Counseling

One of three private areas to talk.

A counseling/education session is available for all patients and is required to obtain informed consent. Some patients may experience ambivalence or difficulty with their decision. In these cases, we recommend a counseling session before the abortion appointment, either at our office, by phone, or at a facility nearer your home. We can send you the self-help "Pregnancy Options Workbook" or you can download it at www.pregnancyoptions.info on the internet.

STWS Director Peg Johnston created these workbooks to help women (and their partners, friends and family) who are faced with a difficult decision. It covers all options available as well as decision-making exercises, information on fetal development, harmful exposures during pregnancy, and religious and spiritual issues. An additional workbook called "Abortion: Which Method is Right for Me? " helps a woman decide whether surgical or "medication" (with the abortion pill) is the best method for her. A third workbook, to be published early in 2008, is called "A Guide to Emotional and Spiritual Health After an Abortion;" for anyone who might need help afterwards.

Another resource that we have given financial support are Faith Aloud's videos of clergy speaking to women. Faith Aloud brings the clergy voice to women who have spiritual or religious concerns about abortion in the form of videos and a clergy talkline and other materials. Click here to view four videos, including one in Spanish.

We want each woman to feel as comfortable in our office as possible. We understand that this is a complex situation for most people and we encourage you to share any ambivalence, history of sexual abuse/assault, domestic violence, phobias, psychiatric problems, or any other information that will help us meet your needs.