Abby Lemke, MS, LPC-IT
Reproductive Mental Health Specialist
"Healing is possible. You don't have to face this alone."
I'm a therapist who specializes in reproductive mental health, and my own path to building a family is what brought me into this work. I remember what it was like to sit in those waiting rooms, holding both hope and heartbreak, and feeling the weight of so many emotions at once.
It's a true honor to walk alongside people facing similar challenges—offering a space where you feel understood, supported, and never alone in what you're carrying. There is hope, and you deserve care that meets you with compassion every step of the way.
Why I Became a Fertility Therapist
My path into infertility counseling began with my own journey to build a family. Like many of the people I now support, I once imagined that getting pregnant would simply happen when I was ready. When it didn't, I found myself navigating a world I never expected—fertility clinics, treatment plans, deep disappointments, and a kind of grief that felt invisible to those around me.
During that time, I longed for a therapist who truly understood this experience—how infertility touches everything: identity, relationships, the body, the future, and the sense of self.
That search reshaped my life. I returned to school, earned my master's in counseling, completed advanced reproductive mental health training through the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and created Dancing Bee Counseling to offer the kind of care I once needed.
Everyone's journey is unique, and I never assume your story mirrors mine. But I do bring a deep understanding of how heavy this path can feel. When you talk about the two-week wait, the roller coaster of treatment, or the ache of another negative test, you don't have to translate your experience. I understand the emotional landscape you're describing.
Today, it's an honor to support individuals and couples through every part of their reproductive story—whether you're beginning treatment, grieving a loss, or trying to figure out what comes next. You don't have to navigate this alone; I'm here to walk alongside you.
Specialized Expertise in Reproductive Mental Health
I've invested in specific training to provide the highest quality fertility counseling, not just general therapy applied to infertility.
Master's Degree in Counseling
Graduate-level training in clinical counseling, mental health assessment, therapeutic techniques, and evidence-based interventions. Foundation in the science and practice of psychotherapy.
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-IT)
Wisconsin state licensure as a professional counselor. Currently practicing under the supervision of Elizabeth Canfield, MS, LPC, NBCC, meeting all requirements for independent licensure.
Reproductive Mental Health Training
Training in reproductive mental health focused on the psychological aspects of infertility, pregnancy loss, third-party reproduction, and perinatal mental health. This training goes beyond general therapy to address reproductive-specific concerns.
Advanced Specialized Training
Completed specialized mental health training focused on the psychological aspects of infertility, pregnancy loss, third-party reproduction, and perinatal mental health. This training goes beyond general therapy to address reproductive-specific concerns.
My Therapeutic Approach
I combine warm, compassionate, personalized therapy with research-backed strategies for supporting mental health. My goal is to create a therapeutic space that feels like a soft place to land during what are among life's most difficult challenges.
Person-Centered Therapy
You are the expert on your own life. I provide support and perspective, not prescriptions. Your values, your goals, your path forward.
Trauma-Informed Care
Infertility, pregnancy loss, and reproductive struggles can be traumatic. I work through a trauma-informed lens that honors your experiences and nervous system responses.
Mindfulness Strategies
Grounding techniques and present-moment awareness help manage the anxiety and rumination that often accompany fertility challenges.
Somatic Processing
Your body holds stress and grief. Somatic approaches help you reconnect with and release physical tension related to emotional experiences.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT strategies help you accept difficult emotions while committing to actions aligned with your values. Particularly helpful for the uncertainty of infertility.
Values That Shape My Practice
Self-Compassion
I'm a champion of self-compassion. Infertility brings enough pain without adding self-criticism. Learning to treat yourself with kindness during this struggle is part of the healing process.
Self-Care
Taking care of yourself isn't selfish; it's necessary. I help clients build sustainable self-care practices that support mental health throughout fertility treatment and beyond.
Honoring Your Story
Your experience matters. Your losses count. Your grief is valid. I'm committed to honoring your unique story without comparison, minimization, or pressure to feel differently than you do.
Walking Alongside
I don't have all the answers, and I won't pretend to. What I offer is consistent, caring presence. Someone to walk alongside you at every step as your path unfolds.
Holistic Wellbeing
Mental health connects to physical health, relationships, spirituality, and purpose. I support clients from a holistic perspective, not just treating symptoms.
Hope for Healing
Healing is possible. Even when it doesn't feel that way. Even when the outcome isn't what you hoped for. I hold hope for my clients, especially when they can't hold it themselves.
Areas of Specialization
I focus exclusively on reproductive mental health. Here's what I can help with.
Why "Dancing Bee"?
People sometimes ask about the name. Dancing Bee Counseling wasn't chosen randomly.
🐝 The Dancing Bee
Bees communicate through dance. When a bee finds something good, she returns to the hive and performs a waggle dance to share the discovery with others. She doesn't hoard what she's found; she guides others toward it. That's what I hope to do in therapy: help you find your way toward healing, toward hope, toward whatever comes next on your path. And like the bee, I believe in the power of community, connection, and not facing hard things alone.
Location & Contact
🐝 Dancing Bee Counseling
Office Address
101 E Main St, Suite 4
Waunakee, WI 53597
Phone
608-967-6105Serving Dane County and Beyond
UW Fertility · Forward Fertility · Wisconsin Fertility Institute
Let's Talk
A consultation is simply a conversation. A chance for you to share what you're going through and for me to explain how I might help. No pressure. No commitment.
In-person in Waunakee · Telehealth throughout Wisconsin