We are a registered charity based in Teesside offering free and confidential counselling and ISVA support to people who have been affected by rape or sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the experience may have been.
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Services Offered
Rape and sexual abuse counselling
After experiencing rape or any form of sexual abuse, you may well be struggling to cope with your feelings and emotions. Confusion, stress, grief, isolation, fear - without the right support these feelings can sometimes escalate to self-blame, lack of self-esteem, depression, self-harm or eating disorders.
It can be difficult to turn to relatives or friends to open up about how you're feeling. It might be that you're worried they won't understand. You may feel uncomfortable speaking with people who are emotionally involved. It's at times like these that counselling can be helpful.
Counselling gives you the opportunity to explore your feelings within a comfortable, and safe environment. Helping you to understand and manage your own feelings or emotions.
Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)
If you have reported or are thinking about reporting rape or sexual abuse, it's likely that you will have a lot of questions and may need more information before you can decide what to do. The Independent Sexual Violence Advisory Service gives you free and confidential access to trained advisors who can offer practical help and support, whether your case has been reported to the police or not.
An ISVA is completely independent of all other agencies. Their only interest is in supporting you. They will work with the various agencies on your behalf, to make sure you have all the relevant information about your case, and ensure that your voice and opinion is heard throughout the investigation.
ArchWay Project (ISVA)
An ArchWay ISVA can support people involved in or exploited through the sex industry who have experienced rape or sexual assault. We are a fully inclusive service and as such work with anyone aged 18 and over.
We're here to listen.
You don't have to report to the police if you don't want to, we can help you to identify and access other services you may need such as;
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.