There are griefs that arrive quietly. Griefs that don’t come with casseroles or condolence cards. Griefs that unfold in sterile rooms, whispered prayers, and empty cribs. At Crown of Hope Counseling, we hold space for these sacred sorrows—especially those surrounding perinatal loss and the journey of IVF. Whether you’ve experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, or the heartbreak of fertility treatments, your grief is real. It is worthy. And it deserves a compassionate witness. Grief is not measured by gestation or outcome. It is measured by love—and the longing that remains.
Perinatal loss refers to the death of a baby during pregnancy, birth, or shortly after. It includes:
Miscarriage (loss before 20 weeks)
Stillbirth (loss after 20 weeks)
Neonatal death (loss within the first 28 days of life)
Termination for medical reasons
Failed IVF or fertility treatments
IVF is often described as a rollercoaster—but for many, it’s more like a pilgrimage. A long, exhausting journey filled with hope, sacrifice, and uncertainty. When cycles fail, embryos don’t implant, or pregnancies end early, the grief is profound. You may grieve the child you imagined. You may feel betrayed by your body. You may struggle with guilt, shame, or isolation. You may question your faith, your identity, your worth. This grief is often disenfranchised—meaning it’s not always recognized or supported by others. But here, it is honored.
Narrative Therapy: Helping you tell your story, name your loss, and reclaim your voice
Somatic Support: Tending to the body’s trauma response, offering regulation and grounding
Existential Therapy: Exploring meaning, identity, and spiritual questions
Art & Ritual: Creating memory objects, legacy pieces, and healing practices
Couples Counseling: Navigating grief styles, communication, and intimacy
Chaplaincy-Informed Care: Holding space for lament, theological questions, and sacred imagery
Faith-Affirming Support: Whether you’re angry at God, clinging to hope, or somewhere in between
Legacy Work: Naming your child, creating rituals, honoring your journey
You are never rushed. You are never reduced. You are invited to grieve in your own way, at your own pace.
Grief doesn’t always look the same for everyone. Partners may feel helpless, disconnected, or unsure how to support. Families may struggle to understand.
We offer:
Partner Sessions: Space to process, support, and reconnect
Family Education: Helping loved ones understand and respond with compassion
Group Support: Connecting with others who share similar journeys
Grief is not a solo endeavor. It is a communal ache—and we help you build a circle of care.
One of the most healing practices in perinatal loss is naming. Whether your child lived for minutes or was never born, their presence mattered. Their story matters.
We offer guided sessions to:
Choose a name or symbol
Create a legacy piece (art, letter, ritual)
Honor anniversaries and milestones
Integrate your child’s memory into your life
Naming is not about closure. It’s about connection.
As a Board Certified Chaplain and grief therapist, Dr. Nici Richardson-McFarland brings a unique integration of clinical and spiritual care. For those navigating faith and fertility, we offer space to explore:
Why did this happen?
Where is God in this?
Is it okay to be angry?
How do I pray now?
What does redemption look like here?
We do not offer platitudes. We offer presence. And we believe that lament is holy.
You don’t have to wait until you’re “ready.” You don’t have to wait until you stop crying. You don’t have to wait until you can explain your grief.
If you feel:
Numb, overwhelmed, or stuck• Isolated or misunderstood
Angry, guilty, or ashamed
Spiritually disoriented
Longing for connection or clarity
…then it’s time. And we are here.
A safe, welcoming space
A therapist who honors your story
A collaborative plan tailored to your needs
Integration of clinical and spiritual care
Permission to grieve, hope, and heal
Sessions may be in-person or virtual. You are welcome to come alone, with a partner, or as a family.
At Crown of Hope, we offer a holistic, trauma-informed approach to perinatal and fertility grief. Our care integrates clinical expertise, spiritual reflection, and radical compassion.
You may be here because your body held hope. Because you dreamed of names, nursery colors, and tiny socks. Because you walked through procedures, injections, and prayers. And now, you carry a grief that few understand. This page is for you. For the mother who never got to meet her child. For the couple navigating failed IVF cycles. For the family who lost a heartbeat. For the woman who feels her body betrayed her. For the partner who doesn’t know how to help. For the faith that feels shaken. You are not alone. And you are not too much.
Perinatal loss and fertility grief are not footnotes. They are chapters. And they deserve to be written with tenderness, truth, and hope.
At Crown of Hope, we believe that your grief is sacred. That your story matters. And that healing begins when you are seen, heard, and held.
You are not broken. You are grieving. And that is holy work.
