TRAUMA COUNSELLING

The Trauma Counselling programs at Family Services of Greater Vancouver offer free, client-led counselling to child, youth, and adult survivors of trauma, sexual abuse, and family and intimate partner violence.

WHAT WE DO

Trauma Counselling encompasses a collection of highly specialized programs based on age and client experiences. Each centers safety, choice, and connection while supporting healing to restore people’s sense of autonomy, self, and power. Through individual and group counselling, counsellors work collaboratively with clients on themes such as:

  • Connecting with and understanding emotions 
  • Building care plans and support networks 
  • Attachment and (strengthening) healthy relationships 
  • Interrupting cycles of abuse 
  • Impacts of trauma 
  • Coping skills 
  • Developing a sense of safety 
  • Reclaiming a sense of agency 
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clients served Counselling and Victim Support Services
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hours of support offered to each client over three years in the Healthy Connections program

Children as young as three all the way through seniors of all ages come to the Trauma Counselling programs. The approach counsellors take is individualized, age-appropriate, and trauma-informed. There’s talk therapy, of course, but the counsellors also use play, art, and somatic therapy, and other research-backed modalities to meet people, of all ages, where they’re at.  

The impact? Well, here’s a collection of how people describe their experiences with FSGV:

I really felt impacted by the benefits of longer-term counseling to support my daughter. She developed some tools and awareness about herself and the understanding that you can seek out support for problems. It was a program my daughter looked forward to attending every week.

— Client Parent, Trauma Counselling

I got so much from this program and would recommend it to anyone affected by violence in their lives. This kind of long-term care is actually what helps people. This program has helped me heal and grow and I now feel like I’m working more on thriving and not just surviving.

— Client, Trauma Counselling

This experience has strengthened my sense of self, the validity of my needs and boundaries and my self esteem. I have much to practice still to improve and get stronger but I couldn’t have done this without the kind of support my counsellor provided.

— Client, Trauma Counselling

Find Help

For information on our Trauma Counselling programs and how to join, visit the Find Help section of our website.