New therapy program coming for sexual assault survivors

A new provincewide trauma therapy program for sexual assault survivors in Nova Scotia will launch in spring 2023, more than doubling the number of provincially funded sexual violence trauma therapists.

The Avalon Sexual Assault Centre will deliver the new therapy program, which will be funded annually by the provincial government at the cost of $2.8 million.

The province is hiring 13 more trauma therapists to staff the program, bringing the total number of specially trained therapists in Nova Scotia to 24.

Brian Comer, minister of Addictions and Mental Health, said Nova Scotians dealing with sexual assault trauma need the best therapy the province can offer.

“The Avalon Sexual Assault Centre has decades of experience in this field," said Comer in a news release.

The provincial government currently provides funding to seven community organizations to deliver trauma therapy to sexual assault survivors.

Officials said that method has created gaps in care, as funding and services offered have varied from organization to organization, resulting in lack of access for some people, including people with disabilities, LGBTQ community, men, African Nova Scotians and Indigenous survivors.

Sarah Rodimon, executive director of Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, said the new program will increase access to trauma-specific and culturally responsible sexual violence trauma therapy.

“We are particularly dedicated to alleviating barriers for rural communities, Indigenous communities, African Nova Scotians, and men and men-identified individuals,” said Rodimon.

The centre plans to work with community organizations who are already offering trauma services.