We provide Pregnancy Choices and Post Pregnancy Counselling.
Our Ethos
Our work is based on a pro-choice ethos. We believe:
Clients have the right to acknowledge all of their experiences of pregnancy and to have those experiences valued.
Counselling and support should be non-directive and respect the client’s own value system.
Individuals have the right to access accurate information about pregnancy and abortion.
Women and pregnant people have the right to have an abortion.
Abortion is a healthcare issue.
Those who choose abortion have a right to acknowledge loss and grief.
Pregnancy Choices Counselling
Sometimes when faced with an unplanned or crisis pregnancy it is difficult to discuss it with family and friends. This can leave you feeling vulnerable and isolated at a time when you need support. We can help you by providing:
Non-directive counselling and support
Information on ALL your options
Non-directive counselling means that the counsellor has no opinion about what is best for you. They will provide a safe place for you to explore feelings around your pregnancy, and the options that are open to you. These may include continuing with the pregnancy and parenthood, adoption or abortion.
Counselling offers a safe place to talk about anything that may be confusing, painful or uncomfortable. It is often a relief to talk openly to someone you don’t know about the issues you face. It can also be an opportunity to help you prepare what you may want to discuss with family or friends.
Counselling can be a one-off appointment, or regular sessions to discuss the range of issues you are facing.
You can view our Pregnancy Choices Counselling leaflet here.
Post Pregnancy Counselling
Around one in five women will experience a mental health issue during pregnancy or within a year after giving birth.
We know it can be difficult to express how you feel, and to try to share your feelings with those close to you. In our experience, being able to talk to someone that is not directly involved, like a counsellor, can be helpful.
Our pregnancy counselling service has over 35 years’ experience supporting people who have experienced complex emotions as part of being pregnant. Many of these feelings are often unspoken and can then feel unresolved.
Our service offers you a safe space to talk, and the support to begin to explore and understand thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment.
Pregnancy Loss
Whether it is through miscarriage, stillbirth or abortion, the loss of a pregnancy can have a huge impact on you and your family. It can often feel that society does very little to acknowledge this impact. This can create a sense of isolation, which in turn can lead to the belief that you have no right to express difficult feelings about your experience.
Traumatic Birth
Many people experience trauma pre and/or post birth. It may be emotional or physical. It might relate to a difficult labour, an unplanned caesarean section, or emergency treatment during labour. Trauma can also be experienced when the birth was uncomplicated.
Postnatal Depression or Anxiety
Postnatal depression or anxiety can affect people in different ways. It can be experienced by women whether their pregnancy has been complicated or straightforward. This is commonly experienced as a sense of isolation they feel, along with other emotions. It can be difficult to understand and that can make it even more difficult to discuss. People also say they can have intense feelings of fear and panic, intrusive thoughts and sometimes insomnia. At times all of these feelings can become overwhelming. This may go on for some months.
You can view our Post Pregnancy Counselling leaflet here.