Abortion in Ireland: psychotherapists’ experiences of working in Ireland with women who have had an abortion

Abortion has been a common experience for Irish women for decades, despite being illegal in most circumstances in Ireland until the implementation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 on 1 January 2019. Cultural attitudes to abortion in Ireland are fraught with stigma, secrecy, and shame. However, little attention has been given to the nature of psychotherapeutic work with women in Ireland who have had an abortion. In this study, semi-structured interviews were used to explore six psychotherapists' experiences of working with women who had had an abortion and had sought psychotherapeutic professional help. A reflexive thematic analysis generated three themes conveying the importance of therapists' self-reflection, which enabled a tender, considered and congruent approach to the complex nature of the work, and honoured the needs of the client. The findings do not suggest a pathologising view of abortion but provide insights into the needs of women who have had an abortion and have sought psychotherapeutic support. Findings can inform the psychotherapeutic care for women who have had an abortion and have been psychologically affected by their abortion experiences.