Infertility and Regression Therapy: A Case Report of a Couple Following Emotional Integration

 by Gina Rodríguez (Spain)

Abstract: Infertility constitutes a complex clinical phenomenon in which biological, psychological, relational, and social factors interact. Although reproductive medicine has improved the diagnosis and treatment of numerous organic disorders, a proportion of couples continue to have difficulty conceiving in the absence of a clearly identifiable cause or with a multifactorial aetiology.

This study describes the therapeutic process of a couple treated with Regression Therapy whose initial reason for consultation was not infertility, but rather different individual emotional conflicts and difficulties within the couple’s relationship. During treatment, both reported that they had been trying unsuccessfully to conceive, which became part of the clinical picture without changing the focus of the intervention.

Each member underwent an individual therapeutic process addressing conflicts related to personal history, couple dynamics, sexuality, parental figures, feelings of guilt, low self-esteem, gestational experiences, and persistent emotional patterns. In one partner’s case, treatment also enabled the progressive resolution of compulsive pornography use, which had been a significant source of personal distress and strain on the relationship.

Independently, both accessed prenatal experiences during their sessions, which were explored within the Regression Therapy model as part of the emotional integration process. Following the favourable evolution of both therapeutic processes, the couple conceived spontaneously, and the pregnancy culminated in the birth of a child.

This study does not aim to establish a causal relationship between the intervention and the subsequent pregnancy. Rather, its value lies in documenting the clinical evolution of both clients and analysing the temporal coincidence between a profound process of emotional and relational transformation and achieving pregnancy, contributing a clinical case that may help generate new research hypotheses.

Keywords: Regression Therapy, infertility, compulsive pornography, couple therapy, gestational experiences, spontaneous conception, clinical case study.

Introduction

Infertility constitutes one of the main challenges in reproductive health due to the interaction of biological, endocrine, psychological, relational, and social factors. Although advances in reproductive medicine have improved the diagnosis and treatment of numerous organic disorders, there continues to be a group of couples whose difficulty conceiving remains without a fully satisfactory explanation or responds to a multifactorial aetiology.

Several studies have described the significant psychological impact associated with infertility, including anxiety, depressive symptoms, feelings of guilt, decreased self-esteem, and a significant deterioration in quality of life. Likewise, reproductive difficulties can affect communication, intimacy, and satisfaction within the couple’s relationship.

However, infertility was not the initial reason for consultation among the clients presented in this study. Both requested treatment for different emotional and relational conflicts that significantly affected their psychological well-being. Among these were communication difficulties, problems in the experience of sexuality, and, in Daniel’s case, compulsive pornography use that he himself considered incompatible with the relationship he wished to build.

The intervention was carried out through Regression Therapy with the aim of exploring and integrating the emotional conflicts that emerged during the sessions. It was only during the therapeutic process that the couple reported the difficulties they were encountering in trying to conceive. This circumstance became part of the clinical context, without altering the focus of the intervention.

As treatment progressed, convergent emotional patterns began to be observed in both individual processes, related to parental figures, guilt, self-devaluation, relational difficulties, and experiences associated with the gestational period. In parallel, both clients described a progressive improvement in their emotional well-being, communication, and relationship as a couple. Daniel also reported the cessation of compulsive pornography use, while Sara reported a greater capacity to express her needs and set boundaries.

Following this clinical evolution, the couple conceived spontaneously.

The aim of this work is to describe in detail the therapeutic evolution of both clients and to analyse this case from the conceptual framework of Regression Therapy, contributing to the generation of new hypotheses about the possible relationship between the integration of emotional conflicts, couple dynamics, and reproductive health.

Methodology

This is a single, descriptive, qualitative clinical case study, whose aim is to document the therapeutic evolution of a couple treated with Regression Therapy. This type of design allows complex clinical processes to be described and hypotheses to be generated for future research, without establishing causal relationships.

Participants

The participants were an adult heterosexual couple who voluntarily attended a private practice requesting treatment through Regression Therapy.

Both had higher education, worked in highly skilled professions, and were of middle-to-upper socioeconomic status. To preserve their confidentiality, all identifying data were modified and the names used are pseudonyms.

