Healing from Post-Abortion Syndrome

There is help available. For example, Victims of Choice (VOC)* a Christian non-denominational, non-profit organization offers The Facilitator Guidebook for Post-Abortion Recovery (a 10-step one-on-one guide). The guidebook was developed by Christian therapists. VOC makes training available to those who wish to help and offers a “Pastors Packet,” which provides resources specifically for clergy who want to help. In the context of healing there are ways to understand post-aborted women without judgment and to guide them in ways to help settle the pain and anguish about their experience and convictions. The process is not to take away the memories, but to effectively deal with them and to experience God’s healing.

Here are some practical steps for helping women through recovery.

• Help her to express and process her loss. Allow her to cry and to verbalize her feelings. Women who have gone through abortion need a non-judgmental listener, someone who does not shun them for what they have done, but accepts and cares for them.
  
  
• Take her through a mourning and grieving process. Mourning is a normal human response to loss and should not be repressed. Guiding a woman through this can be very beneficial. Supportive care through the grieving process helps brings closure and healing.
  
  
• Offer helpful printed materials available from an array of organizations.
  
  
• Communicate the unconditional love of God: "Have mercy on me, 0 Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to your servant, for to you, 0 Lord, I lift up my soul. You are forgiving and good, 0 Lord, bounding in love to all who call to you” (Psalm 86:3-5, NIV).

Most importantly ... help them to
experience God’s unconditional
forgiveness and acceptance so
they can go on with their lives.

While Scripture is silent regarding aborted babies going to heaven or the nature of their being if they do, it is wise to point out to the mother that a loving and all-wise Father God will, in His perfect wisdom, do what is best.

Encourage them to give their testimony by telling their story after they are well on the road to healing. You might also encourage them to consider establishing a Post-Abortion Recovery program. Helping others is an effective way to redeem our own struggles.

If they were pressured into an abortion, help them to forgive those who encouraged the abortion—whether it was a family member, an abortion counselor, friend, partner, or physician.

Most importantly and above all, help them to experience God’s unconditional forgiveness and acceptance so they can go on with their lives.

God’s Word says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, NIV).

* For Victims of Choice, Inc. contact Elizabeth Verchio, Victims Of Choice, Inc. PO Box 815, Naperville, IL 60566-0815. Phone: 888/267-3998 Cell: 630/712-1680 Cell

Web: www.victimsofchoice.org Email: Elizabeth@victimsofchoice.org

James E. Phelan, is a licensed social worker in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Email: jpmphelan@msn.com

Copyright © 2001 by James E. Phelan

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