Counselling and other Services for Women
On this page:
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.
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.
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) or in Northumberland.
Counselling is currently offered from Newcastle, South Shields and several bases in Northumberland.
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.
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.
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 abused, 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 feelings, 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 you. 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.
Face to face counselling by appointment
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
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.
