THE JOURNEY - a road to post-abortion recovery

The Journey Explained

The diagram illustrates the basis of 'The Journey'. These ten steps form a visual aid for the supporter and a woman suffering from PAS, enabling them both to see where they are going. It makes it clear that things will get worse before they get better, whilst giving hope for the future. The steps may not be consecutive, especially when going down into 'the pit', when a woman's emotions may swing back and forth. At some places it is easy to get stuck - anger and depression or guilt and shame can be like quicksands that women get caught in.

Training

On this journey the supporter walks alongside a woman, always ready to encourage, affirm and guide her. For this reason, The Journey Training Programme is geared towards taking the trainee supporter on the same route first, allowing her to understand and empathise with the thoughts and emotions a woman encounters, and which will need to be sensitively approached and worked through.

Part of the recovery process will involve a change of thinking and attitude: "We can't change the past, we don't know the future, but we can change the way we think."

The Journey diagram is referred to throughout the training programme. The following explanations of the ten steps are expanded in the training programme.