Searching for Counselling For Abused People

A treatment program for individuals that have or are experiencing family abuse and sexual assault.

Strong Moms, Safe Kids is a special parenting program for mothers who have been abused.

Specialized assessments and individual, group & family therapy for children/youth who have experienced sexual abuse (including peer sexual assaults) or who have engaged in concerning or sexually harmful behaviours. Counselling is available to families impacted by a recent report. Parent/Caregiver involvement is encouraged throughout therapy. Consultation is also available to clients and professionals regarding sexual abuse treatment and healthy sexuality.

Specialized assessments and individual, group & family therapy for children/youth who have experienced sexual abuse (including peer sexual assaults) or who have engaged in concerning or sexually harmful behaviours. Counselling is available to families impacted by a recent report. Parent/Caregiver involvement is encouraged throughout therapy. Consultation is also available to clients and professionals regarding sexual abuse treatment and healthy sexuality.

Safe steps is a 6- week foundational program for mothers where there has been domestic violence in the home. The focus of the program is to provide a good understanding on the impact of violence on children and youth and, learn strategies and tips to support children impacted by the violence. The 6 -week program consists of learning about stages of child development and brain development of children, exploration of children and youth experience of domestic violence, feelings and emotion regulation, boundaries, sexual abuse prevention, safety plans and safety planning with children and, self-esteem and resilience- building tools. Child- focussed activities are discussed with the mothers to support them with engaging their children in the journey of healing from the violence experienced in the home.

Program is offered virtually to mothers only, once a week for 1.5 hours over a period of 6- weeks. A letter of participation and certificate is provided to mothers who complete the program.

Please email safesteps@wcswr.org for more information or to register for the program.

Individual and group counselling

Counselling is offered in person/phone or by video for most programs. Staff continue to be in contact with developmental service clients. Walk-in mental health clinics (Mon in Mount Forest - call for appointment, Tue in Harriston - call for appointment, Wed in Guelph - in-person walk in, and Thu in Fergus - in-person walk in. For appointments, call 519-824-2431.

Distress Line is available 7 days a week, 8 am-10 pm: 519-821-3760 or 1-888-821-3760

Individual, couple, and family counselling:

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): confidential counselling and referral services for employees and their families
• Service coordination / case management services for people with a developmental disability and autism spectrum disorder across the age continuum
• Access Information and Referral - AIR- intake for children's developmental services for Guelph and Wellington County

Support Groups

Children:

• Breaking Free - children who have witnessed family violence
• Child and Youth Sexual Assault Team (CYSAT) - children who have been sexually abused, and youth at risk for sexually offending
• High Conflict Communication - separating or divorcing families to foster good communication with children and develop a parenting plan

Men and Women:

• Partner Assault Response Program - for people who perpetrate violence
• men's and women's groups - people surviving childhood sexual abuse
• trauma counselling and support groups
• women who have experienced domestic violence
• member agency of Support Services Network for Male Survivors in Ontario

Consultation and Training:
Employers and community groups with respect to interpersonal work-related issues, stress, parenting, problem solving, conflict management and other areas where personal issues impact work and family life. (EAP)

**Satellite offices in Mount Forest, Fergus and Harriston

Consultation and assistance to consider options:

• access to help for vulnerable older adults and their families, especially those who have experienced or are at risk of abuse
• referral to community resources and informal seniors groups when appropriate
• temporary safe bed available through selected retirement homes with regard to elder abuse
• consultation for health professionals through the response network is available

Crisis line that offers immediate phone support and information to women who are experiencing or have experienced any form of physical, emotional, verbal, financial or sexual abuse, including recent and/or childhood abuse.

• confidential and anonymous
• connection to appropriate services - safe shelter, safety planning, legal / medical / housing assistance, counselling
• referral / liaison with other community supports and resources
• support for family members and concerned friends

Support services for women and their children who are experiencing or have experienced physical, emotional, sexual, verbal, financial abuse and / or stalking.

• non-residential program (connects women to Marianne's Place)
• individual and group counselling
• child care available during counselling
• safety planning
• support for survivors of childhood sexual abuse / sexual assault / harassment / stalking / human trafficking
• appointment arranged in mutually agreed location if required
• transportation, accompaniment to police, court, hospital, lawyer, shelter, rural services
• advocacy / referral to community agencies
• education / training on all woman abuse / sexual violence issues
• support for criminal injuries compensation / victim impact statements / restraining orders
• housing / legal / financial / custody information and support
• support for family / partners / friends of survivors
• Family Court Support
• client library and resource materials
• public education presentations available on request

Volunteer opportunities available; training provided in Guelph.

Offers support and counselling to women who have experienced sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse or sexual harassment recently or in the past.

• individual / group counselling and support
• accompaniment to hospital / police / court
• advocacy / court preparation / community referrals
• assistance with victim impact statements
• sexual harassment support / accompaniment
• information on sexual assault / sexual harassment / childhood sexual abuse / incest / stalking
• information on legal / medical procedures and options
• client workshops on selected topics
• support for family / friends of sexually violated survivors
• public education / training / information sessions available on request
• client library and resource materials

Volunteer opportunities include:

• supporting sexual assault / incest survivors
• providing 24-hour on call service / public education / accompaniment

Services for women and their children who are experiencing or have experienced violence in a relationship, as well as those who have left abusive relationships or are considering leaving and want to establish violence-free lives in the community.

