Leaving an abusive relationship is just the beginning. Trauma-informed counselling can help survivors of domestic violence in Ontario process their experience, rebuild their mental health, and move forward in safety and strength.

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Trauma-informed counselling is a type of therapy that:

• Recognizes how trauma affects the brain, body, and emotions

• Prioritizes safety, trust, and empowerment

• Respects each survivor’s pace and boundaries

• Avoids re-traumatization by creating a supportive, non-judgmental space

• Often includes emotional regulation, grounding techniques, and psychoeducation

It is especially helpful for survivors of intimate partner violence, childhood abuse, or coercive control.

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Trauma-informed counselling is recommended for:

• Women, children, and men recovering from domestic violence

• Survivors experiencing anxiety, flashbacks, or nightmares

• People struggling with self-blame, guilt, or depression

• Anyone who has trouble feeling safe or trusting others after abuse

• Parents whose children were exposed to violence

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You can access services through:

• Women’s shelters and sexual assault centres

• Community counselling agencies like YWCA, Family Services, or CMHA

• Ontario Health Teams and local public health units

• Culturally specific organizations for newcomers, Indigenous, or LGBTQ+ survivors

• Online therapy platforms (some are free or low-cost)

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Services may include:

• One-on-one counselling (in person, by phone, or online)

• Group therapy and peer support groups

• Short-term crisis counselling

• Long-term trauma therapy

• Children’s and youth counselling

• Art, music, or movement-based trauma healing options

Most services are free or subsidized for survivors of domestic or sexual violence.

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Often no referral is needed. You can:

• Self-refer by calling the agency directly

• Ask your doctor, shelter worker, or legal support for help connecting

• Use 211 Ontario to find programs in your area

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• ✅ Designed to help survivors process abuse in a safe, empowering way

• ✅ Available through shelters, health centres, and nonprofits

• ✅ Offers individual and group therapy, often for free

• ✅ No referral needed in most cases

• ✅ Specialized services exist for children, immigrants, and Indigenous survivors

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• Assaulted Women’s Helpline – 1-866-863-0511

• 211 Ontario – Call 2-1-1 or visit 211ontario.ca

• Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres – sexualassaultsupport.ca

• YWCA Ontario Locations – ywcacanada.ca

• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – cmha.ca

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Trauma-informed counselling means the therapist understands that your experiences of abuse can affect your brain, body, and emotions. They will create a safe, non-judgmental space, prioritize your sense of control and choice in the healing process, and focus on building your strengths and resilience rather than just focusing on the trauma itself.

The easiest way to find local services is to call 211 or visit 211ontario.ca. This is a free, confidential service that maintains a database of all community and social services in the province. You can tell them what you're looking for, and they will give you a list of agencies in your community.

No. For the vast majority of community-based and non-profit counselling services in Ontario, you can self-refer. This means you just need to call the agency directly to start the intake process.

Counselling services provided by non-profit organizations, such as women's shelters, sexual assault centres, and community health centres, are almost always free.

Waitlists can be a challenge. While you are waiting, you can access immediate support by calling a 24/7 crisis line like the Assaulted Women's Helpline (1-866-863-0511). You can also see if the agency you are waiting for offers drop-in crisis counselling or peer support groups that you can join sooner.

Financial abuse is a common tactic of control. All the services listed—from shelters to community agencies—understand this. Their services are designed to be free or offered on a "sliding scale" (based on your income) to ensure that your financial situation is never a barrier to getting the help you need and deserve.