What to Expect From Your First After Abortion Session at Avail NYC

Avail NYC exists to be a safe haven for women and men facing an unexpected pregnancy or seeking support after an abortion. We are not a medical provider.

*Names changed for confidentiality.

Your First Session at Avail NYC

If you’ve had one abortion (or more), you’re not alone. Studies show that one in four women in America has terminated a pregnancy. If you are experiencing conflicted or upsetting emotions after an abortion, you’re also not alone. Many women and their partners report that though they feel relief, there can also be unexplained sadness, lack of motivation, trouble sleeping, etc. Some people experience some of these confusing emotions immediately after their abortion, while others are surprised by these feelings years or even decades later. Either way, the American Counseling Association encourages their clients to unpack their abortion-related emotions. That’s great advice, but what if you can’t afford counseling and feel your closest friends or family members won’t understand you or don’t want to talk about it? 

A Safe Space to Process

Avail NYC exists to do just this, offering a safe, compassionate space for women and their partners to process their post-abortion experiences to find healing and freedom. Avail NYC is a nonprofit founded by women and men who had this experience and wanted to create a free, safe place for these discussions to happen. Here is a description of what your first appointment will look like.

First, you can make an appointment for our Hope program. We offer appointments for both women and partners, plus in person and virtual appointments to meet your needs. 

Next, when you arrive at Avail’s office or log in to the call, you will meet your client advocate one-on-one. Here is how one past client, who had unresolved emotions after his girlfriend’s abortion, described meeting with his advocate: 

“[My client advocate] revealed that talking about things is probably the best way to start healing. I had been keeping everything bottled up, but I began to realize that it was time to let this out. And Nathan* just listened without judgment or bias. My whole outlook began to change.”

Another client related a similar experience: “I was very nervous to speak openly about my grief regarding my abortion. Hannah* was very kind and supportive. Even though it was our first meeting, I feel like I was able to walk away with a better way of interpreting my pain.”

Your client advocate will listen to your story and walk you through practical tools that help you process your emotions and build healthy habits. You can complete self-reflection exercises, prioritize your values, and identify coping mechanisms. You can continue meeting with your client advocate as long as you need, completely free of charge. 

Support That Fits Your Needs

Avail NYC also offers support groups for women who have had an abortion experience. In these meet-ups, just like in the one-on-one sessions, an expert advocate will guide the group through sharing their own stories and applying practical tools for healing. This support is completely free and confidential.

Our trusted client advocates have experienced an abortion too. One of them shared, “I had two abortions that I couldn’t talk about for a long time afterwards. No one understood my devastating sadness. It descended on me like a dark cloud despite the fact that I was the one who chose to terminate two pregnancies.” Perhaps you can relate to her sadness, or to guilt, confusion, pain, or trauma. You can feel these things even if you regret having your abortion. Whatever you’re feeling, Avail is here to walk you through it.  All our services are completely confidential and free.