Searching for Counselling For Abused People

Supports, accompanies and advocates for the autonomy of all Francophone women who have experienced, are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing gender-based violence.

Offers a range of services, including:

• Fem'aide, 24-hour crisis line
• Individual counseling
• Support groups
• Referral to community agencies and services
• Accompaniment to appointments and various meetings
• Public education and awareness campaigns

• Provides full credit counselling services including assistance with spending plans and budgeting
• Helps establish debt management and repayment plans
• Provides tips on credit and borrowing, rights and responsibilities, and bankruptcy information
• Offers a financial coaching program
• Conducts financial literacy training
• Business restructuring

• Offers mental health and general adult counselling, psychotherapy and other treatment services related to mental health issues
• Offers identification and assessment of signs and symptoms of mental health problems
• Provides individual, couples, family or group support
• Counselling provided for a variety of issues including strategies to cope with mental illness, relationships, substance use/abuse, managing stress, parenting challenges, grief/loss, self-esteem and coping strategies
• Provides collaboration and consultation with other service providers
• Offers the Back on Track program (Ontario's remedial measures for impaired drivers)

• Provides a range of mental health services for infants, children, youth and their families
• Provides initial intake, assessment, consultation, treatment and referral to appropriate mental health services if needed

• Early identification, intervention and treatment services for children younger than 6 years of age
• Psychological assessments for children and youth experiencing a range of emotional, psychological or behavioural difficulties
• Counselling as needed including single therapy sessions, walk-in services or on-going regular treatment sessions
• Psychiatric consultation by videoconference (Tele-Mental Health) when required
• Crisis follow-up services
• Intensive treatment services, offered either as home-based or within schools, for children and youth with moderate to severe social, emotional or behavioural difficulties
• Day camps for youth unable to participate in other camps due to behavioural difficulties

• Alternatives for Youth
• Genesis Day Treatment
• New Northern Mentality Youth Group
• Rebound North
• Resources & Integration for Survivor Empowerment (RISE)
• Student Nutrition

Information and assistance to support participation in and understanding of the criminal court process. Services begin once police have laid charges and continue until the court case is over. Services include:

• information about victims' rights, the criminal justice process and their specific case (e.g., court dates)
• needs assessment and referrals to community agencies, including Indigenous and other culturally specific agencies
• crisis intervention, trauma-informed support, victim advocacy
• facilitates victim's input and liaises with Crown Attorneys, police, regarding bail, safety, resolution of charges, release conditions, publication bans, testimonial aids, trial preparation and court orientation
• arranges for interpreters and accessibility accommodations
• information and support on Victim Impact Statements, Statement on Restitution
• facilitates access to court orders, such as bail conditions, probation orders, peace bonds
• debriefing and follow-up support

Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund (VVFF) -- Helps support victims of crime, including families of homicide victims and motor vehicle fatalities resulting in criminal charges, participate more fully in the criminal court process by providing financial assistance and court-based supports for:

• travel to attend key court dates
• language interpretation services
• special accommodations for victims with disabilities, such as real-time captioning
• necessities for victims of human trafficking or gun and gang violence while attending court

• Agency referrals
• Christmas assistance including toys and clothes
• Volunteer opportunities

• Provides lunch and coffee for free or by donation
• Mon, Wed, Fri Light Breakfast and Lunch served

• Recycles and sells second hand clothing, small appliances, furniture and housewares in order to subsidize Salvation Army Programs

• Offers a counselling and treatment program for adults with mental health concerns
• Provides individualized treatment based on a person's goals
• Offers both one-on-one and group treatment

• Intense feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness or helplessness
• Feelings of having lost touch with reality
• Overwhelming fears
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Bipolar/Mood disorders
• Postpartum depression
• Schizophrenia

• Provides free legal advice and assistance to low income earners
• Offers representation in a court or at a tribunal, such as the Social Benefits Tribunal or the Landlord and Tenant Board
• Assists with preparing documents, such as an application to the Landlord and Tenant Board

Services are offered in the following areas:

• Consumer and Credit/Debt issues
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Employment standards (ESA)
• Old Age Security (OAS)
• Health and disability
• Housing law for tenants
• Human rights
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works (OW)
• Wills and Power of Attorney (POA)
• Completing forms or advocating for seniors

Note: No representation is given regarding Family Law, Criminal Law, Immigration or Refugee Law

• Provides education on how to end violence in Indigenous communities
• Teaches about the effects of drug and alcohol abuse

• Encourages youth to remain in school and provides support for obtaining high school diploma
• Offers homework assistance and time at the Centre to complete homework with access to computers and Internet

• Provides individual counselling for areas that youth may be struggling with such as socialization and peer pressure
• Offers Native craft classes and regalia making sessions
• Teaches Native dancing, singing and drumming
• Allows the youth to participate in Elder's Circles

• Holds individual and group educational sessions on healthy lifestyle choices including good nutrition and traditional food preparation
• Supervises non competitive recreational activities

• Accompanies any youth registered in agency programs to court proceedings if requested

• Provides cultural education and support for youth living in foster homes within community

• Provides community-based culturally appropriate services to Urban Indigenous elderly, frail, physically disabled, or chronically ill individuals
• Provides transportation to medical appointments
• Offers friendly visiting
• Offers advocacy support between individual and other agencies and organizations
• Organizes outings, activities, education, programming and socialization for clients

• Operates a four-bedroom, transitional housing unit for women leaving the Shelter who have limited income or have incurred difficulties in finding places to rent
• Included in the rent are heat, hydro, laundry facilities, basic cable and phone
• Offers access to the same programs and services as all the clients have while staying at the Women's Shelter

Offers individual, family and group counselling for the following issues, including but not limited to:

• Anger management
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Grief
• Intergenerational trauma
• Parent/child relationship issues
• Self-esteem
• Stress management
• Suicidal ideation
• Traditional counselling

• Provides advocacy and support to women who have been victims of emotional, physical, sexual, verbal, and/or financial abuse
• Offers individual and group counselling

• Community lectures
• Creating Connections
• PAR (Partner Assault Response) program for men
• Partner contact (PAR component for women)

• Provides advocacy and support to women survivors who have experienced sexual abuse and/or assault
• Offers individual and group counselling services to victims of assault
• Promotes healing and wellness in survivors

Offers support services and short-term counselling to help survivors deal with the impact of abuse and to develop improved coping strategies

Partner agency of Support Services for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse - North Region

Acts as a satellite office, providing community based counselling services by appointment only to individuals in Blind River

Offers the following programs:

• Addiction and Gambling Services for youth, adults and seniors
• Female Sexual Abuse/Sexual Assault Program
• General Counselling Program
• Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse
• Partner Assault Response Program
• Violence Against Women Support Services

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the electoral district of Sault Ste Marie-Algoma

• Acts as the elected representative to the Federal government
• Assists individuals with applying for federal benefits
• Assists individuals and groups with federal advocacy concerns such as complaints about access to service
• Arranges for congratulatory certificates signed by the Prime Minister, Governor General, or the King for people celebrating birthdays of 65 years and older and anniversaries for 25 years and up

*Elliot Lake Office

• Promotes awareness and education on the issue of impaired driving
• Supports victims of impaired driving
• Coordinates annual campaigns such as Project Red Ribbon and Campaign 911

Operates an emergency shelter for abused women and their children

• Provides a 24-hour crisis line
• Offers short-term support counselling and transitional housing
• Provides advocacy and referrals to appropriate community supports and resources
• Provides outreach services such as understanding options in making life choices and offering assistance in accessing housing, legal and other community services

Also provides the following programs and services:

• Larry's Place Fresh Start Shelter for Men
• Something More Lawrence House (second-stage housing)

Operates an emergency men's shelter

• Offers a seven-bed home for displaced men and their children
• Includes a garage, two common rooms, a full kitchen and private backyard
• Provides access to the programs/services (such as advocacy and counselling) offered through the Women's Shelter
• Provides a warm, clean, and safe environment for those who are homeless
• Offers support through life skills programming including:
  • cooking, budgeting, shopping
  • tax return completion
  • vaccine education
  • cleaning and healthy communication
  • housing advocacy
  • developmental support services
  • social system navigation
  • medical appointment and transportation
  • connection with AA support groups
  • referrals to counselling and mental health support
  • resume building and employment support
  • addressing food insecurities

Includes the following programs:

Mental Wellness Counselling (including same-day)

• Wide variety of counselling services and education workshops
• Individual client-centered counselling, family and group therapy

Crisis Counselling (available in-person on specific days in each FN, and virtually Mon-Fri)

• One-on-one single session counselling
• No appointment needed
• The ability to speak with a counsellor in the same day
• Culturally safe, holistic, trauma informed, client centered, solution focused brief therapy model
• Referrals to on-going counselling

Minobimaadizing Addiction Withdrawal Clinic

• Provides treatment for Opioid Replacement Therapy (suboxone, methadone)
• Also treat other substance use disorders including marijuana, alcohol and stimulants.
• Immediate treatment options are available
• No appointment necessary, walk-ins are welcomed.

Ontario Structured Psychotherapy

• Self-referral through neosp.ca
• At Maamwesying the OSP program aims to create an approach that respects and embraces Indigenous ways of knowing

• Prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) births through educational workshops and resources
• Increase the knowledge, skills and quality of life of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) affected children and families
• Collaborates with existing community and agency partners to provide support to women and their families to have a healthy pregnancy
• Increase the awareness of the impact of nutrition on children's health, and to increase the access to healthy food
• Coordinates assessments for children and adults
• Offers case management and referrals to other supports

• Works to develop and deliver a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) curriculum
• Provides education through FASD resources and material
• Offers advocacy and sponsorship to students attending the FASD Certificate Program
• Evaluates the FASD Certificate Program

• Advocacy for families attending the Health Sciences North FASD Diagnostic Clinic as well as support for the Clinic
• Networking with FASD groups on a regional, provincial and national level

• Supports students attending area schools including Sagamok Anishnawbek Beedaaban School, Blind River, Cutler, Spanish and Espanola
• Coordinates bus transportation arrangements

• Provides tuition sponsorship, student activity fees and one-time lock fee for students attending high school outside of community
• Provides academic assistance to high school students which may include counselling, homework club, providing references, and/or classroom management

• Determines funding eligibility and provides financial assistance to post-secondary students
• Provides advocacy and liaison services, counselling and other support services throughout the school year
• Provides assistance with admissions criteria and applying/filling out application forms for colleges and universities
• Recommends education policy amendments as necessary to meet student needs

Street outreach, housing assistance, referrals to shelter system and respite, and ID clinic for individuals who are homeless, living on the street or street involved

Housing Walk-in Services

• assistance in accessing permanent housing
• individual plan development and intense ongoing advocacy
• assists with obtaining social assistance
• accompaniment to appointments including social assistance, housing, health care, legal consultation
• landlords recruitment
• rent negotiations assistance
• arranges long term supports for tenants and landlords
• Housing Connections (see separate entry) Community Partner -- assistance with housing search and application process

Street Respite Services

• accessible through central intake 416-338-4766, 1-877-338-3398
• 24 hour drop-in with access to showers and snacks
• laundry facilities
• capacity 8

Walk-in Homeless Shelter Referral Service

• phone available to walk-in clients for self referral to shelter system

For assaulted women's shelter referral, contact Assaulted Women's Helpline 416-863-0511 (see separate entry)

Provincial telephone and online (chat) crisis counselling, emotional support, information and referrals to emergency shelters, legal information and community services, as well as culturally appropriate resources for women who have experienced abuse

• liaison with diverse communities
• confidential and anonymous

Toronto only: initial assessment and intake for assaulted women's shelters, call 416-863-0511 or toll free 1-866-863-0511