My Sister's Place Counseling Center
Until recently, only women who came to stay at a battered women's shelter could avail themselves of the many services, including counseling, that are available to domestic violence victims. My Sister's Place Counseling Center, located at a confidential location, is a unique effort which seeks to give domestic violence survivors a "one-stop shop" for non-residential services. Counselors provide supportive listening, advocacy and education to women who are still in, trying to get out, or have just left abusive relationships.
The main focus is to provide FREE counseling, in both English and Spanish, in a confidential and safe environment, including:
Support Groups:
My Sister's Place Counseling Center offers a variety of support groups for
women and children.
Survivors of domestic violence learn, talk, and listen
in a safe environment with other women who share similar experiences.
Children and adolescent groups focus on enhancing self esteem,
peer social skills, understanding domestic violence, making sense
of the trauma, and appropriate ways to express feelings. Individual Counseling:
Survivors can get individualized attention
and counseling to help them address post-traumatic stress issues
which can arise from being in an abusive relationship as well
as ways they can ensure that they do not repeat the pattern over
again in their own lives. Individual therapy is available for
children as well, with the mothers permission. Case Management:
Each woman is offered the opportunity to receive help
with the particular needs presented by her situation. Case management
involves helping women with such concrete needs as job training,
finding a job, finding adequate child care, advocating for services
from other providers, applying for public assistance, etc. Case
management on behalf of children involves advocating with the
mother on behalf of the children by contacting teachers or school
guidance counselors to alert the school to the emotional needs
of the child as well as to help ensure the child is performing
up to his or her ability. Referrals:
Staff members discuss each woman's options and help to link
her to such services as the Domestic Violence Hotline, shelter
placements, medical services, Victim Compensation Services, job
training, housing referrals, and other services as needed. Emergency Support:
If women and their children are in need of basic necessities
such as food and clothing, the SOS Center finds ways to be sure
their needs are met through direct financial assistance, in-kind
donations, or referrals. Financial Assistance:
Funds are available for emergency short-term needs
such as changing the locks at a woman's residence, partial payment
of a security deposit for the purposes of relocation, telephone
service, food, medication, transportation costs for victims to
receive services, or emergency transportation costs that enable
victims to participate in the judicial process, support groups
and individual counseling for domestic violence victims. Counselors
also conduct direct outreach at the Domestic Violence Intake Center
at D.C. Superior Court at least twice a week. All My Sister's Place Counseling Center services
are provided free of charge.
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