pregnancy decision-making
Choosing to have a baby is a highly personal, life-long decision that has the potential to impact upon people's lives in many different ways. Decision-making regarding a pregnancy involves the consideration of several important factors. Some women fall pregnant unexpectedly - in the absence of a relationship or in a dysfunctional relationship, in financial hardship, with no supports, or in a situation where they feel that their family is complete. Counselling can help to weigh up what to do.
Some women and couples seek pre-conception counselling to decide whether to go ahead and have a family. Counselling at this time, can help women and couples with ambivalence about becoming parents, differing opinions within the couple about starting a family, or uncertainty due to personal fears surrounding becoming parents. Some people see a psychologist to resolve particular issues prior to starting a family. Anticipating becoming parents can be a time when couples choose to work on their relationship difficulties, and on other family relationship difficulties that have been a source of stress.
Deciding whether to have more children
Some people seek counselling to decide whether to have another child.
There can be struggles around choosing to have one child when there is a societal pressure to have more than one child - to give a child a sibling. There are many reasons why people choose to have one child, but the process of this decision can be difficult, especially with misconceptions that exist about single children. There can be differences in how each person within a relationship feel about having more children. Counselling can be helpful to explore these differences and to come to a decision that considers all facets of life.
When a diagnosis has been made
Some pregnancies are plagued by diagnoses of fetal anomalies, with the potential for life-long challenges ahead. There are many and varied reasons why women contemplate terminations of pregnancy. This is a highly individual decision-making process that can be complex and filled with conflicting emotions. Our psychologists assist women and couples through this decision-making process, using an unbiased, client-centred framework whereby thoughts, feelings and practical concerns are worked through and weighed up in a way that endeavours to minimise uncertainty and future regret.
