In This Body

Navigating Abortion, Miscarriage, and Unexpected Pregnancies with Kristen Portney

Ailey Jolie Season 1 Episode 22

Join Ailey Jolie and Kristen Portney, a psychotherapist specializing in reproductive mental health, for this episode of In This Body. Kristen shares her personal journey through multiple abortions and the psychological intricacies of her experiences, highlighting the importance of self-forgiveness and self-compassion. The conversation also covers the similarities and differences between abortion and miscarriage, while addressing the socio-political climate affecting women's reproductive rights. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, Ailey and Kristen illuminate the critical need for integrating embodiment and somatics into reproductive mental health practices. We hope you enjoy the episode. 

They discuss In this episode: 

  • 00:00 Introduction to 'In This Body' Podcast
  • 01:01 Introducing Kristen Portney
  • 02:11 Kristen's Journey into Reproductive Mental Health
  • 04:53 The Intersection of Reproductive Mental Health and Embodiment
  • 08:15 Navigating Trauma and Unexpected Pregnancy
  • 22:18 Relational Aspects of Abortion
  • 39:49 Similarities and Differences Between Abortion and Miscarriage
  • 52:25 Conclusion and Upcoming Offerings

You can read the show transcript here.

To find out more about Kristen: 

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