sharon Covington and Beth Gulotta discuss the challenges and uncertainties of egg freezing, including the financial burden, physical and emotional toll, and uncertainty of success.
- The evolution of therapy in reproductive medicine [00:17:55] Sharon Covington discusses the exponential growth of reproductive medicine and the changing technology that has offered new options for family building. She also talks about the need for specialized training in this area and the importance of mental health support for patients.
- Importance of specialized training in fertility counseling [00:23:12] Sharon Covington emphasizes the need for mental health professionals to have specialized training in fertility counseling and reproductive mental health. She mentions various training opportunities available and cautions against assuming personal experience is professional training.
- The surge in egg freezing during COVID-19 [00:26:07] Sharon Covington talks about the surge in egg freezing during COVID-19 and the importance of support systems for patients going through reproductive medicine treatments. She also mentions the potential for trauma associated with the invasiveness of treatment and the need for appropriate supports and treatment.
- The impact of COVID-19 on fertility treatment [00:26:31] Sharon and Beth discuss the impact of COVID-19 on fertility treatment and the changes in family building plans.
- Increase in egg freezing since 2012 [00:29:10] Beth learns from Sharon that the experimental label on egg freezing was removed in 2012, leading to a significant increase in egg freezing.
- Preconception counseling and fertility awareness [00:32:37] Sharon emphasizes the importance of preconception counseling and fertility awareness among mental health professionals to help patients understand their fertility and make informed decisions.
- Passion for Reproductive Medicine [00:35:42] Sharon Covington expresses her passion for reproductive medicine and her desire to bring the next generation along.
- Information about Sharon Covington [00:35:18] Beth Gulotta asks Sharon Covington to share where people can find more information about her, her books, and her trainings.
- Training Cohort Applications [00:36:53] Sharon Covington mentions that applications for the next cohort of classes will start in September and invites interested individuals to send in an application.