At Avalon Sexual Assault Centre we as advocates, counsellors, educators, health practitioners and activists, are committed to providing a leadership role in the community by developing our practice around the following guiding principles:
- We believe that we can be free from sexualized violence and abuse by promoting equality and changing social norms. Therefore, we are committed to working with our colleagues, clients and community using a feminist lens to invoke healing and change.
- We believe that healing is a process. Therefore, we offer a variety of program options that reflect different needs and layers of recovery work to promote healing.
- We believe in using a flexible, collaborative approach that supports the inherent right to self-determination. As such, we support clients by being non-judgmental, providing information about their options and affirming their decisions.
- We are committed to a practice approach that empowers those impacted by sexualized violence and holds perpetrators responsible for crimes committed.
- We are committed to improving access for individuals who have been affected by sexualized violence.
- We are committed to a leadership role advocating for justice.
- We are committed to working with community partners on a local, provincial and national level to improve social policy and create social change.
- We strive to foster an environment that supports team care and resiliency to vicarious traumatization and that provides professional growth and learning opportunities for Avalon team members, students and volunteers.
- We strive to be flexible and accountable by developing policies, procedures and programs that are in keeping with our mission statement, principles and resources.
- We support leadership and employment opportunities for women.
We acknowledge that sexualized violence profoundly affects individuals, families and our community. We ask every member of our community to support us in assisting those who have been sexually victimized to heal from the injuries of such crimes. We challenge all people to help raise awareness surrounding sexualized violence and to create a world promoting individual freedom, safety, and empowerment.
Our specialized therapeutic counselling at the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre is available to women and trans* individuals, 16 and older, who have experienced a recent or historical sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment. We also provide individual information sessions to the non-offending parents of children who have disclosed sexual abuse and to supportive partners of clients accessing our services. Individuals who have experienced recent sexual assault are prioritized for quicker access to counselling sessions.
Our specialized sexual abuse/assault counselling supports individuals in addressing current life impacts stemming from relational trauma in such areas as: safety, trust, control, self-identity, intimacy and sexuality. We also support people in understanding and linking together the broader impacts and challenges related to societal sexism and other forms of oppression. We follow a collaborative and empowering, resource-based model that recognizes each individual’s personal knowledge, skills, values and wisdom. We also strive to acknowledge each person’s unique life experiences and priorities.
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
1526 Dresden Row, Suite 401
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 3K3
Phone: 902-422-4240
Fax: 902-422-4628
Email us: info@avaloncentre.ca