MG
I came to the clinic by referral from my doctors, who advised me that I qualify
for this program because I had been sexually assaulted. I had reservations
because a few years ago I had been referred to a group program in downtown
Toronto which turned out to be a really bad experience. The program was run
very rigidly, and I found myself extracted from participating because I couldn’t
attend a specified time frame for an appointment due to a conflict with my work.
In the end I was treated like a number to fill a seat without any human
compassion for my individual needs and I was simply removed and told I could
be placed on another waiting list.
When I came to this clinic last year I was intimidated by that bad experience. I
told this to my counsellor, Tamara, who immediately put my mind at ease and
reassured me that it would not happen to me with this program. We started the
sessions, at first, I was so drained after each session that I simply ended up going
to sleep for the remainder of those days. So, we adjusted the frequency of the
sessions to give me time to recover my energies.
At first it felt like I was talking a lot and not really knowing where I was going
with it all, but it just felt good to talk about things that were happening in real
time. Tamara offered invaluable insights into my situations as they were fairly
complex – from family issues like my brother who lived in his car, and another
one who was homeless for a decade; personal issues with my difficult marriage
and the terrible effects on my four now grownup children; professional issues
with selfish co-workers at one job and a controlling sexual relationship at my
other; and my kids’ friendship issues dealing with best friends committing
suicide, being shot and killed and the list goes on. All these situations affected
me greatly and I was overwhelmed and not able to function well within my
various roles.
I remember hearing my counsellor say that it’s a good thing that I didn’t have
any addictions because I would be very unwell given all this on top of my
childhood trauma. This was very sobering.
At the end of my cycle through this program, I believe I have a deeper, clearer
understanding of myself and why I freeze in certain situations and succumb to
other peoples’ desires of me. This knowledge helps me lay down my fears and
assert myself more directly in these difficult situations. While I have much more
work to do in changing my life, I have hope for a better tomorrow.
Thank you, Tamara, you are an angel walking amongst us with your healing
touch!
- MG (Name hidden to protect individual’s identity)
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre Client (SADVCC)
for this program because I had been sexually assaulted. I had reservations
because a few years ago I had been referred to a group program in downtown
Toronto which turned out to be a really bad experience. The program was run
very rigidly, and I found myself extracted from participating because I couldn’t
attend a specified time frame for an appointment due to a conflict with my work.
In the end I was treated like a number to fill a seat without any human
compassion for my individual needs and I was simply removed and told I could
be placed on another waiting list.
When I came to this clinic last year I was intimidated by that bad experience. I
told this to my counsellor, Tamara, who immediately put my mind at ease and
reassured me that it would not happen to me with this program. We started the
sessions, at first, I was so drained after each session that I simply ended up going
to sleep for the remainder of those days. So, we adjusted the frequency of the
sessions to give me time to recover my energies.
At first it felt like I was talking a lot and not really knowing where I was going
with it all, but it just felt good to talk about things that were happening in real
time. Tamara offered invaluable insights into my situations as they were fairly
complex – from family issues like my brother who lived in his car, and another
one who was homeless for a decade; personal issues with my difficult marriage
and the terrible effects on my four now grownup children; professional issues
with selfish co-workers at one job and a controlling sexual relationship at my
other; and my kids’ friendship issues dealing with best friends committing
suicide, being shot and killed and the list goes on. All these situations affected
me greatly and I was overwhelmed and not able to function well within my
various roles.
I remember hearing my counsellor say that it’s a good thing that I didn’t have
any addictions because I would be very unwell given all this on top of my
childhood trauma. This was very sobering.
At the end of my cycle through this program, I believe I have a deeper, clearer
understanding of myself and why I freeze in certain situations and succumb to
other peoples’ desires of me. This knowledge helps me lay down my fears and
assert myself more directly in these difficult situations. While I have much more
work to do in changing my life, I have hope for a better tomorrow.
Thank you, Tamara, you are an angel walking amongst us with your healing
touch!
- MG (Name hidden to protect individual’s identity)
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre Client (SADVCC)
