All posts by alison
News from Open Doors June 2021
As I write, our counsellors are once more working from home as COVID restrictions again affect Melbourne where our centre is based. Thanks to the online platforms now available, we can quickly move to video conferencing for all clients. Face to face is preferable but online works well as a substitute and is perfect where distance presents a problem to accessing services. Many of our current clients live too far from our Ringwood centre to easily attend in person and it is great to be able to offer them this alternative, COVID or no COVID.
News from Open Doors March 2021
We are well into the New Year and continue to be extremely busy with the calls for couples counselling continuing to feature. As we predicted, abortion, miscarriage and other pregnancy related issues such as infertility or post-natal depression are present in the stories of many of these couples.
We can offer what other relationship counselling services do not usually offer – insight into the added stresses and strains that unresolved pregnancy loss, particularly post abortion grief, can have on the health of a relationship. It is not uncommon for a client to tell us that a psychologist or counsellor they were seeing elsewhere has actively discouraged her from talking about a past abortion, dismissing it as irrelevant.
Resilient Kids Book – Parent/School resource
Resilient Kids BOOK
Book and ebook available
- For children aged around 8-12.
- Parents, a great addition to your child’s toolbox.
- Teachers and School Counsellors, use with your class or individual students.
An easy to read, engaging, jam packed little book of top resilience building tips and skills for children (and adults!).
Emotional ups and downs are normal. Some days life is just tough!
No matter how old or young, you can take steps to handle these times.
Learn how to recognise and tolerate uncomfortable or difficult emotions as signals to take action. Use failure and disappointment as stepping stones towards achievement. Seek support when times are tough.
Wonder of Living, 2019 video series
New in 2019. Supplied on USB - a 3 part video series plus comprehensive Teacher's Manual on pdf ready to print and go. Focuses on the needs of children ... supports and empowers parents ... takes a family focus ... presents values for life!
Wonder of Living is a sexuality education package for Levels 3-6 that delivers age appropriate information in an uncompromising context of 'best health values' for young children and teenagers.
Watch the promo -
Wonder of Living BOOK – Parent resource
THE WONDER OF LIVING BOOK, a guide to growing up. 
For children aged around 8-12.
For parent and child to read together or separately.
Chapters cover the development & birth of a baby, the amazing human body, how a baby starts, puberty and handling teen issues such as body perfection, the selfie culture and cyber safety.
Cost: $20. (postage included)
Pre-marriage Education – ‘Prepare & Enrich’
Pre-marriage education is the most important part of your wedding preparations ... It might just be the best wedding present you can give to each other!
Affordable Pre-marriage Education is available from Open Doors to help you -
- Identify your strengths as a couple
- Explore areas for growth
- Enhance your relationship skills
When a pregnancy ends
When a pregnancy ends early, in whatever circumstances, it can be a devastating time for a woman. Men can also be deeply affected.
Whether the pregnancy was planned or unplanned, you may experience a range of feelings which include disbelief, sadness, emptiness, anger, disappointment and a sense of isolation. These are normal feelings that we experience after a loss.
However for you they may have been unanticipated, especially if your pregnancy was unplanned. You may be overwhelmed and confused trying to make sense of the way you feel.
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat – a spiritual healing journey after abortion
2020 Retreats: March 27-29, July 3-5, Nov 27-29 Enquiries - anne@opendoors.com.au
About Rachel's Vineyard RetreatsRachel's Vineyard Retreat is a beautiful opportunity for healing for any woman or man who has struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of an abortion. It's a chance to get away from the daily pressures of work and family, to focus on a painful time in life, and to begin healing through a supportive and non-judgmental process.
Creating Memories – ways to remember your baby
It doesn't matter if you lost your baby due to miscarriage, termination, ectopic pregnancy, IVF or stillbirth - feelings of grief are natural. When you lose your baby you may feel a pressure to get on with your life. However, your relationship with your baby doesn't end when your baby dies.
Your grief is visible evidence of that. Your attachment continues and you long for your child. A loss early in the pregnancy is difficult as you may not have seen your baby or may not have known whether it was a boy or a girl. This may cause you confusion about the depth of the loss you feel. Making your child real is a way to help you grieve.
There are a number of ways you can do this. Be imaginative and do what seems most meaningful to you. Remember - it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. This is about you and the loss of your baby.
Here are some suggestions for acknowledging and remembering your baby: