|
The DC Rape Crisis Center provides free counseling for
individuals, families and couples. Free counseling is also provided for family
members or friends of survivors. Counselors work to help clients with a wide
range of issues, including helping the client to move past the trauma, working
with the client to develop coping mechanisms, and helping to empower the client.
Twelve free counseling sessions are provided for survivors of adult rape and six
months of free counseling is provided for survivors who have experienced trauma
in childhood.
Confidentiality Policy
All information is confidential within the DC Rape Crisis
Center including information shared with one’s counselor and the fact that the
person is receiving services at the center. No information will be disclosed
without a signed release. The only exception to our strict confidentiality
policy is if the individual poses a threat to her/himself or to others, or if
there is a situation involving ongoing child abuse.
How to Arrange your Counseling
- The first step in receiving the free DC Rape Crisis
Center counseling services is to call our business line (202) 232-0789 and
schedule an intake session.
- Next, you will meet with a staff member for a
fifty-minute intake session. Intakes are an information gathering session.
This involves basic information, looking at your experiences, discussing
what you are dealing with presently and what you hope to achieve from
counseling.
- After the intake session, it may take up to two weeks
to get assigned to a counselor. Individuals are matched with counselors
based on a number of factors such as availability, special requests, and
specific needs.
Support Groups
Support groups can be a valuable part of the healing
process they allow you to share your thoughts and feelings with a group of
people who have experienced a similar trauma. Rape support groups run for twelve
sessions and child sexual assault support groups run for six months. Groups meet
once a week for one and half to two hours. The maximum group size is fifteen and
two facilitators lead each support group. There are rape, child sexual assault,
gay, and lesbian support groups. You may participate in both individual and
group counseling and there is no limit on the number of groups you can
participate in.
Location
The DC Rape Crisis Center has locations in both northwest
and southeast. The exact address of the center is kept confidential to protect
the privacy of our clients.
-
All services are provided for free. You will be given a
donation letter by your counselor at the end of the counseling services. A
donation is entirely voluntary.
-
When calling regarding appointments or to contact
one’s counselor call the business line: (202) 232-0789.
-
You are encouraged to call the twenty-four hour HOTLINE
whenever necessary: (202) 333-7273
|
