Abortion Resolution Workbook
Appendix D: Note to Counselors An abortion experience may be a motivator for individuals to seek counseling or it may come up in the history of existing clients. People have many different reactions to their experience and the decision to end a pregnancy may be emblematic of several ongoing themes in personal development, relationships, and self care. The context of a pregnancy decision is often filled with useful material about a client’s life and is usually quite rich. Your client may present with emotional pain about their decision, serious disruptions of their normal routines or relationships, or symptoms of panic or depression. The larger context, which we discuss in this Guide to Emotional and Spiritual Healing after an Abortion, will be important material to explore. By helping your client appreciate ongoing issues, patterns of behavior, and developmental events, you can return your client to normal functioning, better coping, and greater understanding of their strengths. If you don’t have a complete copy of the Guide, go to www. pregnancyoptions.info for a downloadable copy or to order several copies to have on hand for your clients in need. Although there has been much public discussion about the so-called “Post Abortion Stress Syndrome” or “PASS,” the American Psychological Association has not found evidence that after abortion reactions constitute a “syndrome” and there is no DSM code for such a syndrome. This is not to minimize the very real emotional pain some experience after an abortion. The recognized risk factors for such reactions include previous trauma or impaired coping due to a prior trauma, opposition to their decision from someone close to them, extreme lack of support, including having no one to talk to, the ending of a relationship at the same time as the abortion, or a conflict with her previous beliefs about abortion. For further discussion of risk factors, please read the works of Brenda Major, PhD and Nancy Russo, PhD who have researched this topic thoroughly. See also Section 2 for a discussion about After Abortion Emotional Health.
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Most people experience some degree of stigma in connection with an abortion experience. This perceived disapproval of their decision may prevent them from taking advantage of their normal coping mechanisms if they feel they cannot talk to certain people. Your empathy and non-judgmental reactions will be healing for them. Encouraging them to tell their story and to see them as a moral decision maker is a good antidote to the societal stigma about abortion. The Abortion Conversation Projects, www. abortionconversationprojects.org, focuses on promoting safe places to have open conversations about pregnancy options, especially abortion. On the website, you will find helpful information, handouts and training materials available to you at little or no cost. Or you may want to join the Abortion Care Network, www.abortioncarenetwork.org an organization for independent abortion providers and allies. Please consult the Resource list on these websites and in this Guide for additional suggestions. Important researchers in the field include Brenda Major, PhD, Nancy Russo, PhD, and Alissa Perrucci, PhD.
