On a recent Thursday morning, a woman walked into the Pregnancy Counseling Center in Mission Hills. Like many women who come into the center on Sepulveda Boulevard, she was young, single and scared.

She had been referred by a pro-life sidewalk counselor standing in front of the family planning/abortion clinic right across the street. Needing someone to talk to, especially after seeing the clinic's crowded waiting room, she headed over to the Pregnancy Counseling Center's modest storefront, where she was ushered into a private room for confidential counseling by one of the staff's 20 part-time lay counselors.

Each year, hundreds of women visit the center, where all services are free and confidential. Counselors at the center provide information about abortion and abortion alternatives, medical and psychiatric referrals, adoption referrals and support groups. Women can also self-administer a pregnancy test in one of the center's two bathrooms.

The majority of the women visit the center after finding its website, www.pregnanthelp4u.org, or spotting its ad in the telephone book's yellow pages. About 15-20 percent come over before or after visiting the nearby family planning facility, often after speaking with pro-life sidewalk counselors.

Sometimes, women visiting the center are accompanied by boyfriends, husbands or parents. Occasionally, pregnant moms bring preschool-aged children, who enjoy playing with the toys in the reception area.

"God's called us to be here for the hours we are open. It's up to God who he brings in our doors," said Nancy Corbett, executive director of the Pregnancy Counseling Center and a parishioner at St. John Baptist de la Salle in Granada Hills. Currently, the center is open Monday-Wednesday from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Thursdays and most Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

"No matter what, we're committed to be here to listen," declared the mother of four grown children. She started at the center 11 years ago after seeing an ad in her church bulletin seeking parishioners interested in training as lay counselors. Having adopted her oldest child, she felt empathy for women in crisis pregnancies and especially those who make the difficult "loving" decision to place their child up for adoption.

Corbett's compassionate demeanor is helpful as many of the women, the majority of whom are between the ages of 18-25, are often panicked about the thought of being pregnant. "The younger ones particularly are frightened to death," said Corbett. "They come in saying, 'I can't be pregnant now, I have to finish college,' and most haven't told their parents."

During counseling sessions, she tries to steer the women away from catastrophic thinking. "Why don't you think your parents will be there for you? It's their grandchild," Corbett has repeated many times to young pregnant women worried about their parents' reaction to the news they are pregnant.

"Once you talk to them, they start calming down and the blinders come off and they're more open," said Corbett. She encourages women to take resource literature home and call the center any time if they have questions. "We always say we're here with help, hope and truth," added Corbett. Pregnant women are told "we'll walk the walk with you," including providing donations of baby supplies and clothing for up to nine months after an infant's birth.

"I think the hardest thing is when they walk out that door [after counseling], and you don't know" if they will later decide to have an abortion, Corbett commented. "But," she added, "I think that's God's way of keeping us humble because it's his work. It's up to the Holy Spirit if it moves hearts."

Established in the San Fernando Valley in the early '70s by pro-life leaders, including Catholics from several Valley parishes, Pregnancy Counseling Center has been at the Sepulveda location since 1992. After a neighboring business left, the center was able to expand last year from 900 square feet to nearly 1,800.

The additional space has created room for an ultrasound machine, which will arrive after the center becomes licensed and certified as a medical clinic by the Los Angeles Health Department. "What we want now," said Corbett, "is to offer ultrasounds, because when a pregnant woman sees that precious little heart beat, it's reality. It's not two lines on a pregnancy test; it's a visual."

Sidewalk counselor Maria Rugg, 46, a St. Cyril of Jerusalem parishioner who is in front of the abortion clinic in Mission Hills most Thursday mornings, says mothers and fathers who are persuaded not to abort their babies often express their gratefulness with cards and phone calls after their child is born. In her six years of sidewalk counseling, Rugg knows of 58 women who were turned around from seeking an abortion.

Her faith has been blessed doing sidewalk counseling, she said.

"This is where the Scriptures come to life," Rugg explained. "Everything is there. You're at the gates of hell. You're seeing miracles. You're in fellowship with other Christians on the same road. Your faith is deepened by being a part of miracles, just like the apostles were."

"They send women over," said Corbett, "and we take over from there."

A garage sale benefiting the Pregnancy Counseling Center will be held May 2. For further information on the non-profit 501 ( c ) ( 3) organization, contact the center, (818) 895-2500; 10211 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91345.