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Sexual Assault Centre
Mar 7, 2023
Monday to Friday 08:30-04:30 (except statutory holidays)
Services are free of cost and available to all ages, genders, abilities, ethnicities and cultural identities.
Working from a harm reduction and trauma informed model to support all survivors of sexual assault, regardless of police involvement or not.
We meet survivors where they are in their healing journey.
What are the effects of sexual violence?
Sexualized violence can be a traumatic and violating experience regardless of the degree of violence or physical threat, and can affect many areas of a person’s life. A survivor’s ability to trust and feel safe may be profoundly affected after a sexual assault.
Although the reactions to sexualized violence will be unique for each person, some common experiences are:
- shock, disbelief, denial
- overwhelming anger, rage, grief
- depression, numbness
- shame, guilt, self-blame
- nightmares, sleep disturbances
- flashbacks (reliving the assault)
- using substances to cope
- hyper-vigilance (inability to relax or feel safe)
- erratic or unpredictable mood swings
- fear, anxiety, feelings of isolation
- relationship and sexual difficulties
How can the Williams Lake Sexual Assault Centre help me?
- Short term emotional support (presence while evidence is collected, debriefing, coping skills)
- Short-term follow-up support
- Timely access to a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (free of charge)
- Referrals to community resources
- Advocacy
- Safety planning
- Education surrounding reporting options (direct/third party), promoting informed decision making
- Support with legal system if the assault is reported (RCMP, Crown Counsel, Court attendance)
- Assistance with Crime Victim Assistance Applications
- Access to funding for victims of sexual violence