At the beginning of treatment, they presented with significant emotional and relational difficulties. Infertility was not the initial reason for consultation; it was reported during the course of the therapeutic process and became part of the clinical context of the case.

Therapeutic model

The therapeutic process was carried out following the Regression Therapy model, which facilitates the exploration of emotionally significant experiences in an expanded state of consciousness, while maintaining the client’s active participation at all times.

The methodology applied corresponds to the model developed by Dr. José Luis Cabouli. Treatment was carried out by a therapist trained in this model, with advanced, internationally recognized training in Regression Therapy and other complementary approaches related to emotional integration. Sessions were designed to facilitate the spontaneous emergence of content relevant to each client, promoting its processing and emotional integration through a non-directive therapeutic stance, adapted to individual clinical needs and avoiding suggestions or interpretations that might influence the experience.

Data collection and analysis

The study was developed based on the analysis of complete transcripts of the therapy sessions and of follow-up interviews conducted after the conclusion of treatment.

The emerging content, the emotional evolution of both clients, the changes observed between sessions, the progressive integration of the conflicts worked on, the changes in couple dynamics, and the clinical evolution described by the participants themselves were analysed. The direct quotations included were selected for their clinical relevance.

Ethical considerations

Both participants gave informed consent for their case to be used for scientific and educational purposes. The study respected the principles of confidentiality, anonymisation, and personal data protection. The conclusions should be interpreted within the limitations inherent to a single case study.

Case presentation

Initial clinical context

The clients, whose names have been replaced with the pseudonyms Daniel and Sara, came to consultation requesting treatment through Regression Therapy for different individual emotional difficulties and persistent conflicts within their relationship. At the time of the initial assessment, infertility was not a reason for consultation nor part of the therapeutic objectives.

Daniel reported intense distress associated with compulsive pornography use maintained for years, which he considered incompatible with his personal values and with the kind of relationship he wished to build. Repeated attempts to abandon this behaviour had generated feelings of guilt, frustration, shame, and a marked decrease in his self-esteem.

Sara presented with a history characterized by high self-expectations, difficulties setting boundaries, and a persistent tendency to prioritize others’ needs over her own. She reported feeling emotionally overwhelmed and acknowledged difficulties expressing her needs within the relationship.

Both described a progressive deterioration in communication, a decrease in emotional intimacy, and recurring conflicts that compromised the stability of the couple. The intervention was proposed with the aim of exploring and integrating the emotional conflicts involved in these difficulties, without establishing prior hypotheses about their origin.

It was during the course of treatment that they reported having been trying, for some time and without success, to conceive. This information became part of the clinical context of the case, although it did not alter the therapeutic objectives.

Daniel’s therapeutic evolution

Initial situation

The first interviews revealed that compulsive pornography use was only the most visible manifestation of a broader emotional distress. In addition to the intense feeling of failure associated with this behaviour, Daniel expressed insecurity, fear of rejection, difficulty expressing certain emotions, and a tendency to take on excessive responsibility within affective relationships.

These findings guided the intervention toward exploring the underlying emotional conflicts rather than toward isolated symptom control.

First regression: reframing the sexual symptom

The first intervention focused on exploring the emotional origin of the compulsive pornography use and the repeated seeking out of prostitution.

During the regressive experience, a scene spontaneously emerged that the client placed in a context associated with the American West. He perceived himself working at a railroad station and described an existence marked by routine, emotional emptiness, and lack of affective fulfilment. Although he initially reported being married, he began forming relationships with several prostitutes, later identifying one of them as the consciousness he now recognised as his sister. He eventually left his wife to start a new life with her.

The moment of death was accompanied by the sense that an important part of himself remained bound to that experience, especially to the affective bond he had formed.

During therapeutic integration, a significant shift occurred in the understanding of the symptom. The compulsive behaviour ceased to be interpreted solely as a problem related to sexuality and came to be understood as the repeated search for a deeply unmet affective need.

In the follow-up interview, Daniel summarized this transformation, stating:

“What I took from it was that—what I was looking for through the sexual thing… I was looking for the love that had been left there.”

