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COUNSELING SERVICES

Heritage Clinic For Women's Counselors provide unbiased, non-judgmental counseling and information.  All of our counselors have a degree in one of the human services fields such as psychology, social work, family and human sexuality, or sociology.  All have empathic listening training as well as crisis intervention training.  Our counselors' investment is not so much what you choose but rather how you choose.  Our counselors provide individual counseling to focus on the your concerns and provide a safe environment for you to ask questions and explore all of your feelings regarding  your current reproductive issues.  Occasionally, parents and partners are invited into a segment of the counseling session.

We believe reproductive decisions such as when, with whom and under which circumstances to have a child are extremely personal and crucial to our abilities to be good parents and to make a positive impact in our lives.  Equally important are decisions regarding when and with whom to be sexually intimate and methods chosen to prevent unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.  Therefore our counselors are prepared to answer questions regarding:
bullet Current contraception methods
bullet Morning after pill also known as emergency contraception
bullet Crisis pregnancy decision-making
bullet Abortion options
bullet Adoption options
bullet Pregnancy and childbirth
bullet Social assistance agencies
bullet Sexually transmitted diseases and their prevention

Our counseling services can be broken down to the following areas

bullet Pregnancy options counseling:  All options are discussed and specific gains and losses are explored, support systems are identified.  Physical procedures and risks are explained.
bullet Abortion counseling:   Medical history is taken, decision process and certainty is discussed, support systems are identified, contraception information and access is offered, abortion procedure is explained, possible risks and aftercare instructions are reviewed, consents are signed.
bullet Post Abortion counseling:  Unresolved feelings regarding abortion decision, circumstance or experience are addressed.  Decision process is re-visited identifying gains and losses of choice.  Coping mechanisms and support systems are identified.  Referrals for spiritual, relationship, or personal crisis counseling might be given.
bullet Parental Consent/Judicial Bypass counseling:  Existing and potential support systems are identified.  Assistance in approaching parents or other support persons is offered.  Judicial bypass process is explained.  Question regarding pregnancy options are answered.
bullet Contraception counseling:  Information regarding potential benefits and risks and costs of preferred methods are discussed.