Break The Silence operate a hybrid model, offering services remotely through; telephone counselling, asynchronous (email) counselling, video counselling and video EMDR through the NHS Near Me/Attend Anywhere platform and offering face to face in person support through outreach locations. We continue to work in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
In January 2024, Break The Silence were awarded service accreditation from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. BACP accreditation demonstrates that an organisation offers an ethical and professional counselling or psychotherapy service for clients, staff, volunteers and stakeholders.
Referrals can be made by telephone, email or through the online referral form here on our website.
Detailed below are the most commonly asked questions about our Support Services.
Break The Silence make a profound and positive difference in the lives of those affected by sexual trauma. We recognise that every individual is different: we will listen and work collaboratively with you at your own pace.
We facilitate positive change through healing to challenge the effects of sexual trauma and assist post-traumatic growth.
Offering a range of therapeutic choices, there is no cost to access our services. Funding is secured to cover the costs through local authority contracts, trusts and foundation grants/awards, fundraising activities and donations to the charity.
Our service is confidential and personal information is held securely and in accordance with Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) data protection regulations and clinical guidelines.
Clinical staff are professionally qualified Psychotherapists with either the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA), British Psychological Society (BPS), or British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP).
Break The Silence are organisational members of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) and are bound by the “Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions”.
PVG/Disclosure verification is carried out for all Break The Silence Staff and Volunteers.
Break the Silence welcomes people of all genders without prejudice and supports equality and diversity. However, we are unable to support people who have a charge, conviction or who have committed any sexual offence.
We’ve made accessing support as easy as possible.
Our service is available to people of all genders who have experienced childhood sexual trauma and who are resident in East or North Ayrshire.
In addition, for people who were abused or neglected as children while living in care in Scotland, we can provide support in partnership with Future Pathways
If you feel your life has been affected by childhood sexual trauma then you can contact us for support.
You can telephone us. You can refer yourself or a friend or family member (with their consent) for support, or you can use our online referral facility where you will be prompted to complete a short form. You can also write to us. Whichever communication method you choose, the Team at Break The Silence are trauma-informed and understand that the first step to accessing support is often the hardest. Be assured that when you contact us you will be treated with courtesy, dignity and respect and you will be believed.
Organisations can also make referrals on someone’s behalf with their consent, eg. GPs, Community Connector, Social Work, Mental Health Teams, and other statutory or third sector agencies.
Once referral details have been received, a member of our Client Liaison team will contact you within 5 working days (please note this may be longer in peak/holiday periods).
A member of the Team will provide you with information on all the support options available and you will have the opportunity to discuss your preferences/options and method of support. You will be provided with the terms and conditions of engagement for support and we will discuss and explain our service user agreement which you will be asked to comply with.
We provide support to people resident in East and North Ayrshire localities. We can provide remote support; telephone counselling, asynchronous (email) counselling, virtual counselling and virtual EMDR (eye movement de-sensitisation and re-processing) and can also offer face to face in person support through outreach.
Home visits: Break the Silence do not offer home visits for clients. We use a range of service delivery methods that would likely cover for any possible presenting difficulties that may be a barrier to attending therapy.
If you have a specific challenge or barrier preventing you from accessing support, please contact us so that we may discuss and consider your needs further.
Break The Silence provide support for residents in East and North Ayrshire and we welcome all genders. In addition we can provide support for people who were abused/neglected as children while living in care in Scotland as we are a registered provider working in partnership with Future Pathways.
Childhood sexual trauma can affect partners and family members. Finding out that a partner or family member has experienced childhood sexual trauma can have a devastating effect and they may experience overwhelming feelings of distress, anger and guilt. We offer to see any family member or partner, from East or North Ayrshire, who feels they need to speak to someone. These sessions are funded and therefore there is no charge payable however support is limited.
Break The Silence welcomes people of all genders without prejudice and supports equality and diversity. However, we are unable to support people who have a charge, conviction or have committed any sexual offence.