This reframing constituted a turning point in the therapeutic process, shifting the focus from the behaviour to the emotional conflict that appeared to sustain it.

Second regression: gestational experiences and building personal security

Once work on the affective conflicts had begun, Daniel expressed his wish to understand the insecurity he experienced when facing important decisions.

The regressive experience led spontaneously to the gestational period. The client described a tense emotional climate between his parents and perceived his mother’s suffering during the pregnancy. The experience then shifted to the moment of birth, which he experienced as an abrupt separation for which he did not feel prepared, describing an intense resistance to leaving the womb.

During integration, this content was linked to feelings of insecurity present in different areas of his life.

In the follow-up interview, Daniel reported experiencing greater confidence in facing personal and professional decisions, attributing this change to the understanding reached during the session.

Third regression: understanding relational patterns

The third intervention delved further into how the client built his affective relationships. Through the regressive experience he identified patterns of emotional dependency and needs for recognition that he had not previously been able to fully understand.

During the follow-up interview he explained that the meaning of this session became clearer over time:

“It helped me realize certain things I wanted to bring up in my relationship… certain things the relationship didn’t quite understand, but now, with time, I understand them better.”

This process fostered a broader understanding of how he formed attachments and helped him progressively change the relational dynamic maintained with Sara.

Clinical integration of Daniel’s process

Taken together, the three interventions show a coherent and progressive therapeutic process. The first allowed the compulsive behaviour to be reframed in terms of its affective function; the second addressed persistent feelings of insecurity associated with gestational experiences; and the third fostered an understanding of the relational patterns present in the couple.

During clinical follow-up, Daniel reported the cessation of compulsive pornography use, greater emotional stability, increased self-esteem, greater confidence in facing important decisions, and a significant improvement in communication with Sara. These changes consolidated progressively throughout the therapeutic process and formed the basis for the joint evolution later described in both members of the couple.

Sara’s therapeutic evolution

Initial situation

As with Daniel, Sara’s therapeutic process began to address emotional and relational conflicts affecting both her psychological well-being and the stability of the couple. The initial assessment highlighted high self-expectations, difficulties setting boundaries, a need for approval, and a persistent tendency to prioritize others’ needs over her own.

She also reported feelings of frustration, loneliness, and being misunderstood within the relationship, which she attributed, among other factors, to Daniel’s demanding professional commitments. At this stage, infertility was still not part of the reason for consultation.

First regression: the pattern of self-sacrifice

The first regressive experience led spontaneously to a scene the patient placed in the seventeenth century. She described a childhood marked by an absence of affection and a family environment lacking protection, identifying the maternal figure of that experience with traits similar to those of her current mother. Situations of abuse by a family member also emerged during the session.

She later described a marriage to the consciousness she recognized as Daniel. However, the relationship reproduced a pattern of emotional distance stemming from her husband’s demanding work commitments, a circumstance the patient spontaneously connected with aspects present in her current life.

The appearance of a second man raised the possibility of starting a new life, but an intense feeling of guilt toward her children led her to return to her family. The experience concluded with a death in solitude, rejected by those around her.

During integration, Sara identified a constant pattern of giving up her own well-being to meet the needs of others. In the follow-up interview she stated:

“I remember that feeling of not looking out for myself, of not being fully happy, but instead looking out for my husband, my family, my children… and in the end, dying alone.”

This understanding became one of the central threads running through her entire therapeutic process.

Second regression: vulnerability and reframing

The second intervention centred on an experience characterized by vulnerability and abuse. Sara described a sexual assault accompanied by intense feelings of fear, helplessness, and loss of safety.

During integration she identified the aggressor as the same consciousness she recognized in a person from her current circle with whom she had always maintained a respectful relationship. Beyond this identification, the clinically relevant aspect was the emotional reorganization the client experienced regarding that relationship.

In the follow-up interview she noted:

“He’s always treated me very well… I was always surprised by how well he treated me… and I came to understand a little why that was.”

The experience fostered a new understanding of that bond and reduced the distress it had previously caused her.

Third regression: gestational experiences and the maternal bond

In an advanced phase of treatment, Sara spontaneously accessed prenatal experiences. During the session she described feelings of rejection and ambivalence during gestation, associated with the perception of not feeling fully wanted.

