With our integrated approach, LvA goes beyond addressing our clients’ legal needs to ensure that their psychological, emotional and mental health needs are met too.
Psychosocial Support
With our integrated approach, LvA goes beyond addressing our clients’ legal needs to ensure that their psychological, emotional and mental needs are met too. Through ongoing counselling, therapy, court preparation and debriefing, LvA’s therapists support our clients’ healing processes and seek to minimize the secondary trauma experienced during the criminal justice process. LvA also aims to strengthen our clients’ external support systems through education on trauma and supportive tools and techniques.
Our Impact
Our Services
Therapy & Counselling
Through trauma counselling, narrative therapy and drama therapy, LvA’s therapists support our clients’ emotional, psychological and mental healing journeys. Depending on the unique needs of each client, a therapist will provide ongoing counselling or therapy sessions on an individual basis or in a group setting.
We have found drama therapeutic techniques are extremely effective when working with victims of trauma as drama therapy allows an individual to engage in symbolic play for the purpose of restoring interpersonal trust and rebuilding healthy self-esteem. This, in turn, facilitates the internalisation of safety that allows clients to build emotional capacity and resilience.
Court Preparation & Debriefing
The often-adversarial courtroom environment can result in a client experiencing severe stress, anxiety and even further trauma in connection with a criminal trial. Under LvA’s integrated services model, therapists work alongside attorneys to prepare clients emotionally before each trial hearing and to facilitate debriefing afterwards.
Before each hearing, the therapist will explore the fears, anxiety or inner conflict the client may be experiencing and give practical information about how to cope with going to court. This may include topics like the roles of the various state actors, the client’s rights at court and breathing techniques. Then, after each hearing, the therapist will spend time with the client reflecting on the experience and unpacking the feelings that have emerged.
Caregivers Workshop: Providing Support to Children who have Experienced Trauma
When engaging with the caregivers of children who have experienced sexual violence, LvA observes several commonalities; namely, feelings of guilt, shame, fear and their personal inadequacies around their ability to support their child.
As part of LvA’s holistic approach, we facilitate educational workshops for caregivers and other family members. Through these workshops, LvA seeks to educate caregivers on trauma and the impact of trauma on their child, as well as to equip them with practical skills to support their child.
