Seminar
for Sidewalk Counselors
by John Ensor at A Woman’s
Concern
January 30, 2001
General
sidewalk counseling points
Convey love/empathy to the woman in
sidewalk counseling. If you can’t, you don’t belong on the street.
People have no ears for the truth if they don’t detect love
in the speaker.
Remember that most people do not make
decisions intellectually, but emotionally.
The Abortion Determined (AD) woman (women
heading to a clinic are almost always AD) is thinking of herself. Not
being hurt by the abortion is very important to them.
Be in missionary mode when sidewalk
counseling. Talk to them on their terms. Find out where
they are and lead them to the next step.
Services
offered by AWC
- Free pregnancy testing.
Most abortion clinics charge a fee.
- Free consultation with a doctor.
Most women have not talked with a doctor prior to their abortion and
will not see a doctor in the clinic until they go to the table. AWC
can set up an appointment with their on-staff doctor.
"If you haven’t had a
chance to see a doctor, we can provide you with a free
consultation."
- Free ultra-sound testing.
Done in Dorchester and in Revere. They are
especially intended for AV (abortion-vulnerable) and AD
(abortion-determined) women. Test results can be sent electronically to a remote
doctor for a signed diagnosis, avoiding the need for an on-site
doctor.
On the sidewalk, emphasize that the
woman has 1) a right to an ultra-sound and 2) a right to see the
ultrasound. She should know how far along she is, according to the
ultra-sound, so that the clinic does not overcharge her.
To the AV or AD woman, the test is
suggested: "If you’re going to have an abortion we recommend
an ultra-sound in order:
- to ascertain that you are really
pregnant;
- to determine the how many weeks
pregnant you are so that you’ll know the cost of the abortion;
and
- to determine that you have an intact
uterine pregnancy, i.e., that you are not on the verge of a
miscarriage.
We don’t say to the woman,
"Just look at the ultra-sound and you won’t have an
abortion!" I.e., we don’t manipulate, we l;
P.O. Box 870037 Milton Village, MA 02187-0037
William Cotter, President
E-mail the
Boston Rescuer
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