If you are a victim, witness, or immediate family member affected by crime in British Columbia, you may be able to apply for support through the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP). For approved claimants, CVAP may cover counselling and other supports connected to the impact of the crime.
I am an approved counselling provider under this program. When someone comes to counselling through CVAP, my role is to provide a steady, confidential place to process what happened, understand the impact, and begin rebuilding a sense of safety and control.
How crime can affect people
People respond to crime in different ways. Some feel anxious, angry, numb, watchful, ashamed, or disconnected from other people. Some notice sleep problems, physical tension, changes in appetite, difficulty concentrating, or a loss of trust in places or people that used to feel safe.
These responses do not mean something is wrong with you. They are common after experiences that overwhelm a person’s sense of safety. Counselling can help make those reactions more understandable and less isolating.
Counselling after crime or trauma
In counselling, I work at a pace that fits the person in front of me. Some clients need help stabilizing sleep, anxiety, panic, anger, or daily functioning. Others need help processing trauma, grief, fear, or the emotional impact of court, police involvement, or family disruption.
Depending on your needs, counselling may include trauma and injury counselling, EMDR, grounding strategies, emotional regulation, or support for related anxiety and depression.
Applying for CVAP
You do not always have to wait for charges to be laid or for an offender to be convicted before applying for CVAP benefits. The program has application forms for victims, immediate family members, and witnesses, and there are time limits for applying.
- Electronic Victim Application
- Electronic Immediate Family Member Application
- Electronic Witness Application
If you have CVAP approval or are in the process of applying, you can contact me to ask about counselling availability, fit, and next steps.