The biggest part of our service is the provision of counselling and therapy for survivors of sexual violence and abuse. The traumatic experience of sexual abuse, sexual harassment and rape is borne by many in our community in silence. Through counselling and therapy, GRCC offers social support to survivors and helps them to examine their feelings around the abuse they have experienced and how they are coping with their present lives.

Your counsellor/therapist is not there to judge you or tell you what she thinks you should do. You are the expert on your life and what is right for you. Your counsellor is there to listen, believe and support you and to respect the choices you make. Your counsellor/therapist will be able to offer you information about some medical and legal issues and the reporting process. Your counsellor/therapist will be able to help you to explore the choices you have, however, whatever decisions you make is completely up to you.

If you are interested in trying therapy/counselling, call the helpline at 1800 355 355

Many people feel they have a difficulty speaking with a close friend or relative. It is often very useful to speak with someone who is not personally involved. You may be able express the worries or concerns that you have to a counsellor, worries and concerns that you do not wish others to know. Often it is only when we talk to someone unconnected with our lives that we begin to hear what we are really saying and feeling. Counselling offers you this opportunity.

Yes, we have an adolescent clinic which offers counselling to children and adolescents aged from 14 years. The counselling staff in our adolescent clinic are experienced in working with this age group.

Learning that someone you care for has experienced sexual violence can be a shock and may leave a supporter feeling helpless. We offer up to three counselling sessions to anyone who is supporting a survivor of sexual violence and support is also available on our Helpline which is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm (number).

Counselling will help you understand that what you are experiencing is in fact a normal reaction to an abnormal event. This does not in any way minimise the range and intensity of feelings you are experiencing, but affirms their normality in the context of what has happened to you.

The counselling process can be beneficial in supporting a person to process what has happened in a safe way and integrate that experience into your day to day life, in time.

You may in fact find in the course of counselling that you begin to develop positive aspects of yourself that have been dormant or under-developed.

All our therapists/counsellors are fully trained psychotherapists with additional specialist training in the area of sexual violence.

Galway Rape Crisis Centre counselling service is available to all men, women and adolescents over 14 years of age who has experienced Rape, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault and Child Sexual Abuse in County Galway and its environs.

The first session is primarily an initial assessment. This offers you the to explore, with a member of our team, what your expectations are from counselling. In addition, you will get an opportunity to hear about the services that Galway Rape Crisis Centre provides. Some background information will be discussed and the necessary paperwork completed.

The number of counselling sessions varies from person to person. Initially, the client will be offered up to a total of six sessions. At the end of the sixth session it will be decided between the counsellor and the client how many additional sessions may be needed. Usually your counsellor will see you either weekly or fortnightly, depending on your needs and availability of the counsellor. Each counselling session will last for approximately 50 minutes.

There is a waiting list generally and the waiting time can vary. You will be advised what the current waiting times are when you first contact the centre. We endeavour to meet with you as soon as possible after you contact the Centre for the initial assessment process (generally within one week where possible).

Services in Galway Rape Crisis Centre are funded by the HSE and by donations from the public. This means that there is no charge to you. However, many clients do make a donation to the Centre for sessions. Donations can be made…….

An appointment can be made by contacting Galway Rape Crisis Centre on :1800 355 355

You may also contact the centre directly on 091 564 800

After a recent assault or rape it is vital to have a medical check up to screen for any possible sexual transmitted infections including HIV.

You may wish to take the morning after pill (MAP) to exclude a possible pregnancy after rape.

There may be bruising, and/or other injuries external or internal that will need immediate medical attention.

The Galway SATU unit (Sexual Assault Treatment Unit) will provide all of the above.

Forensic Examinations are conducted at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit which is located at….. There is more information on SATU here…

Galway Rape Crisis Centre regards client confidentiality as a priority in all of its work with the people who access our services for their many different needs i.e. information, support, accompaniment or counselling.

However, issues regarding child protection or the safety of individual clients may arise where there is a legal requirement to report information to a child protection agency or the justice system. The limits to confidentiality will be discussed with you when you contact the centre and at any time you can speak with your counsellor when counselling begins about the limits to confidentiality.

In relation to very recent cases of sexual assault or rape:

• If you have experienced a recent assault or rape, GRCC advise to attend the Galway Sexual Assault Treatment Unit or SATU unit which you can access via any Galway gardai station. This unit provides integrated services looking after medical needs, as well as the gathering of forensic evidence. Regarding reporting the incident to Gardai it will be up to you at a later stage to decide whether or not you wish to go ahead with the statement, but the recommendation is to make it anyway at first, and to collect forensic evidence, in case you do want to go ahead later. There will be a specially trained GRCC volunteer present at the SATU to offer emotional support as well as information and advocacy services.
• If you are reporting a recent assault, do not shower or wash, but contact gardai immediately and ask to be taken to the SATU unit. Take a change of clothing including coat and shoes as the Gardai may keep the clothes you were wearing to gather forensic evidence. You can shower and change at the unit.
• Do not take any alcohol or drugs, but if you have done so before the recent assault this should not prevent you from reporting.
• If reporting an assault/rape – report as soon as possible. There is no time limit, but valuable forensic evidence is lost quite quickly.

