Theresa Karminski Burke, Ph.D., started one of the first therapeutic support groups for post-aborted women in 1986, after founding the Centre for Post Abortion Healing. In 1994, Rachel’s Vineyard: A Psychological and Spiritual Journey for Post Abortion Healing was first published. It was a unique support group model for counselors, offering a very concrete, emotional experience for women who were grieving the loss of their aborted children. In 1995, Theresa adapted and expanded the curriculum into a format for weekend retreats. Soon individuals seeking healing began to travel from other states to experience this very effective healing process.
The retreats began to spread across the country because of the retreat’s dramatic effectiveness, from 18 retreats in 1999 and growing to 35 retreats in 2000.
Currently, Rachel’s Vineyard has grown to over 700 retreats annually, held in 47 states and 25 countries, with many new sites in development.
Forbidden Grief is a insightful review of Dr. Theresa Burke’s experience in counseling hundreds of women for abortion-related emotional problems.
She also reviews the full range and depth of post-abortion adjustment problems, and illustrates how we can create a more understanding and healing society where women will no longer be required to hide their pain.
She discusses the pressure and coercion faced by many women before abortion, the ordeal of the abortion itself and the obstacles in the way of resolving and healing from the experience.
This healing weekend has been a gift and has helped me immensely in my grieving (delayed 24 years). It is helping me to live and love from this day forward. Thank you!
Amazing! My spirit was uplifted, I discovered inner peace
Words could never be enough to explain the gratitude that I feel for having the opportunity to attend a Rachel’s Vineyard weekend.
