Services > Counselling
Counselling
The Sexual Assault Centre Kingston seeks to support survivors in different stages of their trauma and healing journey. We offer individual counselling for those of all genders and identities 12+, who have experienced recent and/or historic sexual violence in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington. Our counsellors are experienced in trauma-informed care with a specialty in working with those who have experienced sexual violence. We also offer groups throughout the year, at no cost.
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Our team of counsellors consist of trained professionals (MSW, M.A Counselling, and SSW).
The Process
Intake
Intakes are currently being offered by phone and will typically be booked within 10 business days. If you do not have access to privacy or a phone to safely complete your intake, please contact our Intake Coordinator to make alternate arrangements.
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We aim to assist anyone who walks through our doors, with or without an appointment. However, please note that for walk-ins we may not be able to see you for an intake right away – depending on counsellors schedules. If this happens we will assist you in making an appointment and help you anyway we can.
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To set up an intake appointment, please contact:
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Intake Counsellor
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613-545-0762 ext 106
Our Program
Trauma Counselling Program
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We offer up to 12 sessions in our Trauma Counselling Program. The program is designed to be client-centred, so your sessions will focus on your own personal needs and goals. Counselling may include: learning about your trauma responses in the brain and body, developing coping skills to stabilize your trauma responses, unpacking and reflecting on your experiences to better understand and move through unhelpful patterns like shame or guilt, exploring challenging relationships with ourselves and others, and identifying the benefits of connection in your healing journey.
Modes of Counselling
Individual Counselling (In-Person)
We offer free, confidential and non-judgmental 1:1 counselling to ALL survivors of sexualized violence, regardless of gender and identity. Our counsellors work within a client-centered, trauma-informed framework, to provide compassionate support on your healing journey.
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We work with each individual clients using different counselling modalities and techniques such as, CBT, DBT, mindfulness and narrative therapy all within a feminist based practice, tailored to each individual. We believe you are your own expert and know that healing looks different for every survivor. We will work with you to address the counselling goals you identify as being most important.
E-Counselling (Distance Counselling)
We offer online counselling for those who wish to use that service. SAC Kingston uses OnCall Health to provide secure and convenient alternatives to in person sessions. If you think this would be a better fit for you, please contact your counsellor directly.
Group Counselling
Group counselling is a free service that SACK offers to clients and community members. Access to our groups will be offered to current clients of SAC Kingston first before being opened up to non-clients if there are remaining spots available. Typically, groups are done at the SACK location in person. This allows us to continue to meet the needs of our community members for group connections, while maintaining the safety, privacy, and confidentiality of our clients. Please refer to the descriptions below for information on which groups are currently being offered online.
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For more information about upcoming groups and registration, please contact our Clinical Team Lead:
Amy Simms
613-545-0762 ext 3x106
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Our centre may run the following groups throughout the year:
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Adult Survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse Group
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For: Adult survivors that wish to better understand the effects of childhood sexual abuse, examine dysfunctional family dynamics, as well as connect with other survivors in a safe, confidential environment. This is an intensive group and is recommended for survivors who have completed both the Skills and Support and Reflect and Connect program (or has prior experience in counselling).
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Length of group: ~8 weeks.
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About the group: This trauma-informed group helps survivors understand the impact childhood sexual abuse has had on their lives, explores the principles of healing, and offers guidance on how to begin moving towards a place of self-love and self-compassion.
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Managing Powerful Emotions (MPE)
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For: Survivors at any stage of their healing journey who are looking for ways to better tolerate and regulate their emotions.
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Length of group: ~12 weeks.
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About the group: This skills-based group is designed to help you identify and label your emotions, understand the purpose of your emotions, recognize what activates and intensifies your emotions and understand the relationship between emotions and behaviour.
Body Connections
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For: Survivors at any stage of their healing process looking for a group that empowers strong and resilient connections to their bodies after trauma, from a ‘health at every size’ perspective.
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Length of Group: ~6 weeks
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About the group: This group explores disconnection from our bodies after trauma, diet culture and societal expectations, radical acceptance, body love, shame, sex and intimacy, using food intuitively, self-compassion, self-esteem, body image, and re-writing our body relationship stories.
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Connections: Shame Resilience Group
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For: Those in a place of relative safety and stability and feel emotionally ready to begin exploring and unpacking the difficult topic of shame in a group setting.
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Length of group: ~12 weeks.
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About the group: This group is based on the work of Brené Brown and topics include defining shame, practicing empathy, exploring triggers and vulnerabilities, practicing critical awareness, reaching out to others and creating, embracing and inspiring change.
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Male Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
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For: Male identified survivors of childhood sexual violence. This is an intensive group and is recommended for survivors who have completed both the Skills and Support and Reflect and Connect program (or has prior experience in counselling).
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Length of group: ~8 weeks
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About the group: This trauma-informed group helps survivors understand the impact childhood sexual abuse has had on their lives, explores the principles of healing, and offers guidance on how to begin moving towards a place of self-love and self-compassion.
Mindfulness
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For: Survivors at any stage of their healing process looking to increase their skills around mindfulness.
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Length of Group: ~6 weeks
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About the group: Dialectical Behavioural Therapy skills-based group on how to create and maintain a peaceful mind. ​
Indigenous-Centric Healing
In this program we look at healing from trauma as a holistic and ongoing process. By shifting our perspective of healing to circular vs. linear we can begin to see that, just like the Medicine Wheel, we can sort our healing into quadrants or phases. Just as we pass through each season in a cycle we can begin to see that we also move through our healing in similar phases. This means that just because we are currently in winter does not mean that spring is never coming. Conversely we can also prepare for the transitions of fall to winter.
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Traditionally each season would bring a new activity:
Winter- sharing stories, resting, crafting, preparing for the year ahead
Spring - planting and growing
Summer - growing our crops, hunting, and fishing
Fall - harvesting, hunting, and preparing for winter
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This program includes one to one counselling services, connection to Elders and Knowledge Keepers at client request, group programming that weave Teachings with psycho-education, as well as advocacy and system navigation (justice system, child welfare, healthcare, etc.)
Services en Français
Nous offrons des services de soutien gratuits et confidentiels aux personnes ayant subi des actes de violence à caractère sexuel dans les comtés de Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox et Addington. Nous collaborons avec des partenaires communautaires pour favoriser le changement et prendre des mesures visant à faire cesser la violence sexuelle.
Youth Services
SAC Kingston offers specialised counselling services for youth aged 12-19 years. When accessing counselling for the first time, youth are prioritized for services and will be placed at the top of the waitlist for our Trauma Counselling Program.
To set up an intake appointment, please contact:
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Intake Counsellor
613-545-0762 ext. 106
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Community
SAC Kingston offers priority access to our Trauma Counselling Program for CAF members, the broader CAF community, and civilians that are employed by CAF or Department of National Defence (DND), who have been impacted by sexual violence. Everything you share with us remains entirely confidential to SAC Kingston.