Tullamore Rape Crisis Centre

Additional Service Information

Referral Process

• Self-referral
• GP referral
• Other healthcare/socialcare provider
• Referral with parental consent for under 18's

Service Description

We aim to help and support anyone over the age of 14 who who has experienced sexual violence of any kind. This may have been recently, some years ago or in childhood.

Working with survivors of rape/sexual/violent abuse requires great empathy and understanding….key to the approach is non judgment. It is important that the person who is suffering feels this gentle, non judgmental approach and that the counsellor is patient and takes things very slowly. Constant reassurance is both necessary and nourishing for the victim with words of encouragement. The approach at Rape Crisis Centre is always client lead with a great awareness of sensitivity and compassion. Building a safe and trusting relationship in the counselling setting is the key to a successful outcome, hence person-centered therapy is the approach which allows the individual to be themselves, a place where there is no judgement, no criticism, only empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regards and in turn help the person to identify their inner resources which will help facilitate change in the person’s life.

CBT is also very useful in working with survivors of rape/sexual violence/child sexual abuse as it helps victims come to terms with what has happened by clarifying dysfunctional and unhelpful thoughts about what they may have experienced. This approach helps the victim to deal with the reality of what happened to them and not to blame themselves. The trauma of abuse needs to be acknowledged and focus on body sensations can help with this. Awareness of where tension is held in the body, focus on the tension, flesh it out, befriend it and name it. Otherwise, such pain can remain unresolved and often lead to panic and anxiety which prolongs the recovery. Breath work, breathing techniques is also helpful in this regard.
For counselling to be effective when working in the area of S.V, it is very important that the person presenting to counselling recognizes their own strengths and abilities that allows them to come to a place where they can manage their experience and move forward with their lives.
Training in Psychoanalysis and Holistic psychotherapy enables the counsellor to work in a way that is responsive to the uniqueness of the individual. This encompasses the conscious/ unconscious realms, nuances in language and aligning the mind, body, and spirit. Anxiety, flashbacks, and trust issues are common in survivors of rape/sexual assault, violence.
Counselling can be long-term or short term for the individual. This depends on their coping style. The individual can be instrumental or intuitive in how they work through their issues. Counselling in this field criteria is about meeting the client where they are at and the desired outcome is to minimise the distress felt by the individual.
Self care is a key factor and doing psychoeducation and developing coping tools and strategies is essential for the individual to recognise that they can empower themselves in raising their awareness in ways that will best meet their needs in moving forward with their lives.

List of Services Available

Tullamore Centre: Monday – Friday 9am-5pm
Portlaoise Outreach: Tuesday and Thursday .Clients are offered face to face counselling or online support if more suitable.
Phoneline counselling Monday – Friday 10am-5pm

Wheelchair Access

The Tullamore Centre is not wheelchair accessible but we have the use of a suitable premises if needed.

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