Sexual Trauma Counselling Services

About

START (Sexual Trauma & Abuse Restorative Therapies) is a service provided by Community First for residents living in Central, North and West Hampshire (the districts of Basingstoke & Deane, Hart, Rushmoor, Test Valley and Winchester). The service offer is:

Children and Young People under 18 - trained counsellors will support children and young people in schools/colleges or at their Winchester venue. 6-12 counselling sessions on a weekly basis lasting 50 minutes.

Men - START is an approved Male Survivor Partnership provider - confidential one-to-one counselling sessions at one of their venues, with the option of joining pre-counselling psycho-educational group sessions (this will be reviewed at initial assessment stage). Men can also access the monthly STEPS peer support groups. If an immediate crisis response is needed – there is a dedicated male helpline but for 24 hrs response the National Helpline 0808800 5005 should be contacted instead.

Women - confidential one-to-one counselling sessions at one of their venues, with the option of joining pre-counselling psycho-educational group sessions (this will be reviewed at initial assessment stage). Women can also access the monthly STEPS peer support groups. Where an immediate crisis response is needed there is a dedicated female helpline which will take messages out of office hours, but for 24 hrs response, contact Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre (Rape Crisis South London) 0808 802 9999.

Residential Programme - the Lotus programme offers an alternative to traditional weekly counselling for those who have experienced and survived Childhood Sexual Abuse. The Lotus programme brings together individual counselling, group-work and specialist workshops under the umbrella of an intensive, interactive and integrated programme of residential therapeutic support.

Self-help - START staff can signpost clients to other sources of support to aid self-help and recovery.

There can be a waiting list to access support from START. Referral forms for self-referral or referral by a professional are availble on the web-site. Counselling can also be offered virtually.

About START

START is a new sexual trauma service, operating across Central, West and North Hampshire taking over some of the rape crisis counselling services that operated previously. The core service offered by START is a confidential, specialist counselling and support service for anyone who has experienced sexual abuse and/or sexual assault, resulting in sexual trauma. In addition to START offers Peer Support Groups in locations across the county and therapeutic residential week-ends, focused on enabling clients to better manage the impact of their trauma. Friends of START advisory panels which help START to improve their services and organise fundraising events.

Good to know

User Cost/Charge Information
There is no charge for residents living in eligible postcode areas of Hampshire. There is a charge for other Hampshire residents living outside of the eligble postcode area - please enquire.