Reaching out for support can feel deeply personal, especially when you are already navigating an unexpected pregnancy or life after an abortion. Before scheduling anything, you may want to know who you will be speaking with, what the conversation will feel like, and whether you will be met with respect for your privacy, your choices, and the pace you need.

Avail offers free pregnancy support services and post-abortion support for women, men, and couples who want space to talk through what feels important. There’s no need to prepare for the conversation. A Care Expert will listen without pressure and respond to what you choose to share.

You may be looking for answers, thinking about what comes next, or wanting the chance to share your experience with someone who understands. Whatever brings you to Avail, knowing how each type of support works, what you can expect from a Care Expert, and what happens after you connect can make the first step feel a little less uncertain.

What is Avail?

Avail has offered compassionate, confidential support to women and men navigating an unintended pregnancy or a past abortion experience since 1996. Today, that support is available virtually, with options to talk over Zoom, message with a Care Expert, join others in a virtual support group, or spend time with self-guided resources on your own.

However you choose to connect, you can come as you are. A Care Expert can help the conversation get started, listen carefully to what’s on your mind, explore the questions you’re still working through, and share practical resources when they may be useful.

At Avail, we don’t provide abortions, medical care, or medical advice. Our Care Experts are here to support you, not to make decisions for you or guide you toward any particular outcome. You’ll have space to talk openly, ask the questions that matter to you, and take the time you need to think through what comes next.

What is a conversation with a Care Expert like?

No two conversations are exactly alike because no two people come to Avail with the same story. You may have questions you have been carrying for a while, thoughts that feel difficult to untangle, or no clear sense of where to begin. However you start, your Care Expert will meet you there and help the conversation unfold, one thought at a time.

Each Care Expert brings education, training, and experience to every conversation. Care Experts come to Avail with graduate-level education and/or certifications in counseling, mental health, or related fields, and—when they join our team—also receive additional training in supporting people navigating an unintended pregnancy or a past abortion experience.

While they do not provide licensed therapy or medical care through Avail, they bring care and experience to every conversation. Their role is to listen closely, ask thoughtful questions, and give you room to talk through what matters to you without pressure, judgment, or someone telling you what you should do.

You don’t need to have everything figured out

You can begin with a question, share what’s been happening, or tell your Care Expert that you’re not sure where to start. Pauses are welcome. If you lose your train of thought or need help finding the words, your Care Expert can ask gentle questions and give you room to respond in your own time.

What you can talk about

You can talk about whatever feels most important to you right now. Depending on what you are navigating, that may include:

• questions about your pregnancy options
• relationships or family dynamics affecting your decision
• practical concerns connected to your circumstances
• fears that have been difficult to sort through
• what influenced a past decision
• how an abortion experience has stayed with you
• conversations with a partner, family member, or someone you trust
• the kind of support that would feel helpful now
  

You may spend most of your time exploring one question, or different parts of your experience may begin to surface. There is no set order or checklist to complete. You choose what feels comfortable to share, and your Care Expert can help you follow the conversation wherever it naturally leads.

Which type of support is right for you?

All support at Avail is free, so you can focus on choosing the kind of connection that feels most comfortable to you. Some people prefer connecting one-on-one, while others prefer connecting with people who understand something of what they have experienced or taking time to reflect on their own.

One-on-one video support

One-on-one video support is a confidential conversation with a Care Expert via Zoom. Each appointment lasts about 45 minutes, giving you time to settle in without feeling rushed. After scheduling, you’ll receive a Zoom link and simple instructions for joining from the device of your choosing.

Once you join, there’s no pressure to jump right in. Your Care Expert will help the conversation get started, meeting you wherever you are that day. You can decide what you'd like to talk about, and your Care Expert can help guide the conversation with thoughtful questions and support along the way.

Scheduled text support

For some people, conversations feel easier over text. Scheduled text support gives you dedicated time with a Care Expert through a secure messaging platform. Each appointment lasts about 30 minutes, giving you room to ask questions, share what’s on your mind, and respond at your pace.

After booking, we’ll send everything you need to get started, and—at your chosen time—you and your Care Expert can ease into the conversation together and begin wherever feels most natural.

Your Care Expert will stay with you throughout the appointment, responding thoughtfully, helping the conversation unfold naturally, and sharing practical, relevant resources when helpful.

Group meetups after abortion

Sometimes, a conversation with those who have lived through something similar can bring comfort and a sense of connection. Avail's virtual group meetups give women and men unique spaces to connect with others who may relate or recognize parts of their abortion experience.

