The Mental Health Clinician’s Handbook for Abortion Care

Over the span of history, not all pregnancies were met with welcome and anticipation. As it continues today, an unwanted pregnancy can be seen in many different lights: an inconvenience, a crisis or a turning point. From June 1973 up until June of 2022, people in the United States capable of becoming pregnant could (to varying degrees) access healthcare that would end an unwelcome pregnancy. Now that this right has been gutted, the consequences are far-reaching and ever-unfolding.

In clinician offices, the issue of abortion might seem remote based upon the population being seen. However, this issue impacts those long past reproductive age and is an important event that most therapists are woefully unprepared to deal with should it come up. With abortion in the news, previous experiences of abortion can come up as memories for clients past their reproductive years or with younger clients, an inability and fear to stop an unwanted pregnancy. As clinicians are human, we come to this issue with our own moral, religious and experiential baggage that might blind us as how to best support our clients.

This book is an important addition to the scant amount of literature available for clinicians that might unexpectedly be faced with a client that is struggling with an abortion decision or access. The most recent book was published over five years ago under a completely different legislative landscape. In addition to assisting clinicians in client care, this book will also speak to potential legal risks to clinicians about abortion help.