Understanding and Supporting Clients After Abortions

This workshop will provide social workers with foundational information about working with clients who have had abortions. Attendees will learn about the myths and facts about the relationships between abortions, mental health, and emotions, as well as receive a framework through which to understand their clients’ experiences. Attendees will also reflect on their own abortion-related values, practice applying concepts to exemplar abortion stories, and identify and vet additional supportive resources for their clients. This workshop will also include a discussion of legal and ethical considerations.


Learning Objectives:

1. Identify your personal abortion-related values and how they might impact your work.

2. Define the difference between mental health (problems) and (negative) emotions.

3. Explain what the best scientific evidence suggests about the relationship between abortions and emotions.

4. Demonstrate identifying and vetting a possible after-abortion support resource for clients.



Upon completion of this course attendees will earn 3 Category I Contact Hours, including 1 Ethics Hour.



PLEASE NOTE:

Arrival time is 8:50am; Training is 9:00am-12:15pm EST
This is a live virtual training. A link will be sent to registrants by 1:00pm the day prior to the training.


Presenter

Rachel L. Dyer, PhD

Rachel L. Dyer, PhD (she/her) is a scholar-clinician working primarily at the intersection of abortion and mental health. An Assistant Professor at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin and mental health therapist with Integrated Counseling, Rachel’s work focuses on how dominant sociocultural narratives impact pregnancy and family-building desires, decisions, and experiences, as well as how mental health and other care providers can better support clients/patients around these experiences. Rachel’s work has appeared in the top academic journals of her field (American Psychologist, Psychology of Women Quarterly), in popular press (Los Angeles Times, ELITE Daily, various podcasts), and in a Brooklyn art gallery. She is also an educator and trainer, regularly providing lectures and training on abortion and mental health for laypersons, college students, graduate students, and mental health professionals. Her current projects include a book chapter on the mental health impacts of abortion stigma and co-writing the American Psychological Association’s first-ever professional practice guidelines on sex and reproduction. From 2021-2023, Rachel was also the Executive Director of Exhale Pro-Voice, a nonprofit organization providing nonjudgmental, research-driven support to people who have had abortions.


Registration Fees - includes CE certificate (emailed after training)


NASW Member    $60
Non-Member       $78



LOCATION:

This will be a live virtual training. A link will be sent to registrants by 1:00pm the day prior to the training.



Registration deadline: September 17, 2024



PAYMENT & REFUND POLICY:

If you choose the "Bill Me" option during checkout, please mail payment within 7 days of registering in order to hold your seat. You will receive a confirmation email with your purchase information following checkout; this will serve as your invoice, no other invoices will be provided.


Checks should be made out to NASW Virginia and mailed to:

NASW-VA
4860 Cox Road, Suite 200
Glen Allen, VA 23060


If a registrant cancels more than 10 days before the event, a refund will be issued by check or credit back to your credit card, minus a 10% administrative fee.


If cancelation occurs less than 10 days prior to the event, no refund will be issued but you may request a credit towards a future training to be used within 1 year of the cancelation date. Call the Chapter Office (804-204-1339) to cancel within 10 days of the training. A request for credit may be granted at the discretion of the Executive Director in case of a documented emergency.


DISABILITY ASSISTANCE/SPECIAL NEEDS

Individuals who require assistance under the ADA for participation in this training should contact NASW-VA at least 30 days prior to the start of the training.  Please call the Chapter office at 804.204.1339 to discuss your needs or any concerns with a member of the staff.  


Children under the age of 18 are not permitted into any NASWVA sponsored trainings or events, without prior written consent by the chapter. For special situations and/or circumstances, please call or email the chapter office.