Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse - Calgary

I reached out to CCASA after many years of silence around many unfortunate events. I was never taught how to control my anger at home properly and the first time I was molested was by an anger management therapist. Now when I finally reach out so many years later for help and support I am disgusted, absolutely disgusted with the way that I am being treated like a pariah because I lashed out at two abusers over 10 years ago. I emailed last week after my phone call with CCASA which I found to be a awful phone call and who at that time expressed that they would not help me because I had been violent to two abusers in the past - yeah I get it I understand your policy - but your policy has a lot of flaws and is garbage - if this is your policy keep it simple and just tell people simply FROM THE START we will not help you if you have shown violence in the past; because we are small minded and even if you were violent so many years ago - well we just won't help you. Please don't keep people on the phone for an hour afterwards only to tell them the same thing - and then again repeat it in phone messages that are judgmental and unnecessary - Instead of re-iterating in the phone message we will not help you; you naughty girl because you were violent - simply stated you could have said - we cannot help you at this time - please instead look at this or this organization. - Judging people who have stood up to violence in the past with violence because that’s all they knew at that time shows a complete lack of understanding of actual victims. I personally think its disturbing that I've been raped 8 times - 7 of them in Canada by 8 different people. I would think that CCASA would want to help and not hinder people who are trying to come forward and move on - but instead you judge them harshly for past actions and speak on the phone to grown up women like they are 5 years old. I feel gross talking with the people of this institution. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO A VICTIM AND I WOULD NEVER EVER RECOMMEND CCASA TO ANY VICTIMS I KNEW - NO WONDER WOMEN IN CANADA ESPECIALLY WOMEN OF COLOR OF WHOM MANY OF THEM DO COME FROM VIOLENT HOUSES WHERE THATS ALL THEY LEARN, DO NOT COME FORWARD - INTERSECTIONAL FEMINISM IS INTEGRAL AS ARE OPEN ATTITUDES TO HELPING VICTIMS - PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELVES - especially if your motto claims to move forward in regard to impacting attitudes around sexual violence. PS - WHEN I SENT AN EMAIL LAST WEEK STATING THAT I HAD FOUND MY PHONE INTERVIEW TO BE UNSETTLING - I NEVER EVEN RECEIVED AN EMAIL BACK. SHOWS LACK OF CARE OR CONCERN FOR VICTIMS.

I found the telephone support vital. I live in a small community and help is not readily available. They would talk me through panic attacks and help wherever they could. I rely on them quite a bit. Today I am having a jewellrry sale where one hundred percent of the proceeds are going to support their phone line. I could make up to 500$ today for my favorite charity. They have helped me so much. Fame to the caring, supportive people who are there at the end of the line. My attacks occured June 17 and 24th and I was made aware of this line by the social worker at the foothills when I was there recovering. Thats when I started to call casa....my rectum was still torn and i suffered a lot of pain. These attacks were life changing. I am not the same person I used to be. I am in a process of rebuilding after the violence. I have panic attacks. I cant sleep or eat much. But I can hold certain foods down. So I get to eat a lot of ice cream....lol. Thank you to all the counsellors who make this bearable just by doing a great job. I cant thank you enough.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I have been a victim of sexual assault and sexual abuse and openly have spoken out against these subjects and shared what I have gone through. For the negative reviews, I will counter with these comments: 1. I was able to attend women's groups to help me with what I went through and was helped tremendously. 2. The cost for groups was very low and negotiated because of finances. 3. This organization will not fit everyone's needs. I read that Muslims should avoid this place at all costs. Why? Women are women and need help. If there was an issue, then it was with the counsellor and not CCASA. 4. I would phone the 24-hour number and get support. 5. There is no other organizations in Calgary that work with post-sexual abuse adult victims, both female and male. That is why my ranking is 5/5 stars.

I have a really wonderful counselor there who unlike many of the reviews are saying isn't homophobic, is really supportive, and creates a wonderful environment to be in. They are wonderful in accepting religious views. She (my counselor) listening to my every word and offers me tea or water before the session begins and halfway through. The front is a nice area with candy and a pride flag stationed on the desk. The waiting room has a view of downtown and has a plant and water tower. There are four or three chairs on each side.

