"I had an abortion and I hate myself. Now what?"
Rachel's Vineyard News Release

June 12, 2002
For immediate release
Contact: Erik Whittington / John Roney
540-659-4171 / ewhittington@all.org / jroney@all.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. - "After abortion, many women face a daily internal battle between condemning and defending themselves," according to Theresa Burke, PhD, psychotherapist and author of the new release, Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion (Acorn Books, May 2002). "Yet little has been done to address the emotional needs of those who struggle with feelings of grief, shame, guilt, feeling judged by others, and more. Women are left feeling isolated, and their recovery is inhibited."

Since opening the Center for Post-abortion Healing in 1986 and founding Rachel's Vineyard Ministries for post-abortion healing in 1993, Theresa Burke has counseled thousands of men and women who hurt inside after abortion. She has trained scores of groups around the country and internationally in offering a compassionate, non-judgmental and highly effective healing process.

"The traumatic wound of abortion lies behind many stubborn and seemingly intractable emotional health issues in our society. Eating disorders, chronic depression, substance abuse, confused maternal image and relationship difficulties in those who have had abortions will in most cases be dramatically relieved by healing that emotional scar," according to Dr. Burke.

"Many of the women I've worked with have been rebuffed by other therapists who would not believe their abortions had caused such trauma," she said. "Others came to me because their family and friends refused to acknowledge the reality of their grief." In Forbidden Grief, Dr. Burke explores the cultural and psychological obstacles to post-abortion healing. She examines why friends and families erect walls of silence around a loved one's grief and reveals how we can and should listen to those who are struggling with past abortions.

For additional information on Forbidden Grief, go to www.rachelsvineyard.org/book.htm

Note to TV / Radio producers: To arrange an interview with Dr. Burke contact Erik Whittington at 540-659-4171. Videotapes and audiotapes of Dr. Burke's appearances on television and radio shows are available on request.

Rachel's Vineyard, a division of American Life League, is a post-abortion healing ministry American Life League is the nation's largest pro-life educational organization with more than 375,000 supporting families.

Rachel's Vineyard / P.O. Box 1350 / Stafford, VA 22555 / 540-659-4171 / www.rachelsvineyard.org