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.
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 minimize uncertainty and future regret.
