Women’s Counselling
Women’s counselling program provides individual counselling services for women who are victims of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or have experienced any form of physical or sexual assault in their intimate relationships, or who are survivors of childhood abuse.
The victim may feel frightened, ashamed, or isolated. And if she has children, they may also be suffering, whether or not they witness the abuse. It’s important to remember that the victims are not to blame.
You are not alone. And help is available…
The Women’s Counselling program is accessible and welcoming to all women, alone or with children, residing in Columbia Valley communities including, Spillimacheen, Brisco, Edgewater, Village of Radium Hot Springs, Invermere, Wilmer, Panorama Mountain Village, Windermere, Fairmont Hot Springs, and Canal Flats.
All Women’s Counselling services are offered free of charge.
The services include:
- Short-term/crisis counselling
- Long-term individual counselling
Program Objective:
The main objective of Women’s Counselling services is to provide counselling, support and advocacy to women who are victims of interpersonal partner violence and help them regain their dignity, and a sense of safety and control in their lives.
Program Description:
The Women’s Counselling services at Family Dynamix help the women address trauma and combat the multiple stressors associated with intimate partner violence including grief, social isolation, and parenting issues.
At Family Dynamix, we believe that no one deserves to be abused and that there are alternatives to living with abuse.
What is Intimate Partner Violence?
According to the Ministry of Attorney General’s guidelines for police and crown prosecutors in the Violence Against Women in Relationships (VAWIR) Policy, “violence against women in relationships” is defined as physical or sexual assault, or the threat of physical or sexual assault against a current or former intimate partner whether or not they are legally married or living together at the time of the assault or threat.
The alternative terms used when referring to Intimate Partner Violence include “spousal violence”, “spousal abuse”, “spouse assault”, and “relationship violence”.
Violence in relationships can include intimidation and threats, as well as physical or sexual assault. The abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal, financial, or neglectful. Just because there are no physical injuries doesn’t mean the woman is not being abused.
An abuser uses threats and violence to gain power and control over his or her partner and to take away their self-worth. Victims may be married, common-law, dating, or in an intimate romantic relationship – past or present. The frequency and severity of violence can vary.
Examples of Abusive Behaviour:
- humiliating or degrading you in front of others
- isolating you or stopping you from leaving home, taking your phone
- yelling at you, insulting you, or calling you names
- controlling and limiting what you do, where you go, and who you see
- threatening to hurt you, your children, someone you know, or a pet
- breaking your things, damaging property
- controlling all the money in the household and not letting you have any
- threatening to have you deported
- following you or watching you wherever you are
- repeatedly phoning you
- forcing you into sexual activity that you don’t want
- shoving, slapping, choking, punching, or kicking you
Making a police report
Call 9-1-1 if your immediate safety is at risk, including your abuser breaching any court conditions. Otherwise, you can make a police report by calling the Columbia Valley detachment’s non-emergency line at 250-342-9292
Family Dynamix Women’s Counselling Services:
Family Dynamix is committed to supporting women who have been a victim of family violence, assault, or who are at risk of being abused. Women’s Counselling Program receives funding from the Ministry of Justice to serve the population of women and young girls who have experienced Interpersonal Partner Violence (IPV) or any type of family violence.
Our counselling service provides information to women to identify the types of abuse or violence that they may be experiencing and helps them explore and understand how they have been impacted by the violence.
How to access Women’s Counselling Services:
If you would like to talk to one of our caring counsellors about your situation or book a counselling session, please email, or call the phone numbers given below.
Email: info@fdx.family
East (Main) Office Hours – Monday to Thursday, 8.30 am to 4.30 pm
East (Main) Office Phone Number – (250) 342-5566
East (Main) Office Mobile Phone Number – (250) 688-7715
Family Dynamix 24/7 Crisis line: 1-800-200-3003
If you need to stay at a shelter our Women’s Information & Safe Homes Program is available where someone is on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call 1-800-200-3003.
RESOURCES:
- Family Dynamix, 24/7 Crisis line: 1-800-200-3003
- Stopping the Violence Counselling Program- Contact List
- VictimLinkBC is a toll-free, confidential, multilingual service available across B.C. and in up to 150 languages, including many North American Aboriginal languages. You can contact them by sending an email to VictimLinkBC@bc211.ca. It provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence, including victims of human trafficking exploited for labour or sexual services.
- 16 Steps for Discovery and Empowerment
- Honouring Resistance – How Women Resist Abuse in Intimate Relationships
- www.endingviolence.org