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For Adults

Counseling

Services provided by VOICe are both supportive and educative in nature. They are available on an individual basis (either through our hotline or in person) and in group settings. The goal of all counseling services offered by VOICe is to empower survivors toward the recognition of their own abilities; to return to them a sense of control over their lives and to reaffirm their personal dignity.

In person, individual counseling most often occurs at one of the agency's but can be arranged at any location that is mutually agreeable to both the survivor and the Agency. Care has been taken to establish in-office counseling areas that assure both accessibility and confidentiality.

At the present time, VOICe facilitates support groups for survivors in Butler, Cranberry and in-Shelter. The support groups are, by philosophy, open groups. This allows survivors the opportunity to enter and exit the group experience based on their individual needs. The support groups are facilitated by agency staff and co-facilitated by staff and/or volunteers.

All of the counseling services described are fluid in nature. Although some survivors choose to utilize only one (1) aspect (hotline, in-person or group), many more choose to use these services in conjunction with one another.

Other counseling/advocacy services are also available through VOICe. These include:

Survivor Accompaniment

All survivors served by the agency are made aware of our accompaniment services. Trained staff and/or volunteers are available to accompany survivors to hearings, appointments or to any agency which enables the survivor to achieve the goals of their service plan.

Advocacy

VOICe has an extremely active victim advocacy component. The agency advocates for survivors with such agencies and institutions as hospitals, welfare services, housing, criminal justice/court agencies, mental health services and legal services.

Information and Referral

This is an on-going service of the Agency and acts as a cornerstone for all other services. By providing survivors with information on domestic violence, sexual assault and other crime, options available and existing services, increases their sense of power while decreasing their sense of isolation and helplessness.