The archdiocese has entered into an agreement with Coquitlam-based Denis Boyd and Associates, an independent, non-denominational counselling agency, to provide victims of clergy sexual abuse with confidential support.
Last year鱿鱼视频app report said the archdiocese should receive complaints through an intake office 鈥渟taffed by individuals specifically trained to deal with the complexities of clergy sexual abuse.鈥� Archbishop J. Michael Miller added that the office 鈥渟hould be independent of the archdiocese and function at 鈥榓rms reach.鈥� 鈥� Until now, complaints of sexual abuse by clergy were made to archdiocesan personnel.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 done anything quite like this, before,鈥� said Denis Boyd, noting however that his group has had contracts with major companies and unions to provide counselling for large groups of staff.
His practice includes 22 professionals, some of whom have significant experience in dealing with sexual abuse and trauma.
Social worker Jennifer Foster will be doing the bulk of the initial discussions. She said it鱿鱼视频app especially meaningful that the counselling group is independent.
鈥淭he fact that we鈥檙e a separate entity is key,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 hope it will offer people comfort and confidence, knowing that there鱿鱼视频app no bias in the people they鈥檙e speaking with.鈥�
The archdiocese is funding the initiative to ensure no cost to the callers, but will not be involved in the delivery of the service.
While Boyd and Associates will offer counselling for victim survivors and their families, they can also help individuals who want to file an official report for investigation.
Boyd expects some people may need to take a number of months before deciding to come forward.
鈥淲e鈥檙e opening up a history of pain,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople have dealt with their experiences the best way they could, by putting them away somewhere. But the reality is there are new therapeutic tools that will help them navigate through that to a healthier place.鈥�
Foster emphasizes the value of professional counselling.
鈥淒isclosing information like this can overturn the applecart in more ways than people might anticipate. It needs to be safe. There鱿鱼视频app a team of people here with many different skills who can be supportive鈥� in ways an archdiocesan official cannot be.
鈥淭he Archdiocese of Vancouver is firmly committed to eradicating the evil of clergy sexual abuse,鈥� said Miller. 鈥淲e sincerely hope that by taking this step to appoint a third-party independent agency to handle the intake process and provide support, victims will feel more comfortable to come forward and find healing and justice.鈥�
The number to call to report clergy sexual abuse is (604) 363-7338.