Integrating this content made it possible to relate these experiences to patterns present in her adult life, particularly the constant need for approval, fear of rejection, and difficulty recognizing her own worth.

In clinical follow-up she explained that this session marked a turning point in her personal process, describing a decrease in her need for external approval, a greater capacity to express her needs, and a calmer relationship with the maternal figure.

Fourth regression: guilt and reparation

The final intervention centred on an experience in which Sara held a position of authority as a tax collector. During the session she described the suffering she caused to numerous people and a deep sense of guilt upon understanding the consequences of her actions.

In the follow-up interview she summarized this experience, stating:

“It was a time when I was a tax collector, and I really treated people very badly. By the end of that life, I deeply regretted it and tried to fix what I could, but I hurt a great many people and it was hard to make up for it.”

The client felt that this regression allowed her to integrate aspects related to personal responsibility, guilt, and reparation.

Clinical integration of Sara’s process

The four interventions show remarkable thematic coherence. Although set in different scenarios, all converge on conflicts related to rejection, the need for acceptance, self-sacrifice, guilt, and difficulty prioritizing her own needs.

Her clinical evolution reflected a progressive decrease in self-imposed pressure, a greater capacity to set boundaries, improved self-esteem, and a significant change in the way she related to herself and to Daniel.

Joint evolution of the case

Although both underwent independent therapeutic processes and were unaware of the specific content of each other’s sessions, their evolution showed a clear convergence. Daniel reported the cessation of compulsive pornography use, greater emotional stability, and a significant improvement in communication. Sara described greater personal security, a decrease in her need for approval, and a greater capacity to express her needs.

Both noted a progressive reduction in couple conflicts, a more satisfying experience of intimacy, and a strengthening of their affective bond.

Months after finishing the therapeutic process, the couple reported that, after a period during which they had tried unsuccessfully to conceive and with growing concern about the situation, they had finally conceived spontaneously. The pregnancy proceeded uneventfully through to the birth of their child. In the context of this study, this outcome is the clinical event that motivated the presentation of the case and raises interest in continuing to investigate the possible interaction between emotional integration processes, couple dynamics, and reproductive health, without this allowing a causal relationship to be established between the intervention and the pregnancy.

Discussion

This study describes the therapeutic evolution of a couple who underwent a Regression Therapy process for emotional and relational conflicts, during the course of which significant clinical improvement occurred, followed subsequently by spontaneous conception. Given the methodological nature of a single case study, these findings do not allow a causal relationship to be established between the intervention and achieving pregnancy. Nevertheless, they do offer a detailed clinical description that may contribute to the formulation of new research hypotheses.

One of the most relevant aspects of the case is that infertility was not the initial reason for consultation. The intervention focused on addressing individual emotional difficulties and couple dynamics, and it was only during the course of treatment that both clients reported that they were trying unsuccessfully to conceive. This circumstance reduces the likelihood that the sessions were guided by specific expectations related to pregnancy.

Both therapeutic processes gave rise to themes showing notable internal coherence. In Daniel, content related to insecurity, unmet affective needs, relational patterns, and compulsive pornography use predominated. In Sara, conflicts associated with rejection, guilt, self-sacrifice, the need for approval, and gestational experiences appeared repeatedly. Although each process developed independently, both converged on a progressive transformation of the couple’s relationship and of each partner’s emotional experience.

Within the Regression Therapy model, the scenes relived during sessions are not interpreted solely for their possible historical value, but above all for their capacity to facilitate the processing and integration of present emotional conflicts. In this sense, the clinically relevant element is not the objective verification of the scenarios experienced, but rather the therapeutic meaning they acquire for the patient and the changes observed following their integration.

This perspective is consistent with the approach of Cabouli, who considers that regression constitutes a resource for accessing the subjective origin of certain emotional conflicts and for facilitating their resolution through conscious integration of the experience. Similarly, Hans TenDam describes regression as a procedure aimed at identifying and resolving persistent emotional patterns that continue to influence present-day life, regardless of the interpretation given to the origin of the scenes experienced.

