Wellington Sexual Abuse HELP works with survivors of sexual abuse and their whanau - of any age, gender, sexuality or ethnicity. We provide a 24 hour support line, social work and counselling services for anyone who has experienced rape or sexual abuse, or who is concerned about a friend or family member. We have been working with survivors of sexual abuse in the Wellington region since 1985, and in Porirua since 2005. We also cover the Kapiti coast. HELP is a charitable trust which relies on government and philanthropic grants for its operation, as well as donations from the public. Wellington HELP recognises Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to developing a culturally appropriate way of working with Maori agencies, staff and clients. We are committed to ongoing learning in this area.
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Services Offered
Counselling Services - At HELP, we have a team of qualified and experienced counsellors and social workers, including Maori practitioners who support people affected by rape, sexual abuse, and family violence.
* An opportunity to build a relationship of trust with a counsellor * A safe and confidential relationship within which to explore difficult and painful thoughts and feelings related to experiences of rape, sexual abuse, or family violence. * Support to understand the complex ways abuse may have affected life and relationships * Support to explore and understand your own, or other peoples' responses to the abuse * An opportunity to develop new skills and resources for coping, and renewed capacity for self-determination
Fees and Payment
Our services are available in Wellington, Porirua and Kapiti. Most people qualify for ACC funded counselling services. If someone does not meet the ACC criteria for counselling support, one of our social workers can assist to explore other options for funding or accessing counselling support. It is not always possible to see a counsellor immediately. In these cases one of our trained and experienced social workers may be available to provide support, until a counsellor becomes available. This is also a registered charity.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Payment: Pro-bono
Online Counseling: Yes
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Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.