Searching for Counselling For Abused People

• Offers free and quick-access single session counselling to children, youth and adults, couples and families on a first come-first served basis
• Services are provided through both a walk-in clinic which requires booked appointments and a talk-in clinic three days per week
• Walk-in clinic is provided in partnership with Children's Centre Thunder Bay

Free and quick-access counselling can support various issues:

• Abuse
• Family Conflict
• Parent/child conflict
• Child Behaviour/School Problems
• Depression and Anxiety
• Grief and Loss
• Suicide
• Separation and Divorce
• Sexual Abuse or Assault
• Stress

• Provides support services to Indigenous women and their families who are struggling with mental health issues
• Aims to help improve Indigenous health and reduce family violence

Services offered include:

• Access to elders and healers
• Addictions
• Aftercare support
• Land-based therapy
• Mental health
• Traditional counselling
• Referrals to other programs or agencies
• Sharing/healing circles

Emergency room care

Provides diagnostic and treatment services for individuals who have acute life-threatening injuries or severe illnesses

Psychiatric Emergency Services
Provides psychiatric assessments by a team of nurse managers, psychiatrists and residents


Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program

• Provides initial emergency care only with the patient's informed consent
• Provides follow-up services accessible through the Victim Treatment Centre (VTC) follow up nurse

• Provides individualized 24 hour emergency service to victims and survivors of sexual assault and/or domestic violence
• Provides emergency medical assessment and treatment
• Provides initial emotional and social support as well as ongoing follow-up care by specially trained nurses

Provides initial emergency care only with the patient's informed consent, and may include all or part of the following:

• Assessment and treatment of injuries
• Testing/treatment/prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV
• Emergency contraceptives
• Reassurance and emotional support
• Collection of forensic evidence including photographs
• Risk assessment and safety planning
• Referral for medical follow-up
• Referral to appropriate social services agencies
• Referral to shelter and or other relevant community resources
• Police involvement, at victims request
• Storage of forensic evidence for up to six months if the patient is uncertain about involving the authorities

Provides optional follow-up services accessible through the Sexual Assault/ Domestic Violence Victim Treatment Centre (SA/DVTC) that may include:

• Reassessment of injuries
• Further consideration of safety
• Continuing treatment and monitoring of STIs (including Hepatitis and HIV)
• Further photographs if indicated
• Appropriate referrals

• Provides legal advice and assistance to residents within the District of Thunder Bay, particularly Indigenous people who, because of poverty, geographic isolation, or language differences, do not have access to traditional existing legal services
• Focuses on helping people get income maintenance benefits and maintain access to housing
• Provides services at no cost to individuals who meet eligibility criteria
• Provides advice, assistance, and representation in courts or tribunals
• Facilitates legal education workshops in appropriate areas of law

Note: No advice or representation is given regarding Family law or Criminal Law. No legal advice is given through Facebook due to confidentiality issues (call clinic directly)

Functions as a specific police unit responding to and investigating crimes of domestic violence

Supports reduction and prevention of family and community violence

• Provides victim service referrals and emergency support for family violence
• Works one-on-one with families experiencing family violence to develop a plan of action for identified concerns
• Provides referrals to counselling, legal services, and treatment centres
• Offers Indigenous culture-based healing, self-help processes for anger management, and positive self-image development; alternative discipline methods and positive relationships
• Organizes and facilitates community events in schools, powwows, and health fairs to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevention of family violence
• Hosts monthly programs, workshops, promotions, and prevention education campaigns dealing with family-based violence awareness

• ​Assists Indigenous women and their families who have experienced family violence
• Promotes a healthy lifestyle, health awareness, and mental health wellness

Services offered include:

• Cultural supports and ceremonies
• Emergency support
• Land-based activities
• Prevention of family violence
• Referrals to other services
• Safety planning
• Traditional healing

Provides support to individuals experiencing issues such as:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Grief
• Recent or previous trauma

• Provides support services to Indigenous women and their families who are experiencing violence and are involved in the child welfare system
• Works to meet the needs of women involved with both the Child Welfare Systems (CAS) and Violence Against Women Sectors (VAW)

Aims to create a safe and supportive means of living through collaboration with other community services and the provision of culturally based services including:

• Advocacy support
• Crisis management
• Cultural and traditional supports such as holistic teachings, sharing circles, ceremonies and guidance from Elders
• Information and education provision for mothers on their rights and responsibilities
• Systems navigation
• Work with families and Children's Aid Society (CAS) to resolve conflict

• Offers counselling services to children and youth, both individually and with family
• Provides case management and advocacy if needed

Beneficial for children and youth experiencing significant issues related to:

• Anxiety
• Attention deficit issues
• Depression
• Family conflict
• Identity issues
• Mood swings
• Peer issues
• Self-esteem issues
• Self harm
• Suicidal thoughts

Provides, in partnership with Thunder Bay Counselling, immediate, single sessions of counselling to children, youth, adults, couples, parents and families, via phone, video or in-person sessions

• Assists individuals to deal with a variety of personal issues

Deals with various issues including the following:

• Abuse
• Child Behaviour/School Problems
• Depression and Anxiety
• Family Conflict
• Grief and Loss
• Parent/Child Conflict
• Relationship Issues
• Problematic Substance Use
• Stress
• Suicide

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+)

Provides assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, including:

• home safety
• accommodation
• meals
• transportation
• basic necessities
• dependent care costs
• counselling
• traditional Indigenous health services
• cellular phones
• vision care
• dental care
• aids for victims with disabilities
• interpretation services
• crime scene cleanup
• government/medical documents
• funeral expenses

Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes:

• storage locker
• tattoo removal
• treatment at a recovery facility

Note: No direct reimbursement to victims for above supports

Financial support also available for:

• victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime
• parents of child homicide victims
• spouses of homicide victims

Provides in-person and online professional, confidential services to individuals, couples and families to help them make positive changes in their lives

Programs include:

• Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Addiction and Mental Health
• Financial Counselling
• Children and Youth
• Education and Training Workshops

Also offers Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) for workplace wellness support

Lead agency of Support Services Network for Male Survivors in Ontario (North Region); may offer e-counselling for Male Survivors

• Provides a safe and confidential virtual group for children, adolescents and their mothers who have been exposed to woman abuse in their homes
• Provides an opportunity to share and talk about their experiences
• Teaches children and adolescents that abuse is not okay and not their fault
• Supports mothers in understanding how violence has impacted their children and how to best help them through the healing process

Topics include:

• Boundaries
• Coping
• Families' experience of violence
• Feelings
• Grief, loss, and change
• Mindfulness
• Safety planning

• Provides counselling and support services to men who have experienced sexual abuse or sexual assault
• Offered specifically for men to regain a sense of control over their lives by developing positive coping skills
• Provides counselling for family members of male survivors

Member agency of Support Services Network for Male Survivors in Ontario (North Region)

Law students, under the direct supervision of licensed lawyers, provide free legal advice and representation to low income earners who cannot afford to pay for legal services

Provides services in the following areas:

• Minor criminal offences such as common assault, theft under $5000, and mischief to property under $5000
• Provincial and traffic offences such as trespass to property, careless driving, speeding tickets, driving with no insurance, and driving under suspended licence
• Small Claims Court and Civil disputes under $35,000
• Tenant rights and applications to the Landlord and Tenant Board
• Simple wills and Powers of Attorney
• Employment law
• Applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

Beginning September 2021, free immigration and refugee law services will be offered