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Exhale offers a free, After-Abortion Talkline that provides emotional support, resources and information. The talkline is available to women and girls who have had abortions and to their partners, friends, allies and family members. All calls are completely confidential and counselors are non-judgmental.
The talkline is staffed by volunteer peer counselors who have successfully completed more than 50 hours of training. Counselors are trained in Exhale’s Empowerment Model, which is a lens for understanding people’s unique experiences with abortion. The Model is based on three key principles:
:: Each caller is a whole, complex person
:: Counselors respect each caller’s belief system (social, cultural, political and religious)
:: Counselors work with callers to build or extend existing support networks
Women and men of all backgrounds call the Exhale talkline. Some people feel relief that the abortion is finally over and they just want to tell someone. Others feel a sense of loss and are looking for ways to work through their grief. Parents, friends and partners want to learn how they can best provide support. Women may call the day of their abortion, a month after or years later.
At Exhale, we believe there is no “right” way to feel after an abortion. We also know that feelings of happiness, sadness, empowerment, anxiety, grief, relief or guilt are common. Abortion can be hard to talk about and finding the right person to talk with can be even harder. Exhale provides the opportunity to talk with someone that supports and respects you, in a safe and confidential environment.
To download brochures and additional information about our service, visit our Publications page.
The majority of Exhale’s callers learn about our service through their health care provider. If you are a provider and would like to refer your clients to the talkline, or would like additional resources to help you meet the after-abortion needs of your clients, please visit our resources page for Health Care Providers.
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