About Christian Counseling for Unplanned Pregnancy
People with unplanned pregnancies may have many questions and often just need someone they can talk to--especially if they don't feel they can turn to family and friends for support right away. Christian counselors can listen to the needs of people facing an unplanned pregnancy and provide answers to many of the questions they may have about adoption, abortion or parenting a child, often at little or no cost.
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Significance
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Unlike other types of counseling for unplanned pregnancies, agencies and individuals providing Christian counseling generally believe in the sanctity of life and believe that life begins at conception. For this reason, most Christian counseling services highly discourage abortion. Some may never discuss the possibility of abortion, while others provide information about the negative aspects of abortion--including the loss of the baby's life and the potential for long-term feelings of regret in the mother--and help clients come to informed decisions.
Types
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In most cases, Christian counseling services for unplanned pregnancies focus on supporting the family and helping them decide between parenting the child themselves or choosing an adoptive family. Some services only provide one type of counseling, such as pre-adoption counseling, and may refer expectant parents to other agencies for parenting support. Although most Christian counseling takes place at the counselor's office, home or church or the client's home, some types of counseling can begin or take place over the phone or even by email.
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Geography
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Christian counseling for unplanned pregnancies is available through local organizations, as well as national organizations that have branch offices throughout the country. Organizations such as Bethany Christian Services (see Resources below) offer free phone assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as well as email support for people who don't have an office nearby or don't know where to get started. Many local churches can also refer people with an unplanned pregnancy to Christian counseling services in their area.
Features
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Christian pregnancy counseling services can help people consider their options and decide what would be the best future for the child and birth parents. Christian counseling for those considering placing a child for adoption can help birth parents decide between an open or closed adoption, choose an adoptive family for their child, and arrange for assistance with medical, housing or legal costs during the pregnancy. Christian counseling for those considering parenting their child can help them assess their financial and housing situation, their emotional and social ability to parent, and what kinds of help they can expect from family or friends. Agencies can also often refer clients to other social services, such as housing assistance or parenting classes, for additional support.
Considerations
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Many Christian counseling agencies provide services free of charge to people with unplanned pregnancies, and others offer low-cost services. Most Christian counseling services receive financial support from local churches, denominations, non-profit organizations, businesses and individuals who are interested in preserving life, promoting adoption as an alternative to abortion, and supporting birth parents during unplanned pregnancies.
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