I completed my first week of placement (internship) at the health clinic that I was assigned from my graduate school of social work. This health clinic focuses on providing health services to women with an emphasis on family planning services.
Part of my role is pregnancy test counseling, that is, the sharing of the pregnancy test results with the client and then a discussion of the three possible options if the result is positive: parenthood, adoption or termination.
My role is not to influence a woman to make one decision or another but to help her sort through her feelings and support her choice. Therefore, if a woman decides on parenthood, I would encourage her to begin prenatal care as soon as possible (at our clinic or with a provider of her choosing).
Alternatively, if a woman is interested in the adoption route, I would refer her to an adoption agency that would be able to offer counseling and handle the whole adoption process.
Finally, if a woman feels that she must go the termination route, I would describe the medical and surgical abortion methods to her.
I am most fortunate in having a very nice supervisor and I feel like this is a good placement in which I will be learning a lot.
Till next time!
Photo credit: Mckay Savage
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