CSAC offers many programs and services to help strengthen and empower those impacted by sexual violence and to work toward its prevention.
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING
The CSAC provides a wide range of supportive and counselling services including mental health counselling, emotional support, psychoeducation, and aftercare programming. One-on-one counselling services are one of the most valuable and accessed services offered by the Centre.
What to expect from our individual counselling services
The CSAC provides up to 12 individual counselling sessions free of charge for those impacted by sexual violence. You will meet with the same counsellor weekly or biweekly for an hour-long session of therapeutic conversation. During your treatment, you and your counsellor will spend some time developing counselling goals, collaborating on a treatment plan, and evaluating progress to determine what future services may be beneficial.
COVID-19 Update: Please note that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many of our counsellors are only offering distance counselling via phone or Zoom video at this time. For our counsellors who are offering in-person sessions at CSAC, we are following all provincial guidelines to ensure we minimize the risk of contracting COVID-19.
Our philosophy
The CSAC operates from a holistic, person-centred perspective and offers gender-sensitive, trauma-informed counselling services. We view counselling as a collaborative relationship where the counsellor provides structure, information, and guidance in the healing process. Our counsellors believe that those impacted by sexual violence are the experts on their own lives, including how and at what pace they should heal.
Those impacted by sexual violence who choose to seek counselling do so at different points in their lives. Many find themselves in a state of crisis when they first contact us. Our first priority is a client’s stabilization and safety, after which we will work with the client to rebuild balance and connection. While each client is unique and topics of discussion vary, common themes and areas that are explored in counselling may include:
- Understanding the power dynamics of sexual violence
- Impact of sexual violence on self, relationships, and sexual identity
- Understanding the impact and symptoms of sexual trauma
- Self-care and self-nurturing (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual)
- Focus on self-esteem and self-worth – confidence, knowledge, and awareness
- Stress management and relaxation techniques
- Understanding triggers and flashbacks
- Healthy coping strategies
- Identifying and naming feelings
- Emotional regulation – how to deal with intense emotions
- Understanding boundaries
- Meditation and grounding exercises
- Grief and loss
- Healing, remembering, and letting go
- Impact on parenting and children
- Support networks
- Connection between sexual violence, substance use, and/or self-harming behaviours
- Daily living (managing money, bills, work, sleep, eating, etc.)
AFTERCARE: JOURNEY PROGRAM
Following completion of the initial offering of the twelve free individual sessions with a Counselling Therapist, clients have the option to “graduate” into the Aftercare: Journey Program and/or meet with our Intake Supervisor to discuss their continuing care options, which could include referral to external counselling services, group counselling, support groups, or community services.
The Aftercare: Journey Program was created to further support clients with their healing and growth process after completing individual counselling sessions with a counselling therapist. This strengths-based program is comprised of five distinct themes including: understanding self-esteem, identifying values, boundaries and healthy relationships, effective communication techniques and self-forgiveness. Following the completion of this program, clients can be referred to other local organizations who are members of our highly trusted network of referral partners for services that are already well-established in the community. Furthermore, every client will also be provided a Strategies Tool Kit document that is a comprehensive workbook filled with exercises, resources, and helpful tips and tricks that will help in effectively managing their self-care.
EDUCATION
The CSAC offers educational workshops, presentations, and psychoeducational groups including:
- Sexual violence and trauma
- Consent
- Online safety: Sharing intimate images, sextortion, exploitation, grooming, and trafficking
- Self-care and personal wellness
- Healthy relationships
- Sexual diversity
- Facilitation of trauma group counselling programs
- Information and professional development for organizations
- Presentations in schools