Another notable finding was the spontaneous emergence, in both clients, of prenatal experiences. The literature on prenatal and perinatal psychology has indicated that early gestational experiences may become relevant to the formation of attachment, emotional regulation, and certain relational patterns. Although this field remains a subject of debate and requires further research, the content observed in this case is consistent with these theoretical proposals and justifies its consideration as a clinical hypothesis.

Likewise, the couple’s evolution highlights the close relationship between emotional well-being, the quality of the affective bond, and the experience of sexuality. By the end of treatment, both described more open communication, fewer conflicts, greater emotional intimacy, and a more satisfying perception of their relationship. These changes are consistent with psychological models that emphasize the influence of chronic stress and couple functioning on reproductive health, although this study does not allow the specific weight of each of these factors to be determined.

As with any case study, this work has methodological limitations that must be taken into account when interpreting its results. In describing the clinical evolution of a single couple, the findings cannot be generalized nor can they, by themselves, establish a causal relationship between the therapeutic intervention and achieving pregnancy. Nevertheless, the clinical richness of the follow-up, the parallel evolution of both therapeutic processes, and the temporal sequence observed provide valuable insight that may help generate new hypotheses and guide future research using more robust methodological designs.

Despite these limitations, the case offers several notable strengths. First, it documents in detail the parallel evolution of two independent therapeutic processes that converge on a clearly identifiable emotional and relational improvement. Second, it shows the usefulness of the case study as a tool for generating research questions in an area that remains sparsely explored. Finally, it highlights the value of developing prospective studies with larger samples, mixed methodologies, and standardized measures that would allow for a more precise analysis of the possible relationship between the integration of emotional conflicts, couple dynamics, and fertility.

Conclusions

This study describes the therapeutic process of a couple treated with Regression Therapy whose initial reason for consultation was related to emotional and relational conflicts, and not to infertility. Throughout the intervention, both clients showed a favourable clinical evolution, characterized by better emotional regulation, changes in their relational patterns, a strengthened couple bond, and the resolution of difficulties that had significantly affected their well-being.

During the therapeutic process, the couple expressed concern about the difficulties they were encountering in trying to conceive, following a prolonged period of unsuccessful attempts. Months after concluding the intervention, they reported conceiving spontaneously, and the pregnancy proceeded uneventfully through to the birth of a child. Although this fact does not allow a causal relationship to be established with the intervention carried out, it constitutes a relevant clinical outcome that justifies the presentation of the case and opens new avenues for reflection and research.

Case studies play a fundamental role in the development of clinical knowledge, especially in areas where scientific evidence remains limited. In this context, the present work provides a systematic description of a complex therapeutic process and raises the need to continue investigating the possible role of emotional integration, early experiences, and couple dynamics in reproductive health through more robust methodological designs.

Regression Therapy may constitute a valuable tool for exploring certain emotional conflicts present in some clients. However, future research will be needed to more rigorously evaluate the scope, indications, and limitations of this approach in the context of infertility and other problems related to emotional and relational health.

Biography:Gina Rodríguez Hurtado is a dedicated therapist and passionate seeker of truth, known for her intuitive, empathetic nature and deep commitment to personal growth. After a decade in London’s dynamic fashion industry, where she gained a global perspective and deepened her cultural sensitivity, Gina began a profound inner journey sparked by her own search for balance and meaning.

Her transformation led her to the powerful world of Regression Therapy, inspired by the work of Brian Weiss, Robert Schwartz, and Hans TenDam. She trained at the ATMA Center in Málaga under Carlos González Delgado and later completed an international postgraduate program with renowned figures in the field.

Today, Gina helps clients heal emotional wounds, overcome fears, and rediscover self-love through Regression Therapy, offering sessions in Benalmádena and online. She is also a co-author of several books on regression and a board member of the Spanish Association of Regression Therapy (AETR), where she continues to share her knowledge and passion for healing.

“In the search for truth and healing, I found my purpose: to help others embrace the full and joyful life they deserve.”

Author Contact Information

Website: www.regresionesconscientes.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @gina_regresionesconscientes

YouTube: @ginarodriguezregresiones

Member of AETR, Spanish Association of Regressive Therapy.