Counselling
The counselling session is an opportunity for you to raise any issues or concerns and to discuss your options with all the information that you need.
The pregnancy termination procedure will be explained and there will be opportunity to discuss contraception. If appropriate, your partner is welcome to attend this consultation.
Counselling at Blue Water Medical clinics is objective, non-judgemental and unbiased. You will not be coerced into making a decision. If you have already made an appointment for a termination, this counselling session will form part of the time you spend at the clinic.
If you would like counselling without a termination appointment, this can be arranged. We can also refer you to other support services that may be able to assist.
Please telephone the clinic in your area for an appointment.
Other resources for counselling
Wilma ( Campbelltown) 4627 2955
Women’s Health Centre Liverpool 9601 3555
Women’s Health Centre Bankstown 9790 1378
Women’s Health Centre Penrith 4721 8749
Community Mental Health Campbelltown 1300669663
Traxside Campbelltown 46252525
Relationships Australia 1300 364 2777
LifeCare Counselling and Family Services Centres 1300130225
Bigge Parke Centre Liverpool 98278022
Family Planning Assoc Fairfield 9754 1322
Family Planning Assoc Penrith 4721 8330
Lifeline Counselling 131114
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Post Termination Counselling
Do I Have To See A Psychiatrist?
No. Unless you want to, or need hospitalisation or medication for anxiety, depression, or other severe emotional trouble, a psychiatrist is not necessary. Counsellers are usually someone who has a degree in social work, counselling psychology, counsellor education, or a degree in clinical psychology. Make sure you know your counsellor’s credentials.
We hope this has been some help. If you are still troubled or having difficulty finding a counsellor, please call us at the clinic. Remember that you are never alone, there is always someone who will help — you just have to ask.
Your GP can refer you to a psychologist and you can claim the payments back from Medicare.
Who Needs It and How To Find It
Most of the time all we need is a friend we can confide in. But there are times when a friend, partner, or family member is too close to us to know how to help. You need guaranteed confidentiality and can’t afford someone revealing your confidences to someone else.
How often have you heard, “Don’t tell so-and-so I told you this, but… .” This is when talking to a counsellor is a smart choice. When you see a counsellor, they will listen to your feelings with undivided attention and provide emotional support, they will shed new light on the situation, point out what it is you’re doing that is helpful and what is not, and teach you better ways of coping. And you can trust that your confidentiality will be protected.
What a counsellor should not do is tell you what to do or sit in judgement of you. You are in charge of how many times you see the counsellor and what you get out of it. At any time you can choose to stop counselling or change counsellors. Just as you would switch doctors if you didn’t like them, you have the right to change counsellors.
Support
This is information which will be given to the person who is supporting you while you are at the clinic.
PLEASE PHONE THE CLINIC 1 HOUR AFTER ARRIVAL TO BE GIVEN AN APPROXIMATE PICK UP TIME
During your visit here, there will be areas where you will be unable to accompany your partner, friend or relative. The privacy of our other patients must be respected.
After the termination most women are a little sleepy and may have mild cramps. Bleeding should not be heavy. It’s best to take the patient home, let them relax and maybe fall asleep. They can eat or drink anything they feel like, however, eating a large amount at once could cause vomiting, and absolutely no alcohol or recreational drugs.
Patients shouldn’t drive for 12 hours after the operation and even cooking, boiling water, or chopping with knives could be a problem. They are sleepy after the anaesthetic with poor reflexes. If you could cook dinner or get take away, take care of the children, (or getting a friend or relative to mind them) can help the patient to relax and recover.
It is rare to have complications after a termination. Each patient is given a post-operative leaflet which explains the normal physical symptoms and possible problems to look out for.
There are some important precautions a woman should take after a termination:
- Take the antibiotics prescribed
- No strenuous physical activity for one week
- Sex can resume after one week but contraception should be used as this is a very fertile time.
Women can experience a range of emotions
- Relief
- Gratitude
- Increased confidence
- Renewed energy
- Sadness, anger, guilt, regret and depression.
A few days after the operation there can be a hormone drop and some women, who may be feeling positive about their decision, can get depressed and weepy. This usually passes in a few days.
The support person can help the patient by listening and supporting them in a non-judgemental way. Some women need time to grieve and to express their feelings of loss. Sometimes a girlfriend or relative can be a better shoulder to cry on than the father of the pregnancy. He may also be feeling guilty or depressed, and be trying to deal with his own feelings. It can be important that he too find a trustworthy shoulder to lean on such as a best mate, brother or father.
There are some serious but rare psychological problems to look out for:
Suicidal behaviour
Eating and sleeping disturbances
Uncontrollable crying and withdrawal.
A termination of pregnancy can also be an emotional time for a patient’s support person. This can be especially so for the father of the pregnancy who can feel regret, loss, anger, depression, guilt etc. The decision to have a termination can bring a couple closer together or can bring up areas of conflict and a reassessment of the relationship.
On the day of the termination, Macquarie Fields Women’s Clinic will concentrate on the wellbeing, both physical and psychological, of the patient. However, the support person or father of the pregnancy is welcome to book in for a counselling session on another day.