After the initial stage of proceedings at the SATU Unit as well as in relation to any other cases of sexual violence or abuse other than those very recent:

• If you do decide to approach the Gardai, GRCC can arrange for them to come to the Centre to take your statement or to have an informal chat about the process before you make the full statement.  GRCC can also arrange for a specially trained support person to accompany you if you wish.  You can ask as many questions as you like and take as may breaks as you need.  If English is not your first language, or if you are not comfortable speaking to the Gardai in English, you can ask for an interpreter to be present when you are giving your statement.

A Statement is a legal document, and it should set out the incident in full detail.  It is important to tell the Gardai all the details of the crime when you are making a satatement.  Sometimes, the Gardai will take a short statement initially and then return to take one of greater detail when you have had some time to recover.  You have the right to request a copy of your statement from the investigating Garda or the local Superintendent.

• You can bring someone you feel comfortable with when you are making your statement. However if they are present during the taking of your statement their details need to be included and they may be called as a witness, for this reason the Gardai may ask that you not be accompanied during the actual taking of the statement, except by an independent GRCC support person. 
• Make a note of the names of any Gardai or detectives you have significant contact with from the time you first report.
• You have the right to speak to a female Garda.
•  If reporting an incident of child sexual abuse, or of sexual assault/rape that happened some time ago, it is of advantage to have as many witnesses as possible who can testify to strengthen your case.
• The Gardai will ask you questions but they should only be relevant to your case.
• You will be asked to make a written statement; this means a detailed description of the events before, during and after the attack. Make sure you read your statement carefully and change it if necessary, before you sign it. You are entitled to, and should request, a copy. If you remember other details at a later stage, you can make a supplementary statement.
• If the alleged perpetrator is identifiable the Gardai may interview the person soon after you make your statement.
• If the identity of the perpetrator is unknown to you and the Gardai arrest a suspect you may be asked to look at photographs or attend an identity parade, or go with the Gardai to try to identify the person who assaulted you.
• If you feel you are not being treated well by the Gardai at any stage of proceedings, you can insist on seeing the duty officer or you can make a formal complaint.

Galway Rape Crisis Centre has a free legal clinic which you can avail of some initial advice. Some points which may be helpful to know are –

When the Gardai have completed the investigation, they will prepare a file (containing all the evidence gathered and a recommendation as to whether to prosecute) which will be sent to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions). 

A useful Guide to the Legal Process for Survivors of Sexual Violence, that you can refer to throughout this process is available HERE.  It is lengthy, so read it over time.

• The DPP’s office will decide whether there is enough evidence to take the case to court. Try to remember this decision is not based on whether they believe you or not, it is whether they believe the case can be proven ‘beyond reasonable doubt’. You have a right of appeal against a decision not to prosecute and if you so request a different lawyer will review the decision in the case.  You have the right to request the DPP to give the reasons for the decision and also, a review of, the decision not to prosecute.
• If your case goes ahead, the DPP make a decision as to what the charge will be and which court it will be held in (district, circuit, or central criminal).
• The Gardai have a duty to keep you informed of the progress of your case and you have the right to contact your Liaison Garda/Investigating Garda at any stage.  If a prosecution takes place, it may be many months before it comes to court.
• If the assailant pleads ‘not guilty’ you may be required to appear in court as a witness for the State. Your identity will be protected during and after the case unless you specifically decide to go public. The defendant’s identity will not be protected, unless that by revealing their identity the identity of the victim becomes apparent (e.g. A case of incest). When the matter comes before the court such cases are heard “In camera/otherwise than in public” meaning that only persons directly concerned with the case will be in the court room.
• You are entitled to advice from your own lawyer and indeed representation by your own barrister (in limited circumstances), see the Legal Aid Board Leaflet No.14 “Civil Legal Aid for Complainants in Rape and Certain Sexual Assault Cases”.
• You are entitled to, and indeed it is advisable to, meet the prosecution team before the trial.
•  You are entitled to have present in the court with you your family/supporters and GRCC can arrange a support person for you too.
• If the perpetrator is found guilty you will be entitled to submit a victim impact statement and or speak in person as to the effect on you of this offence before sentencing. Rape Crisis Centres assist you in preparing such Victim Impact Statements or VIS’s for their clients.
• You are entitled to be kept informed of any pending release from custody of the perpetrator who offended against you.
• You may have a civil case against the perpetrator and it is important to seek early legal advice about this as there are time limits within which such a case can be brought.

The legal journey can be difficult at times, and it may be slow, and it is a time to avail of as much support as you can, which GRCC amongst other agencies can provide. 

We ask all clients to contact the centre to make an appointment. This is mainly to ensure that there is someone available to speak with you. If you are on our waiting list we do offer drop-in sessions on an appointment basis, if and when the need arises.

Our service is an equal opportunities service and therefore we provide sign language interpreters to enable you to avail of our service.

It can be challenging to find interpreters to work with other nationalities but we endeavour to provide counselling services to any person who contacts us. Please get in touch with us and we will explore the possibilities of providing you with a counselling space with the assistance of an interpreter.

Yes, our Centre is accessible.

Yes, we have counsellors who have experience working in the area of learning disability.