How can I learn to work with people who are pro-choice or who have had an abortion?

Question

I am strongly against abortion, but I need to know how as a professional I can work with clients who are pro-choice without my personal feelings getting in the way?

I can't avoid it or change the subject, the job is a councelor.

Jaime Cancio (Jim), I am still a student and learning, and I am reporting you for insulting me.

This a question I have to answer for an assignment.

The assignment is writing about a value we might have difficulty with when working with others. We all have them you don't have to act perfect.

Thanks to those who have answered honestly.

Answer 1

I am assuming you are a nurse or someone that has to come into contact with the women making the pro-choice decisions. Pray to the Lord for wisdom in this area. You are definetly getting into a ministry where The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, as decribed in 1 Cor 12, need to come into action. Pray for the Lord to release them into your life. Bind all spirits from the evil one before even begining to talk to the women.

I really do not know how to counsel you more in this area because I do not know your work situation or how your boss would react to you
ministering. But here goes:

Scenario 1: Could be approaching the woman without totally being in the Spirit and the woman could be irrate, offended, or think "who does she think she is".

Scenario 2: Is approaching the woman in a friendly manner, listening to her as the creation of God that she is, and listening for the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. I usually ask the Lord to have the woman mention something that would naturally open up an exchange between us on the subject. Still better is when the Holy Spirit gives you a Word of Knowledge, when He tells you something about the person that you could not possibly know. When this happens it is life-changing for the woman and for you.

I used to do voluntary work minstering in a Prenancy Crisis Center. Through all the intensive training that I went through, the thing that surprised me the most was when they said, "you are not going to be saving babies."

I was more than surprised! They taught me to direct my total attention to the woman and her thoughts, needs, wants, etc. addressing those issues to better enable her to free up her mind to make better, clearer decisions. Obviously, she is just thinkung about herself and this is where you want to focus your attention first. When the moment is right, you can begin to tell her of the horrendous suffering that women that have abortions suffer for most of the rest of their lifes. When they are older and wiser, they begin to realize just what they did. Oh the horror of it all! Unless the women come to the Lord and Jesus delivers them, they will suffer, mostly in silence, for the rest of their lives.

You can also speak of the dangers of abortions and the risk of sterility.

You can speak to her about adoption and just how many couples cannot have a child and her child could be a blessing to all.

Counsel the woman about the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross. If she goes ahead and has the abortion, remind her that at any time during her life when she begins to have thoughts and feeling like the ones described above, Christ is ready and willing to forgive her.

Think about the destinations involved at the end of life of the child: Think about Heaven; at the end of life of the mother: Think about hell.

Many of the women literally have no where to turn and provisions for their needs must be met. Network and if you don't already know where she could live, eat, clothe herself and perhaps get some job training during the prenancy you need to find out out as many sources as you can so that you can provide her with options and answers to every angle.

Again meeting basic needs on the natural level will free her up to begin to think about the spiritual things you will talk to her about.

May God Bless You And Keep You In HIS Endeavor!

Answer 2

Hi

If you are a counselor , then I would look at why you accepted this particular position?If you knew that this was an issue prior to accepting the job then you should be realistic about why you accepted the position. Any profession which deals with the public will require good communication, empathy, compassion and understanding.

You will have clients who will believe in and do a lot of things you will not like - how will you deal with them? If you cannot do your job and feel that your personal interest will come into play, look for something else. People are smart and they can tell when someone is being phony or imposing personal values to gain.

I have see where colleagues will trade patients for reasons like yours. Example: You are against pro- choice, but your co worker is not. Trade clients.

Other than that re- evaluate your objective

Answer 3

You should learn to respect other people ways of thinking and their lifestyles. My guiding principle in life has always been live and let live. You couldn't dictate or force your opinions and feelings on others.

You should just have a working relationship and not a personal one. If you, as a professional let your personal feelings get in the way, then you'll end up with no clients. Don't try to be so judgmental. In my line of work as a nurse, if I let my personal feelings get in the way, I won't be able to function to the best of my ability.

Your personal life and your professional life should be distinctive from one another.

Answer 4

As with any human being, no one is ever going to agree with everything that you do. First you should realize that being pro-life is your choice, and is neither right or wrong. Similiarly, many other women choose to be pro-choice, and are neither right or wrong. You are always going to face people with opposing opinions. How do you be a professional? You don't be critical of others beliefs. You don't accuse, preach or attempt to change another's opinion unless they first suggest the topic and press the issue. Basically, you are decent and keep your mouth shut unless your client directly asks you of your beliefs on abortion (and even in this case you should be tight-lipped).

Answer 5

I have learned over the years that you have to keep your opinion to yourself in the work place. Abortion and politics are the two main subjects that should NEVER be discussed at work. If that subject comes up, excuse yourself politely and walk away. It is the best way to handle that situation. I actually know a woman who was fired for becoming belligerent with a co-worker over the subject of pro-choice vs. pro-life. It wasn't pretty and it followed her for years when she looked for a job.

Answer 6

So it's your way, or don't come around you is it?
You know, I find it interesting. On one side is "Pro-choice" meaning if you CHOOSE NOT to have an abortion, then that is your choice. Nobody is telling anybody that they MUST have an abortion. However, if you decide that an abortion is the way to go, then that is a choice that is OK because the one who has made that choice is the one who must live with it, right or wrong.

The other side is "NO CHOICE" (oh excuse me, some call it "pro-life") meaning that no matter what, you can't make the decision that is right for you because other people demand that they are the ones that know what is best for you, & so YOU have to live with THEIR decision no matter what.

How about this. YOU know what is right for you so LIVE IT.
Stop trying to control the rest of the world. Stop trying to force everybody into conforming to YOUR BELIEFS.
The pro-choicers can respect your point of view,(that's what we call CHOICE) so why can't you respect theirs?

Answer 7

it will be difficult but like with all your clients who hold differing opinions on behavior you will have to put your feelings aside to help them through their difficulties...women who have had abortions will need your help too, only they can make that choice to end their child's life but you can be there for them to help them cope when the realization of what they've done hits them...and studied show that it will. its the same as if they have other problems/behaviors that you know for a fact will hurt them but ultimately its their choice and sometimes ppl cannot live with those choices so they come to compassionate, caring and supportive ppl like yourself. try not to let judgment get in the way of reaching out to another hurting human being...the women who go through that will need your help even if they think it was the right thing to do.

Answer 8

You can pretend to be in other peoples shoes but you never can be. Just remember there is always a story, and you don't need to know it. Every single person out there has a quality that will enrich your life, someone else's life, and every single person has the potential to save the world. Stop thinking about choice, and abortion in your work, and concentrate on helping other people with that special quality you have!

Answer 9

It is called JUDGE NOT LEAST YE BE JUDGED!!!! THIS is not you and it is not your body or your future. Tell them all the options. Tell them the truth about the after effects of an abortion. and tell them the statistics and problems effecting their age group and medical history.Explain about financial funding for disadvantaged mothers who choose to carry and keep their babies. Tell them about adoption ,and present reputable adoption agency's in your area. THEN PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you will have done all that you can do and you have not alienated those who are so afraid, confused, and distressed. People like you are very needed in the counseling arena because if none of the pro life people work in this field and in these government funded agency's then they will only hear one side of the story.

Answer 10

I am pro-choice.

You can ask me how I felt about and why I would want to have to have an abortion, and you must show NO emotion at my responses.

But you cannot ask any questions about the fetus. This is not about the fetus. Its about me. To you the baby is more important. I need counselling for me. Right now I am more important.

If you honestly feel you cannot do this, then I seriously believe that you need to change your field of counselling.