SAIP is the Sexual Abuse Intervention Program (formerly known as VISAC) for children and youth 18 and under who have experienced sexual abuse. SAIP is one of the Trauma Counselling programs at Family Services of Greater Vancouver.
Our free services are client-centered, so every step is based on what each person needs.
We offer:
- 1-on-1 counselling
- parent and caregiver support
- group counselling
- family sessions
- coordinating referrals to other resources
- community education
The SAIP team is a compassionate group of registered clinical counsellors and art therapists.
We firmly believe that therapy should be done with you, not to you.
About SAIP
We offer the highest quality of care, long-term and for free. Other counselling programs often have a limit to the number of sessions they can offer – we don’t. In SAIP, clients:
- work with their counsellors to determine how long they’ll meet (often this is for 12-18 months)
- get to set the pace
- don’t have to talk about anything they don’t want to
Together, we might explore:
- establishing a sense of safety
- identifying and acknowledging emotions
- boundaries
- confidence and connection
- communication and conflict resolution skills
- healing and strengths
- self-esteem
- self-care
- peer relationships
Take the First Step Today
SAIP is for children and youth ages 18 and under who have experienced sexual abuse. We serve people of all genders and sexualities. Our space is inclusive and your safety is of utmost importance.
Youth Self-Referral
For youth 13-18 years old, you can submit your own SAIP referral.
If you are under the age of 13 years old, please ask your parent or caregiver to help you get in touch with us.
Parent/Caregiver Referral
For parents/caregivers, you can submit a referral for children and youth up to the age of 18.
Community Referral
For social workers, teachers, or others working with a child or youth, please recommend our services to the youth (over 13) or family/caregiver of the child so that they can contact us.
You may complete a Professional Referral Form if you have consent from the family or youth. Please note that this is does not fulfill the duty to report.
A SAIP Story
There’s More to Mae’s Story
Story from an FSGV Employee
I was caught off guard when my counsellor first asked me if I thought I would have benefitted from any of the programs that Family Services of Greater Vancouver offers. This job had always felt really personal. Of course when I talked about work, I had always mentioned that I love getting to be part of an organization that’s really doing something for people. But before that, I had never thought about what these supports might have done for me…READ MORE
You are NOT Alone
“I was able to build trust and open up about things I haven’t told anyone.”
– SAIP Client
“I feel more aware of and more connected to myself.”
– SAIP Client
“I am so happy with the person I am becoming because of my work with you.”
– SAIP Client
FAQ
SAIP is a free counselling program for children and youth ages 18 and under who have experienced sexual abuse.
We serve people of all genders and sexualities. Our space is inclusive and your safety is of utmost importance.
Sometimes.
We often have a waitlist of a few months. You can get in touch with us with the contact information in the Take the First Step section to find out whether there is currently a waitlist.
If there is a waitlist, we encourage you to go ahead and register and to seek other resources in the meantime.
First of all, counselling sessions are FREE.
Second, you didn’t get to choose what happened to you (and it wasn’t your fault), but here you do get to choose.
Your sessions won’t look like anyone else’s because they are yours.
Together we can try
- play therapy
- art therapy
- different types of talk therapies
Sessions are confidential. The only reason we’d have to tell anyone what we talk about is if there’s a safety risk.
That’s totally okay!
Our goal is to help you feel safe, supported, comfortable with the process.
If you’re new, ask us questions!
There are no tests for getting into our program and there’s nothing you need to know how to do before starting.
That depends on you.
We might set goals together, ones that you get to pick. These could include:
- setting boundaries
- building relationships
- communicating wants and needs
We’ll talk about what’s going on in your life, the kinds of things you want to do in the future, what makes you feel happy, and more.
If you’re the child’s parent or caregiver, you can complete a Parent Referral Form or get in touch with us using the information above.
If you are a social worker, teacher, or someone else working with the child, you can only recommend our free services to the family (or complete a Referral Form for Professionals with the family’s consent). For more information, you can get in touch with us. Please note that this is does not fulfill the duty to report.
If you are ages 13-18, you can complete a Youth Referral Form, or call or email us. Your family doesn’t have to be involved.
Yes, if you are 13-18 years old.
You can call or email us yourself.
Your family doesn’t have to be involved.