Rape Crisis Service
Sexual violence is a serious and frightening experience. Approximately 80,000 women are attacked each year, most often at the hands of a known man. It is often accompanied by threats and extreme violence. It is more about power and control than about sex. This could include flashing, sexual assault, rape, child abuse, having to sell sex to support another person or a drug habit, war crimes, sex-traficking, or being forced or pressured into having sex when you don't want to.
Eva Rape Crisis provides a range of quality services for women and girls who have experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their lives. We provide free and confidential counselling and support from our centre in central Redcar, or by telephone.
You can speak to one of our counsellors directly by calling 01642 835079 if you require immediate crisis support, or you can arrange to see a counsellor for an assessment appointment where she will discuss with you the range of options available and help you to decide which option is right for you.
Finding the right service
Crisis Support
This is an immediate response to your needs. It may be that you have recently experienced rape or sexual assault, or something has happened in your life that has triggered old memorieswhich you find it difficult to manage. You can choose to have an immediate one off session or arrange for short term face to face support up to a maximum of 6 sessions. Should you require more than six sessions you will be offered the option of taking up counselling.
Telephone Helpline (01642 835079)
Our help line is staffed by experienced counsellors who will provide immediate support and information.
The opening hours of the helpline are as follows:
- Monday 9am - 7pm
- Tuesday 9am - 4.30pm
- Wednesday 9am - 7pm
- Thursday 9am - 4.30pm
- Friday 9am - 2.00pm
Counselling
Face to face counselling is often the most effective method of working through the effects of sexual violence. Counselling is available from our comfortable premises in Central Redcar. You will be offered a 50 minute session each week which will be reviewed every 6 weeks. There is a maximum of 48 sessions, however many women find their needs are met in a shorter time. You will see the same counsellor each week who will support you and help you find solutions to the issues you are facing.
Support Groups
Support groups are available to women who have previously accessed counselling. Many survivors of sexual violence find it helpful to further their healing and improve their confidence in the company of other women with similar needs and experiences. Women can experience a range of creative therapies designed to promote and sustain emotional health and well being.
What to expect if you choose counselling
During your initial assessment appointment our counsellor will help you to identify how you have been affected by your experience and what you hope to achieve from counselling. This could include managing flashbacks, working with issues such as self-harm, eating disorders, drug or alcohol misuse, or managing feelings of fear,anxiety, anger or grief. Whatever you are feeling your counsellor will provide you with a safe environment in which to explore your feelings, thoughts and behaviours without fear of being blamed or judged in any way. She will help you to develop coping strategies to help you to manage intrusive or damaging beliefs, feelings or behaviours. Counselling is not a quick fix, it will require you to revisit difficult and painful memories and emotions and you may find that your distress increases in the short term,this may affect you and your family and friends, and we ask that you aim to have their support if possible.
Advocacy
This service is available for women who require our support to deal with the aftermath of rape or sexual abuse. It may be that you wish to report your attack to the police, attend a health check or solicitors appointment, or you may be appearing in court and you want someone to accompany you to provide support.
The Eva advocacy service will offer you support if you are 12 years and over and have been raped or have suffered a serious sexual assault. Your advocate can provide you with support whether or not you choose to report it to the police. Advcacy is also available if you have experienced childhood sexual abuse, and now want to report the abuse.
What is advocacy?
Your advocate will provide you with emotional and practical support to help you deal with the aftermath of rape, sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse. Your advocate will accompany you as you attend health checks or solicitors appointments, or when you appear in court as a witness. Your advocate can arange a pre trial visit to the court, if you feel this would help to allay your fears.
Your advocate will help you to explore your options, and provide you with information to enable you to make informed choices about the options available to you. We will ensure that your rights are met, your needs recognised, and you receive a quality service from all of the service provider agencies that you are in contact with.
As we are independent this means that we are not employed by or influenced by any of the agencies you may be in contact with. We work solely to support you, the survivor, with your needs.
Your advocate will provide emotional and practical support, and liaise between you and the police, to ensure that you receive continuity of information and support throughout the judicial process. In addition your advocate will also:
- Arrange pre trial visits to the court
- Explain the judicial process
- Support you when you appear in court
What happens if you choose not to report?
Our advocacy team can provide ongoing emotional support,helping you to manage the emotional after effects of sexual violence. These may include feeling out of control, feeling afraid, unable to go to certain places,or unable to be alone. You may have found ways to enable yourself to feel in control, which have become problematic. We can help you to discover more effective, healthy methods to manage your feelings and help you to recognise that what happened was not your fault.
Practical support could include help with health concerns, housing benefit needs, and measures to help you feel more secure. We can also provide telephone support to family, friends and non-abusing partners.
If you wish to make an appointment or discuss your needs and the options available to you please contact us on 01642 835079. For our advocacy service please contact us on 01642 835080.