Primary counselling  (eye-to-eye meetings and 24 hour helpline)
The purpose of this service is to hear out the victims and offer them emotional support, assess the safety risks and put together the primary action plan to defuse the situation, inform the victims (client from now on) of their rights and of further help available to them, as well as agree on following actions and further appointments with the support centre staff if necessary.

The specialists would provide the primary counselling additionally to the eye-to-eye meetings via phone and e-mail. Client can remain anonymous if they so wish.

Distinct customer data of a client would be forwarded by the support centre to the other bodies only with the client’s consent and within the agreed limits. Primary counselling is provided around the clock.

Case-based counselling

The purpose of this service is the women to understand their situation and available options as well as making a decision to break the circle of violence, to acknowledge necessary steps and step-by-step enforcement.

The service includes meeting the women (and her children when necessary) who have experienced or have lived in danger of violence, establishing trust relationship, hearing out and providing emotional support, empowering women and children.

During a case-based counselling session the support centre worker (counsellor) would identify the client’s specific needs, provide information about her legal rights and services provided by the support centre, as well as help available outside the support centre. The counsellor assesses safety risks together with the client, builds a safety plan and a plan of action. The plan of action emanates from the client’s expectations.

As an example the plan of action can include applying for subsidies, turning to court for financial assistance, to divorce, divide common property, arrange custody and visiting rights, communication with the police and prosecutor’s office to open a criminal case and apply for a restraining order. The plan of action can include the making of family’s budget, finding new accommodation and employment, applying for nursery and school places for the children, communicating with child protection and social workers according to the client’s needs.

The counsellor would discuss runningly the enforcement of the plan of action with the client and would annotate or make amendments where necessary.

Case-based counselling would be carried out in separate counselling rooms on agreed times.
The client can remain anonymous during the counselling session. Distinct customer data would be forwarded to the other bodies only with the client’s consent and within the agreed limits.

Case-based counselling would be carried out by the support centre workers who have received special training to work with the victims of violence against women.