My name is Rachel, and like far too many, I am a victim and survivor of a violent crime. You may remember hearing part of my story from this video, but there is so much more to my story. 11 years ago, a stranger broke into my home. After sexually assaulting me at gunpoint, he… Continue reading A Letter from Rachel
Tag: healing
17 Years of Healing
In 1996, the Board of County Commissioners agreed that a portion of the jails’ proceeds needed to be allocated to recovery services for crime survivors in the community and decided to allocate the funding from payphones in the jail to create a support agency. Commissioner Mary Johnson helped lead the charge for victims’ rights… Continue reading 17 Years of Healing
My Journey With EMDR
By: VSC Client I would say that before starting this treatment it is essential to have your mental health in control. In my case, it took a few months before I started the EMDR therapy since it was a priority to stabilize my depression. EMDR was presented to me as the best alternative to approach… Continue reading My Journey With EMDR
The Silent Victim
Hi, I’m JoAnn, a silent victim. My husband was a victim of an attempted murder at his place of employment by a disgruntle ex-coworker who ended up stabbing him in his head with a pair of scissors. During his outpatient therapies, his speech therapist asked me if I was taking care of myself and talking… Continue reading The Silent Victim
#MeToo
The social media world was rocked earlier this month. Actress Alyssa Milano encouraged survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment to post the hashtag “MeToo” to show the magnitude of the problem. The call-to-action was clear and made a resounding statement worldwide. The hashtag was tweeted nearly a million times in 48 hours and survivors… Continue reading #MeToo
The Intersection Between Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence
The Intersection of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Written by: Orialis, VSC Crisis Counselor Many victims are in an intimate relationship with their abuser. Sexual assault and domestic violence exist within the scope of oppression. It is how a perpetrator abuses power and control over a victim. A perpetrator can use a variety of violent… Continue reading The Intersection Between Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence
Thank you!
To our resilient community, When the worst tragedy occurred, you showed your steadfast support to aid those most in need. For that, we are eternally grateful. Our team was shocked and saddened by the senseless act of the Pulse shooting which took 49 lives, injured countless others, and destroyed our great community’s sense of peace… Continue reading Thank you!
“Inside Out” Healing
Spring Women’s Empowerment Workshop The Internal Family When I first saw the Disney movie: Inside Out, I was amazed. The core principles of mental health, healing, and internal dialogue were perfectly captured! With all the movies these days misrepresenting what therapy is and how healing occurs, I was pleasantly surprised to see these concepts displayed… Continue reading “Inside Out” Healing
Tips for Enjoying the Holidays
Written by: Chelsea Mandes, VSC Victim Advocate Intern With holiday gatherings right around the corner, many people may find that their expectations for a good time as well as their anxiety regarding the people, places, and topics that may or may not present themselves can seemingly cripple a person’s ability to enjoy what are supposed… Continue reading Tips for Enjoying the Holidays
A Former Client Gives Back
A Letter to the Victim Service Center August 2015 I am writing to express my sincerest gratitude to the Victim Service Center of Central Florida and most particularly, my Therapist, Theresa. I would be remiss if I did not take the time to say “Thank You!” Theresa proved to be God-sent to me during a… Continue reading A Former Client Gives Back