Once you sign up, we’ll send you the link, so you have everything you need ahead of time. Each one-hour gathering is led by a Care Expert, who will welcome the group, offer a few gentle guidelines for the conversation, and help create a space shaped by care and respect.

You’re welcome to share when you feel ready, but there is no expectation that you speak or tell more of your story than you’re comfortable with.

Self-guided support through Better Clarity

If you’d prefer support without starting with a conversation, support is still available.

Better Clarity offers free, self-guided resources for people navigating an unexpected pregnancy or processing a past abortion experience, with guided exercises and research-backed reflection tools that help you spend time with the questions and experiences most relevant to you.

You can choose when to begin, which sessions to explore, and how quickly you move through them. And if you decide you'd like to talk with someone, Better Clarity can complement support from a Care Expert, giving you a place to return between conversations as new questions come up.

What makes support at Avail different?

Avail began because a group of women wanted to create the kind of care they wished had existed for a friend facing an unintended pregnancy: a place where compassion mattered more than pressure and every person was treated with dignity and respect.

That belief continues to shape every conversation today.

A Care Expert won’t see you as a problem to solve or reduce your experience to a single decision. They recognize that no two people arrive with the same story, questions, or hopes for what the conversation may hold, and they’ll take time to listen, understand your circumstances, and learn what matters most to you.

Whether you’re facing an unintended pregnancy or processing an abortion experience, you’ll find a place where your questions are welcome, your perspective is respected, and you have room to consider what moving forward could look like for you.

Common questions before reaching out

Even when part of you feels ready to connect, it can help to know a little more before taking that step. Clear answers can make the experience feel more familiar and give you a better sense of what to expect.

Will someone try to influence my decision?

No. Your Care Expert will take time to understand your situation, the questions on your mind, and what matters most to you. They may ask thoughtful questions that help you reflect more fully, while leaving the direction and decisions in your hands.

The conversation remains yours. You can choose what to discuss, what feels helpful, and what your next steps will be.

Is my conversation confidential?

Yes. Your conversation with a Care Expert is confidential, giving you a private place to speak openly about what you're experiencing and ask the questions that matter to you.

Avail is HIPAA compliant and takes additional steps to protect your personal information. If there are ever limits to confidentiality, such as situations involving immediate safety concerns, your Care Expert will explain them clearly before moving forward.

What if I don't know what to say?

That's completely okay. Many people begin by saying they aren't sure where to start.

Your Care Expert can help ease into the conversation by asking gentle questions and giving you time to think, respond, or simply pause for a moment. There is no right way to begin. Whether you come with a long list of questions, a few words, or no idea what to say, you can start wherever you are.

Can I reach out more than once?

Absolutely. Some people connect with a Care Expert once, while others find it helpful to come back as new questions, circumstances, or experiences arise.

There is no expectation that you continue beyond your first conversation, and there is no limit if you'd like ongoing support. You can reach out again whenever you feel ready, whether that's a few days later, months down the road, or after a new season of life begins.

How much does support cost? Do I need insurance?

All of Avail's services are offered free of charge, and you’ll never need insurance to get support. Whether you choose one-on-one support, scheduled text support, a group meetup, or Better Clarity, there is no cost to you.

Taking the first step

Reaching out can feel personal, especially when you are not sure what you need or where the conversation might lead. You don't have to arrive with answers. You can come with questions, a few words, or even no clear starting point at all.

Whether you are navigating an unintended pregnancy or processing a past abortion experience, a Care Expert will meet you with care, patience, and respect. Your first conversation can be a place to pause, speak honestly, and take things one step at a time.

Whenever you’re ready, qualified, confidential, accessible care is available.

Avail Staff

Avail Staff creates compassionate, trusted resources for women and men facing an unintended pregnancy or processing a past abortion experience. Since 1996, Avail has provided cost-free, confidential support to help people navigate pregnancy decisions, navigate life after an abortion, explore healthy relationships, and move forward with clarity and confidence.

Drawing on decades of experience serving clients across the country, our articles are shaped by the real questions, concerns, and experiences people bring to Avail every day. We combine practical guidance with compassionate care to help readers better understand their options, reflect on what matters most, and find trustworthy support without judgment, pressure, or political influence.

Whether you're looking for information about pregnancy, parenting, abortion recovery, relationships, or emotional health, our goal is to provide accurate, thoughtful content that helps you make informed decisions and know you don't have to face them alone.