Laurel House Sexual Assault Support

We are covering North and North West of Tasmania.

We have offices in Launceston, Devonport and Burnie.

Our counsellors provide face-to-face outreach services across North, NorthWest, the East Coast and the West Coast

What is counselling at Laurel House?

Counselling provides a safe space for you to be heard.

Counselling is a therapeutic conversation that aims to explore the effects of sexual assault.

Your counsellor will assist you to develop a plan which will outline the issues that you wish to work on to meet your goals. These goals will be reviewed by both yourself and your counsellor and may be added to or changed as you progress through your therapeutic journey.

There is no expectation that you will discuss the details of the sexual assault and abuse that you have experienced, it is your choice. The most important thing is that the counselling needs to be useful to you. If this is not the case, we strongly encourage you to let your counsellor know. We are here to help.

Confidentiality

Laurel House takes confidentiality very seriously. At your first session, your counsellor will explain in detail your rights to confidentiality, and the legal obligations of the service.

Confidentiality does have its limitations and counsellors are mandated to report:

  • harm to yourself or another person
  • child abuse or neglect

Your Information

Laurel House staff will ask you for your personal details. Notes will be kept throughout your counselling and you have the right to see them upon request. We are required to keep statistical information for our funding body, the Department of Communities, however no identifying information will be passed on, only numerical data.

You may request to have a copy of your file.

Safety

Laurel House clients and staff are entitled to a comfortable, safe environment that is free from any form of abuse or violence. Laurel House staff reserve the right to withdraw/refuse service to any individual at any time for any reason including, but not limited to:

  • Clients who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Clients who are known to be carrying weapons
  • Clients who disclose that they are perpetrating against others

Wherever possible, Laurel House will work with you to refer to you another, more appropriate service.

24/7 Support Service

Our 24-hour service can provide immediate support to individuals have been recently raped or sexually assaulted by calling 1800 MY SUPPORT (1800 697 877).

The response staff can provide support in a number of ways, including:

  • Attending the hospital with the survivor should they wish to undergo forensic or medical examination
  • Attending the police station with the survivor should they wish to make a formal police statement
  • Informing survivors of their rights and options in relation to police and medical services
  • Assisting survivors to connect with the Laurel House day counselling service should they wish to undertake ongoing counselling

The after-hours service is limited to immediate situations only and is not intended to be utilised for general counselling and support.

Counsellors at Laurel House

Our counsellors use a range of trauma informed practices and techniques and tailor these to meet your needs.

Visit Blue Knot to find out more about what it means to be trauma informed
www.blueknot.org.au

Laurel House services include immediate support and counselling which are offered in house, via outreach, phone, video conference and / or chat.

These services will cover long-, medium- and short-term intervention.

What therapies do we use at Laurel House?

People recover in different ways.

Just as there are no right or wrong reactions to trauma, there is no one way to heal. Our counsellors will work with you to find an approach that feels right for you.

You may find strategies that are helpful from many different therapies. Here are just a few we might draw from at Laurel House:

Art Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Narrative Therapy

Person-Centred Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Three-phased trauma recovery

 

Other Community Support Services

  • Sexual Assault Support Services
  • Family Violence Services
  • Mental Health Support Services:
  • Child Related Services
  • Cultural Support Services
  • LGBTIQ+ Support Services
  • Safe Shelter
  • Disability Support
  • Legal Support
  • Other Services