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Most abortion counseling focuses on the decision-making process, the options for continuing the pregnancy, medical issues of the pregnancy, information regarding the pregnancy itself, full disclosure of the risks of continuing the pregnancy to deliver a baby, information and options for the abortion procedure, and, finally, information regarding a birth control decision. The risks and benefits of both medical and surgical abortions are often reviewed.

Seek the advice of friends or family members who have used abortion counseling services. Although this is a difficult thing to talk about for most women, getting advice from someone who’s been through it will help.You might get abortion counseling from both a pro-choice and pro-life perspective by visiting Planned Parenthood and Crisis Pregnancy Support Centers before making your final decision.

Talk to your minister, priest or rabbi about your decisions to have an abortion. Your religious beliefs and world view might influence your decision.Look for a therapist who deals in post-abortion counseling. These people are trained experts and will help you through the emotional trauma you may experience after having an abortion.Join a support group of women who have had abortions. Your therapist or women’s help center will have information about groups in your area.

Find a friend you can talk to about your decision. Your closest friends want what is best for you and are able to listen to you in a nonjudgmental way. Keeping close friends around you during this time is important.Be willing to help others who have had a similar experience. Often the best therapy is the help we can give to someone else who is dealing with this tough decision.

The counseling process is aimed primarily at the woman herself but may also include other people she chooses to be involved. Studies indicate that men are involved in more than 40% of the decisions, but only scant research has been performed on male involvement in the process. Some women can reach a decision quickly. Others take longer to decide. The counseling process may provide referrals if you need ongoing support.

You should not feel pressured to make a decision. Take time to consider your options.

During the counseling, you may be asked questions designed to encourage meaningful discussion of the issues as they pertain to you. You will have many emotions. Counseling may take a day or longer.

Some state laws may apply to the counseling process. Some states have mandatory waiting times between the information session and the actual abortion. Other states require family or parental notification, and some states mandate that certain subjects be covered during abortion counceling.

The majority of women who have had abortions report feeling happy, satisfied, and relieved following their abortion. Some few women who have had an abortion may experience some feelings of guilt and sadness; however, this rarely lasts longer than a few days. Those very few women who present with prolonged feelings of sadness and mental health problems are women who have either had these problems prior to their abortion, had other risk factors, or were influenced by frightening demonstrations and inaccurate biased information provided prior to the abortion. Through this book the authors hope to train general therapists and counselors in pre- and post-abortion counseling techniques–to avoid women experiencing unnecessary psychological problems created by those who insist that the non-existent “post-abortion syndrome” exists.

“Abortion counseling has a critical role to play in ensuring women’s mental health is the priority and not the goals of a political agenda. Thus, Needle and Walker have taken on a complex, profound and essential task — equipping therapists and abortion counselors with the knowledge and skills needed to help their clients — and they have done it well . Readers of this book should [gain] an increased understanding of how women’s diverse life circumstances affect their ability to cope with the difficult decisions and circumstances surrounding abortion. They will also be better able to build women’s resilience and coping skills by having considered them both in the context of women’s lives (e.g., coping resources, social support, partner violence, incidence of depression), and in the context of socio-political agendas that seek to manipulate women’s mental health in order to undermine women’s reproductive rights….In the final analysis, it is important to remember that abortion counseling is not about abortion – it is about women confronting the decision to bear a child – with all of the profound and life changing commitments and responsibilities that entails.”