Partner & Chief Clinical Officer Amanda Fialk, PhD, LMSW, LICSW was featured in USA Today speaking to the potentially traumatic impact of banning abortion in the United States.
She began by summarizing the false myth that abortions lead to trauma: “When things aren’t accurately spoken about in social environments or in the home, stories get made up about what the abortion procedure is, what it isn’t, and a very false narrative is perpetuated,” she said.
“However, people need to know that having high barriers to an abortion has far worse impacts on one’s mental health. What we know is those who are denied abortions have decreased life satisfaction compared to those who are able to access a safe abortion.”
She goes on to elaborate on the impact that the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade has had on young adults. “I’ve had young clients call the overturning of Roe v. Wade terrifying and out-of-control. Because of these narratives, many feel like they’re losing their autonomy, their sense of self-determination and feel helpless and devalued as merely a vessel breeding a fetus, and not an actual human being,” she said.