• risk assessment and safety planning
• access to emergency shelter
• individual and group counselling
• transitional planning
• health and wellness support
• legal information and referrals to police, lawyers, court, hospital
• advocacy and liaison with community agencies and resources
• help with custody, child support issues and getting financial support (eligibility must be established)
• accompaniment to police, court, lawyer, Crown Attorney/Legal Aid, Victim/Witness Assistance Program
• immediate telephone support and information through 24-hour Crisis Line

COVID-19 Update: Some services and support continue to be provided remotely - by e-mail, one-on-one phone support and video counselling. Visit Social Isolation Supports Online. This situation is being reviewed on an ongoing basis. The Crisis Line and shelter remain open.

Risk assessment, safety planning, one-on-one counselling, group counselling, workshops, emergency shelter, transitional planning, housing and legal support, custody and access support, victim impact statement and court preparation, advocacy and public education.

Programs include Marianne's Place (shelter), Transitional and Housing Support Program, Family Court Support Program, Rural Women's Support Program, Sexual Assault Centre, 24-hour Crisis Line, and the Anti-Human Trafficking Program.

Emergency shelter for women and their children leaving abusive situations.

• shelter for those experiencing physical, emotional, sexual, verbal, financial abuse and / or stalking or human trafficking
• safety planning
• assistance with housing, legal, financial and custody issues
• individual and group counselling
• advocacy / accompaniment to police, court, hospital, lawyer, housing, etc
• referral to community supports / resources
• access to all other Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis programs
• education / training to community groups, schools, agencies on all aspects of woman abuse
• client library and resource materials

Note: Women and their children are provided with private bedrooms; single women share bedrooms; all other common spaces such as living rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, recreation and play areas are shared.

Children and adolescents aged 4 to 16 meet in small groups to deal with the impact of the violence they witnessed in the home

Concurrently, the mothers attend separate sessions to discuss the impact of domestic violence on their children and learn parenting and coping strategies

A 16-week program that engages the whole family and provides consistent and congruent information to support them on their healing journey

Both parents go into their separate groups for the first 8 weeks. The last 8 weeks the children enter the program and attend age-appropriate groups

Counselling is provided to women age 16 and over who are in or have been in an abusive relationship

Most counselling takes place in small group settings, where participants can draw support from one another. Groups are run in accordance with community need, at times there are groups with specific criteria (i.e. Seniors Group)

Individual counseling is also offered on a limited basis

Crisis Line and Emergency Shelter

• crisis phone line
• 33 emergency beds for abused and/or homeless women and children
• provides safe haven, meals, support, and referrals to community resources

Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence Care Team provides care to survivors to help meet their health, emotional and social needs

Services include:

• specialized, specially trained, healthcare team of nurses
• collection of forensic evidence
• crisis intervention
• documentation and photographs
• physical examination and treatment of injuries
• testing and prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infections (STI), pregnancy and HIV
• referrals to community agencies for counselling
• no charge for any services or medication

Counselling Services include:

• individual/couple/family counselling
  
• employee assistance program (EAP)
  
• public awareness/education
  
• options to violence/women initiating new growth in self-esteem (WINGS)
  
• sexual assault counselling

Clinical associates providing private counselling services for children, adolescents, adults and couples

Services offered:

• financial assessment
• drug and alcohol assessment
• assistance with adolescent and child behaviour, personal issues, marital and couple issues, separation and divorce, trauma and grief, childhood abuse recovery, stress & anxiety, financial stress, custody & access & financial mediation for separating partners

Program designed to provide support to women and their children experiencing domestic violence

Program includes:

• prevention through community awareness
  
• education and peer counselling
  
• crisis intervention
  
• addressing underlying mental/emotional issues
  
• women's sharing circle to promote healing and wellness among women in a safe environment for sharing

Important COVID-19 Information:
Domestic Abuse Services Oxford offers programs and services for women, children and adolescents impacted by domestic abuse and/or homelessness. Programs and services include:
* emergency shelter for women, children and adolescents impacted by domestic abuse and/or homelessness. Shelter space is limited and not all requests can be accommodated.
* 24/7 crisis/information/support telephone and text lines
* risk assessments and safety planning

Domestic Abuse Services Oxford has many services to offer. These include:

* Crisis/Help/Support Line
* Community Counseling
* Residential Shelter Services
* Sexual Assault Counselling
* Transitional Resource Program

Believe in Me

Program designed for children/adolescents who come from a home where their mother has been abused * weekly group offers participants the opportunity to talk about their feelings, learn how to express anger appropriately and improve self-esteem * a group for mothers is held concurrently which helps teach them how to support their child/teen * assistance with transportation and child care for siblings may be available * transportation can be coordinated. Free and confidential.

The Huron-Perth Children's Aid Society (H-PCAS) serves children, adolescents and families under the Child and Family Services Act
Services provided by the H-PCAS include:

• Child Protection
• Counselling services to children under 16 years of age and their parents
• Placement of children at risk in individual and group home foster family settings
• Adoption placement of infants and older children who are legally and emotionally free for adoption
• Supervision, finalization of adoptions through the court
• Ongoing assistance to adoptive families
• Information Dissemination regarding Duty to Report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect through the Purple Ribbon Campaign