Click to return to home page

skip to page content Home | Supportline | Training | National Rape Crisis | Publications | Other Local Services | Contact us
Using this web site safely
Recent Rape or Sexual Assault
Find Support in your Area
Volunteering
Training

 

About Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre
After a Session
Are the counsellors professionally qualified
Can I bring someone with me
Do you have a waiting list
How do I book sessions
How long will each counselling session last
How to make contact with TRCC
Is the service confidential
Is the service free
If this has happened to You
If you arrange a Counselling Session
Specialist Information Service / Library
Supportline
What areas do you cover
What is counselling
What model do you use
What we Offer
Who is the service for
Who we are

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Face to Face Counselling

What is counselling?
Counselling gives you personal space to explore how you might be thinking and feeling about something that has happened to you and to off-load in a safe and supportive environment. Counselling does not offer solutions. Your counsellor will not give advice or direction. She will help you to look at new possibilities and positive ways of moving forward in your life. She will listen to you and encourage you to understand what has happened to you, working with your agenda at all times.

Are the counsellors professionally qualified?
Yes. All our counsellors hold a minimum qualification to Postgraduate Diploma level. TRCC is an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and adheres to strict ethical guidelines within practice. All counsellors receive regular supervision with an external supervisor in line with BACP regulations.

What model do you use?
Primarily the counsellors work in a person-centred way. This means that they are non-judgemental and non-directive in their approach.


Back to Top | Home


How do I book sessions?
Usually all new clients will be invited to attend a pre-visit at TRCC with one of the counsellors. It gives you the opportunity to ask questions you might have before coming for counselling.

It also gives the counsellor information and clarity to ensure that TRCC is the correct service to meet your needs at this time and, if not, to sign post you on if required. This is not a formal "assessment" and may last up to one hour..

You can contact us directly or someone else can do this (eg a worker, friend, relative or partner) – with your permission. It is important that if someone refers you that it is your choice to come for counselling.

Do you have a waiting list?
Yes. We operate a short waiting list. If you call the centre, you can ask whether there is a regular counselling slot available or whether there is space on the waiting list for your name to be added. Please note, TRCC has only one full time Counsellor and one part time Counsellor at present and we do not want to keep women waiting for too long on the list so we are keeping a limited number of names on our books at any one time.

Is the service free?
Yes. The centre receives grants so that we can offer a free service to you.

How long will each counselling session last?
Usually one hour.

Can I bring someone with me?
Yes but we need to know in advance. There is a waiting room available.


Back to Top
| Home


Who is the service for and what areas do you cover?
The service is for women aged 16 and over, living or working in the Tyneside area (Gateshead, Newcastle, North and South Tyneside). Counselling is currently offered from Newcastle and South Shields.

Is the service confidential?
Your sessions are confidential, however, there are some exceptions, for example, if we are concerned about your safety and wellbeing or about a child being at risk of harm. This will be discussed further when you attend an assessment session.

All TRCC counsellors discuss their case-load anonymously with their external supervisors and in peer supervision sessions.


Supportline
0191 232 9858
If you telephone TRCC you may get a recorded message which will tell you when the lines are staffed. You can then ring back and speak to someone. Alternatively you can leave a message and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Specialist Information Service / Library
The centre can provide specialist information about a range of issues related to women and sexual violence (such as common reactions to rape and sexual abuse and self harm issues). The centre acts as a local information service – signposting callers to other appropriate services if we are unable to help.


Back to Top
| Home


About Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre

Download our general information leaflet

Who we are
We are all women with training and experience in counselling and supporting women who have been sexually assaulted. We are a voluntary organisation which has been providing a service since 1978, and is independent from the Police and Social Services.

TRCC offers free counselling, support, and information to women over 16 in Tyneside who have been raped, sexually abuse, sexually harassed or sexually assaulted either by a stranger or someone they know, including a member of the family.

Our understanding of sexual assault on women is that the woman is never to blame and that sexual violence is not justifiable under any circumstances.

We work within a woman-centred approach, recognising that each woman’s individual perception and feelings around her experience are different and support her at her own pace to enable her to draw on her own inner resources for healing and recovery. The counsellors at TRCC are fully qualified.

If this has happened to You
The rape or abuse may have happened recently or a long time ago, or may still be happening. You may be thinking about what has happened, you may be having nightmares, flashbacks, experiencing difficulties in relationships, feeling depressed or guilty, generally just feeling bad about yourself.

All women do not react in the same way to being raped or abused, but you may have many painful and confusing feeling, and may urgently need practical information.

Whatever you are feeling, you are not crazy and you are not alone. You are, in your own way, surviving what has happened to turn to, whether you want information, or to talk to another woman about anything at all, then we are here for you. We offer a confidential service (with exceptions around child protection issues or if you wish to harm yourself or someone else).

If you telephone TRCC you may get an answer phone message which will tell you when the telephone lines are staffed and you can then ring back and speak directly to a counsellor over the phone. Otherwise, you can leave a message (just your name and a contact number or address is fine) and we will contact you as soon as we can.


Back to Top
| Home


What we Offer

Face to face counselling by appointment
Telephone Supportline
Specialist information about relevant issues
Details of local groups and agencies who may be able to offer advice, help and additional support
Help in accessing information regarding the Police, court and medical procedures and in accessing support regarding the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
We can talk to non-abusing partners or other supporters but only with the woman’s prior consent

 

How to make contact with TRCC


If You Arrange a Counselling Session at TRCC
Our premises are in the centre of Newcastle. On arriving for an appointment you will be shown into our reception area and offered tea or coffee before being able to talk to a counsellor in an individual counselling room. This session will last about an hour and is an opportunity for you to share anything you need to, whether it is feelings, thoughts, memories or questions. There will be no pressure put on you to talk about anything you do not feel ready to talk about.

Face to face counselling and support will be on a regular basis (usually weekly) depending on your needs and counsellor availability. You may prefer to arrange telephone support with one of our counsellors.

After a Session
After coming for a counselling / support session, you may find that talking has brought back further difficult memories or powerful feelings. This is natural as you start to uncover and work through what has happened. You may find it useful to allow yourself some private space and time afterwards or may want to ask for support / understanding from others around the times that you come for sessions. It is important that you choose what works for you.

Back to Top | Home