Cultural Support and other Resources

What we offer at the clinic

We support patients in incorporating cultural, spiritual, or ceremonial practices into their care. The following are available:

  • Smudging in the clinic — available to Indigenous patients before your appointment. Please let us know at the time of booking so we can prepare the space; we may reach out to adjust your appointment time.

  • Connection with an Indigenous liaison — available to Indigenous patients for additional support during your care.

  • Taking the pregnancy tissue (products of conception) home — for patients who choose this for cultural, spiritual, or personal reasons. Available for pregnancies under 20 weeks; for 20 weeks and over, BC law sets additional requirements. See our Products of Conception Page for full details.

  • Other spiritual, cultural, or wellness practices in our space — let us know in advance and we'll do our best to accommodate.

For procedural abortions, some of these arrangements take place at Victoria General Hospital. We'll review the details with you at your assessment.

Other Wellness Resources

Indigenous-specific

Hope for Wellness Help Line 1-855-242-3310 — Free, confidential, 24/7 Staffed by First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and non-Indigenous counsellors trained in crisis intervention and cultural competence. Available in English and French, and on request in Cree, Ojibway (Anishinaabemowin), and Inuktitut. Online chat also available at hopeforwellness.ca.

The Fireweed Project fireweedproject.ca Indigenous-led organization providing culturally-grounded supports for Indigenous people through abortion. Their resources are the source of many of the teachings on this page.

Open to all

Action Canada Access Line actioncanadashr.org/access-line Free, confidential phone, text, and email support.

Exhale Pro-Voice Textlineexhaleprovoice.org Trained peer counsellors providing judgement-free after-abortion emotional support. Service in English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin on request.

Post-Abortion Therapy postabortiontherapy.ca One-to-one sessions with clinical counsellors, in person or virtually, across Canada. Sliding-scale rates and discounts available; may be covered by extended health insurance.

Post-Abortion Workshop Series — SHORE Centre clinic.shorecentre.ca/pa-workshop Free, anonymous virtual group sessions facilitated by SHORE's counselling team.

MyPostCare mypostcare.ca Online aftercare information, emotional support tool, contraception explorer, and personalized email support throughout the post-abortion care journey.

Abortion Resolution Workbook pregnancyoptions.info/abortion-resolution-workbook A free, inclusive workbook for emotional and spiritual reflection after an abortion. Uses inclusive language that recognizes many faiths and beliefs.

Insight Timer insighttimer.com Free guided meditations, including Indigenous meditations such as "2 Minute Sacred Breath Meditation – ehewin" from the Cree meditation album enâtawâstemikweyahk.

Faith Aloud faithaloud.org A faith-based spiritual care line for people who want religious or spiritual support around pregnancy decisions — including abortion, adoption, and parenting. Spiritual Care Counsellors offer judgment-free space to work through faith themes, prayer, scripture, ritual, or religious conflicts, before, during, or after a decision. Open to all faiths and traditions.