Story and photo by Emily Mitchell
It’s easy to walk by without noticing. There’s no sign, no addressed mailbox, no indication of what’s on the other side of the door. But if you’ve found the door, it’s because you already know exactly what’s inside. And while you may walk in feeling hopeless and confused, the women inside work hard to restore conviction and clarity once you leave.
The door leads to Boston Center for Pregnancy Choices (BCPC). This organization provides free counseling for pregnant women at a crossroads, women who want to discuss their options when they feel they have none. But what’s unusual about BCPC’s counseling is not that it’s free. It’s that the organization has recognized the inherently complex relationship between women, pregnancy and religion.
To guide clients through, BCPC offers faith-based counseling. Rebecca Joachim, the lead advisor, describes this service as “a way for someone to discuss their life and any factors that affect them, free of any judgment, especially in regard to their faith.” Any woman can discuss any option—adoption, abortion, or keeping the baby—and receive impartial advice. The woman’s religion can come up when and if she chooses.
Joachim has been with the 30-year-old organization since 2016. She describes her arrival there as an “accidental job opportunity,” but a happy one. While in graduate school in Boston studying public health, she chose to do her practicum at BCPC on a whim. She quickly abandoned her pre-med track after seeing BPCP’s efforts, and has worked there ever since. Since then, Joachim estimates she has counselled over 1,000 clients, many more than once.
We asked Joachim to discuss the organization, its role and how pregnancy and the worlds of religion, culture and politics can collide. The following conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
I’ve read about your organization and how it focuses on faith-based counseling. What does that mean for you?
For us, I think we focus on making sure the woman feels comfortable discussing any type of faith, and discussing it in whatever way they desire to talk about it. It’s important for them to know that they have the freedom to bring faith into their conversation if they want to, without any judgement about their relationship with that faith.
How often do you notice women including faith in this conversation?
I hear it periodically, but I find the women don’t discuss it in much length. Maybe 60 percent of conversations touch upon the topic, but really only in passing.
Have you noticed any trends in the faiths or spiritualities that women discuss? Is there one that sticks out more consistently?
No, not really. I’ve discussed a variety of faiths with women, and they’ve mentioned Christianity, Judaism, Islam, as well as some Wicca and Buddhist women.
Wow, Wicca. Can you expand on what that was like?
I noticed that that while [Wicca] is not as widely practiced, it focuses on similar aspects to other religions. There’s still a central question of what do I believe? What is the bigger picture, and what kind of higher power is at play. You might not know what the impact of a religion is until you sit down and discuss it with someone.
Was there a central theme in religion that drew you to working at a faith-based practice?
Not specifically; me being here is sort of an accident. I was in school here in Boston studying public health, and ended up working here during my practicum and never really left.
Now that you’re here full time, what does an average day look like for you?
I’m the full-time lead counselor, so I come each day and meet with whatever women schedule appointments. Each day looks a little different depending on the clients. We probably see about 200 to 400 clients a year.
Of the clients you see each year, is there a trend toward which option they lean toward? Do they ever come with their minds made up and change it?
Of the three options that each woman has, I’d say that adoption is the lowest. The other two, abortion and keeping the baby go back and forth. Adoption is far less common. Sometimes they come with their mind made up, but my job isn’t to change their mind. I just listen to them and show them their options.
What does a conversation like that sound like, generally?
They’re all so different. Each woman’s life impacts the decision, and they bring so many outside factors like their family, their faith, their partner. All I try to do is provide them a space to process the news and get everything out before making this huge decision. Because of course, the decision is final.
This work is so personal. Was there a moment in your life that drew you to this organization?
I have a background in mental health counseling and was just drawn to this type of counseling. Women need a safe space for this conversation that doesn’t really exist in our daily life. We also do after-abortion counseling because sometimes you still need someone to help you recover after you’ve made your decision.
What do you discuss in those situations?
Usually it’s a theme of guilt. Did I make the right decision? Is God upset with me? Was it alive or not? Complex questions like that.
What do you say?
I really can’t say anything. I have no idea at what point you can consider a baby to be alive or not alive. Everyone has their own opinion on that, but mine isn’t really relevant. I just help them work to a point where they can live with their decision, because they have to find strength to move forward, regardless of what happened.
Speaking of when a baby can be considered alive, our political climate has definitely brought that conversation forward. Have you noticed an increase in clients in the past few years?
I think we’re talking about the dilemma more, but at the same time, women are always getting pregnant, regardless of who’s president. That’s an isolated, personal moment in time that politics doesn’t really affect while they have access to their medical needs.
With the conversation on the forefront, are there any stigmas that you would like to address about your work? About needing an abortion or about raising a child?
Not any stigmas, but I do want women to know we’re here. They deserve a free, comfortable environment where they can leave all other influences at the door and just discuss their wants and their needs. This decision affects the rest of your life, and I want to make sure that when a client leaves, she is ready to live her life on her own terms and is comfortable with the path she’s chosen.
A Northeastern University Special Project 