Services are Available for Victims / Survivors : Individual Counselling

The agency provides professional, individual counselling on a short or long-term basis (up to one year) for survivors, partners of survivors, or parents of survivors.

Various counselling methods are utilized based on specific need:

Immediate crisis counselling.
Psycho-social counselling to address the impact of sexual abuse, sexual assault, criminal harassment or sexual harassment in terms of social, emotional, psychological effects.

How to access services: Contact the agency to book an intake assessment during which information is obtained such as: medical/mental health issues, history of abuse/assault/harassment (and its impact), previous/present services utilized, client-identified goals for counselling.

If appropriate for service, the client will be assigned to any agency counsellor. If services required are outside of the agency’s mandate, the client will be referred to an appropriate service.

Group Counselling

The agency provides a Female Coping and Education Group and a Male Coping and Education Group (18 years or older).

The agency provides an eight week coping and education group to examine the individual healing process for survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the following areas:

Short/long term effects of childhood sexual abuse
Family of origin issues
Shame/guilt/denial
Relationships/sexuality
Self-esteem
Anger/grief
Healing feelings
Addictions
The “Child Within”

How to access group services: Interested persons can call the agency to speak to a counsellor, at which time the worker will complete an initial screening process.

Pre-requisite: The clients must have undertaken individual counselling for childhood sexual abuse at some point prior to being accepted into the group.

**Other groups run as mandated by need**

What to do if you’ve been sexually assaulted or sexually abused.

Sexual Assault

If you have been sexual assaulted:

Go to a place where you feel safe.
Seek support from someone you trust.
Call our crisis line (344-4502) or any crisis service.
You have options: It is your choice to seek medical attention and/or report the assault to police. If you want to know what your medical and/or legal options are, call our crisis line (344-4502).
Know that you are entitled to complete medical care whether or not you decide to report the assault to police. (Medical personnel can ascertain whether you require treatment for injuries and/or treatment for exposure to any sexually transmitted diseases. You can also be screened for pregnancy risk.)
If you decide on a medical exam, do not consume any liquids or medications (prescription or non-prescription). If you decide to report the assault to police, do not wash, douche, brush your teeth, change clothes, go to the washroom, or clean the area where the assault occurred. This could destroy evidence. If you have already done any of these things, you can still report the assault to police and/or have a medical exam.
If you require accompaniment to the hospital or the police station after a sexual assault, contact our crisis line (344-4502).
Often, the victim is made to feel that the assault is their fault, and therefore assumes responsibility for the perpetrator’s criminal actions. Remember that, in every instance, sexual assault is an act of violence, where a perpetrator exerts power and control over another person.

Common reactions to sexual assault:

Fear
Anger
Disbelief
Shame
Feelings of guilt, self-blame
Denial
Feeling unsafe
Hypervigilence
Depression
Powerlessness
Flashbacks
Nightmares and sleep disturbances
Anxiety
Stomach problems or nausea
Change in eating habits
Avoiding people, places, activities
Suicidal ideation

Remember, all these reactions are normal. They will subside in intensity as time goes on. It is important to take care of yourself, and seek the appropriate support to help manage these symptoms.

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