I'll update my review after having my first appointment but I wanted to let people know this place has been very compassionate and caring each time I've called. The ladies on the phone have been thorough and very kind, assessing my needs and getting me the help I desperately need. Yes the wait list is long but this is no fault of the clinic, there are simply that many people needing help. So far I've found that the phone calls I've had with CASA have been more helpful than any other free counselling services I've attended in the Calgary area. I am looking forward to having my first appointment and getting my life back! Thanks CASA Update: Every appt at Casa I felt respected. My counselor was warm and inviting. She taught me many tricks to help cope. She helped me understand what was happening to me. And better yet, we did this without me having to recount my trauma or explain what happened to me, at Casa they are trained to care for specific needs of those who have experienced trauma and they dont feel it always necessary to tell the story in detail. I had about 12 sessions and finished off amazingly. Its been about 2 years since this and I'm actually going back next week (march2020) for more counseling as it's important to refresh those skills and maintain the confidence in those skills and truthfully, life has got difficult again. I'm looking forward to meeting my new counselor, she sounded nice on the phone. I have tried countless therapies over the last 20 years and Casa is by far the best. Wish they weren't located downtown though.

There was a time when I thought differently. A time when the past haunted me. But then things took a turn. I sought out to to cure my Trauma. Through a woman named Kari White my life took a real inward turn. Kari taught me how to put the pieces together. The pieces of my broken heart that were so jagged and rough I did not know how, they could ever fit back together. I want to back up and tell you how I came to meet Kari White. I had, had enough of my life not working out. I was done and in 2010 I became suicidal over my abuse and how it haunted me so. Now suicide was always an “ACE in my back pocket”, all my life. My out if things got to too bad. I knew I was slipping when the flash back’s started up again, when that happens I often in my younger years would turn to drugs as that would numb my body just enough I could function. But as an adult more drugs was not an answer. So I had planned how, when and where. Then I told myself I would try to find the answers again but this time my “ACE”was ready. I immediately went home and looked up and found an article that stated women who suffered childhood sexual abuse were more likely to have the following: Low self esteem Be Drug Addicts Work in the Sex Trade Make $30,000 annually I was so upset. I contacted the author of that article and questioned fiercely about it. Gently that person gave me information that lead me to CASA and there I met my counsellor Kari. Now I had already done a-lot of self help & healing through books but for some reason there were gaps in my theory. CASA for me is a place where you can fill those gaps in. I work on my healing at home and when I get to a point where I am stuck or uncover something that is unfamiliar to me, I have been able to call and get help. CASA has taken me from feelings of being suicidal and nothing to lose to I have the tools to manage my PTSD and if I get stuck, I know there is a safe space for me at CASA. CASA has helped me learn where, when and how to manage my PTSD. Once I thought “I could be cured and if I could not cure myself I would end it all” but now I understand that management is the key. So I am moving up to maintenance and management. Through the knowledge of Kari White and the knowing that CASA is there if I get stuck again. Going forward I will attend grief counselling, do self care and who knows the possibilities are endless. Thank you for CASA and Kari White, both saved my life.

I received counseling from CCASA when I was preparing for trial. I was not too keen on getting counseling, however, I am very thankful I did. The councilors I worked with were amazing, they got to know me over time, they listened, cared, and helped me. CCASA provides a safe, comfortable, and friendly environment. CCASA doesn't only provide you with phenomenal counseling they have other resources for everyone. I also had the benefit of working with their PACES program. I am very thankful for them as they went above and beyond for me while preparing and going to trial. They were knowledgeable and kept me calm and balanced during the court process. I truly love CCASA & the PACES program, I can not recommend them enough for people looking to get help. Thank you CCASA for helping me heal and providing me with non-stopping outstanding support.

My CCASA counselor disclosed some of what I had shared in a counseling session to an employment agency I was seeking support from at the time. This happened years ago but I'm still feeling wounded and traumatized today from this blatant disregard of trust and privacy. I wish I could turn back time to avoid seeking "help" from this agency. It really hurts and has severely impacted my ability to trust counselors and therapists.