A new campaign has launched to promote a confidential therapy service for anyone who has been affected by sexual assault and abuse in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
The service from Staffordshire Survive is available to all survivors who are going through or have been through the criminal justice process.
Many survivors believe that they cannot access therapy before or during their court case as it may affect their case or harm their recovery. However, this is not the case.
The pre-trial therapy campaign from Staffordshire Survive aims to bust myths surrounding therapy for survivors, healthcare professionals and others.
Charlotte Almond, Chief Executive Officer at Staffordshire Women’s Aid, said: “Many survivors of sexual abuse feel uncertain about accessing pre-trial counselling.
Some believe it might make them re-live traumatic experiences or interfere with the legal process. But these are myths. At Staffordshire Survive, we have a team of qualified counsellors who can help support you on your journey to recovery.”
Survive is accessible, simple to navigate and confidential. The service is open to males and females from the age of four, and offers:
- A ‘cope and recover’ specialist support and advocacy service for victims, including tailored advice, guidance, information, practical and emotional support and group work
- A counselling service for victims to support empowerment, resilience, risk reduction and recovery
- A support service for victims’ close family members and significant others
- Geographically based staff to ensure coverage across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
- Onward referrals to other specialist support agencies.
Commissioned by the Staffordshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, the Survive service first launched in 2020 and has supported thousands of survivors in their recovery since then.
Deputy Staffordshire Commissioner Dave Evans said: “It’s so important that survivors can access support when they need it, whether they are going through the criminal justice process or not.
“The Staffordshire Survive counselling service is free and confidential. I would encourage any survivor in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to use it if they need to.”
Joy (not her real name) came to Staffordshire Survive to ask whether they ‘could talk to her’ before her court case.
Joy explained that she had tried referrals through her doctors and a private counsellor. No one would offer counselling as her court case was coming up soon.
During her first session, it was explained to Joy that Staffordshire Survive offer pre-trial counselling and spent time explaining what this means to Joy and how her notes may be requested by police or court.
This counselling empowered Joy to attend court and hold her head up high. She was in control of her emotions and able to regulate her nervous system and work with, rather than against, her reactions.
Joy said: “Counselling with Survive came just at the right time for me. Survive offered an understanding and warm approach, nothing was too much trouble for my counsellor who taught me things about myself that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you, Staffordshire Survive!”
If you would like to talk to someone about accessing the Survive service, or would like to make a referral, please call the 24-hour helpline on 0300 330 5959 or email survive@staffordshirewomensaid.org or visit www.staffordshirewomensaid.org to make a referral online.
To read more about the therapy services available from Survive, visit: https://staffordshirewomensaid.org/
