** If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911. If you are in crisis and would like immediate assistance, call DCRCC’s anonymous 24/7 hotline at any time at 202-333-7273. ** 

If you are interested in accessing either crisis intervention sessions, individual counseling, or group counseling as a primary survivor of sexual violence or as a secondary survivor - partner, friend, or family member of a survivor, please contact the Clinical Services Coordinator at [email protected] or 202-470-1188. All of our services are free and we are here to support you. 

Philosophy of Care: The DCRCC Counseling Program exists to support and empower survivors of sexual violence. Individuals who have experienced any form of sexual violence have survived a profound violation which can lead to deep and difficult feelings. These feelings can impact a persons’ relationship with family, friends, partners, work and, importantly,the relationship to self.Our therapeutic supportive counseling uses a survivor centered approach. At DCRCC this approach meansintentionally focuses on empowering survivors to regain control over their lives, helping and facilitating choice through sharing knowledge of client’srights and options, understanding that knowledge is power, respecting the right to self-determination, and highlighting that all forms of oppression are connected. Whether you experienced sexual violence recently or decades ago, it is possible to heal and you are not alone. 

Values:

  • We believe in the capacity for every survivor to heal and thrive 
  • We are committed to the belief that all forms of oppression are linked, we value accessibility, cultural respect and understanding, as well as the empowerment of all people 
  • We respect the unique experiences of each survivor and believe that survivors are experts in their own experiences 
  • We support people to find their own power to improve the quality of their lives 
  • We believe that healing from sexual trauma is a series of journeys.  
  • We serve as guides assisting the survivor on the next part of their journey, providing them with
 tools and support, along with an invitation to hope, trust, and embrace their power.
 
  • We act and advocate with authenticity and integrity by staying true to these core values in all we do
  • Survivors of sexual assault who reside in the DC Metropolitan area (Washington DC, and neighboring counties in Northern Virginia and Maryland) 
  • Survivors aged 11 years or older 
  • Survivors of sexual assault that happened either under the age of 18 or over the age of 18  
  • Survivors who experienced a sexual assault that happened recently or in the past 
  • Partner, friend, or family member of a survivor of sexual violence

To obtain free crisis intervention, individual or group counseling services, or general inquiries, a survivor can contact Clinical Services Coordinator, Keyana Howard at [email protected] or 202-470-1188.

Crisis Intervention Counseling: Sessions at DCRCC are 1-3 sessions with a counselor focused on psychoeducation, resourcing, stabilization and safety planning for a specific moment or period of crisis. These sessions apply a strengths-based crisis intervention model that focuses on enhancing and adding to a survivor’s tools for regulation and grounding that can be applied both in real time and outside of sessions. This short-term intervention also includes safety planning for any safety concerns the client might be experiencing. Crisis sessions at DCRCC do not require involvement with our other crisis response services including our advocacy crisis response program or our 24/7 hotline. 

If you have any questions or are interested in scheduling an intake to begin the counseling process, please contact the Clinical Services Coordinator, Keyana Howard, at [email protected] or 202-470-1188.

Individual Counseling:Individual therapeutic counseling sessions are provided for survivors of Child Sexual Assault (CSA), Sexual Assault (SA), Campus Assault (CA), or for individuals who are Secondary Survivors (SS), such as partners, family members, and friends of a primary survivor. Counseling sessions use Trauma-Focused Interventions and Mind Body Approaches to support safety and stabilization, resourcing (identifying resources or tools that assist the individual to meet their needs) and coping, trauma processing, and integration. Additionally, DCRCC works within a relational context and employs an Empowerment Model to honor the individual’s experience and strengths as well as examine how individuals relate to power, given the role of power and control in experiences of sexual violence. Individuals who have experienced SA or CA or are Secondary Survivors may receive up to twelve free sessions. Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse survivors may receive up to twenty-four free sessions. While in counseling, a client meets with their therapist once a week for 50 minutes. Survivors with a history of both CSA and SA may receive up to twenty-four free sessions. Individuals aged 17 or under will receive twenty-four free sessions. 

DCRCC operates from a consent-based culture. The agency uses an affirmative consent principle including the use of informed consent forms. Individuals receiving services will be asked to sign a Release of Information for collateral contacts that are also providing mental health treatment and/or care to the individual. If you are interested in accessing individual counseling as a survivor of sexual violence or as a partner, friend, or family member of a survivor, please contact the Clinical Services Coordinator at [email protected] or 202-470-1188.  

Group Counseling 

Group counseling, or support groups, can be a valuable part of the healing process by providing a safe and confidential place for members to share thoughts and feelings with others who have experienced a similar trauma. Individuals may express interest in as many groups as they like. 

DCRCC offers a variety of open and closed groups.  An open group does not require any long-term commitment from participants. It has open membership to current and former DCRCC clients. A closed group requires a weekly long-term commitment to the group and absences are limited based on the length of the group. Closed groups can run for 8 sessions, 10 sessions, 12 sessions, 14 sessions, 16 sessions, or 24 sessions and ideally include 6-10 participants, with the exception of Movement Groups (i.e., Yoga) which can have up to 15 members. If group attendance dwindles to 3 members or less, the group may be terminated for lack of participation.  

DCRCC groups usually start in the Spring and again in the Fall. Once a closed group has started, no new members are allowed to be added. With the exception of Mindfulness Mondays, all groups take place between 6:30pm-8:30pm on weekdays. 

All individuals interested in group counseling must complete a Group Assessment during a scheduled intake, regardless of current or past enrollment in individual counseling services with DCRCC. Individuals may choose to complete the Group Assessment at the same time as an intake for individual counseling services or on a separate occasion.  DCRCC clinical staff will determine participation for each group.  Priority may be given to members who have not participated in the specific group. 

Types of groups offered 

  • Awakening to Self Therapy Group    
  • Campus Connections  
  • Clean and Sober Healing Group 
  • Empowered Sexuality   
  • Experiences of Healing Support Group 
  • Male Survivors Support Group  
  • Mindfulness Mondays 
  • Monthly Client Gathering (MCG) 
  • Power of Healing Support Group: Reclaiming Sexuality 
  • Same Gender Loving Support Group 
  • Sexual Assault Survivors Support Group 
  • Spanish Speaking Support Group 
  • Women of Color Support Group 
  • Writing Group 
  • Yoga/Movement Group  

This list is not exhaustive and offered groups are subject to change. 

If you are interested in accessing group counseling as a survivor of sexual violence or as a partner, friend, or family member of a survivor, please contact the Clinical Services Coordinator at [email protected] or 202-470-1188.