Crime Victim Assistance Program
The Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) assists victims, immediate family members and some witnesses in coping with the effects of violent crime. It provides financial benefits to help offset financial losses and assist in recovery. One of the benefits offered, if approved, is counselling.
In addition to their regular counselling sessions, claimants may be awarded additional counselling sessions to provide them with support during, and for a limited period of time following, legal proceedings. Counselling for court support is available to assist only for the following court proceedings (not available for civil proceedings): a) a preliminary inquiry; b) a trial; c) a sentence hearing or review; d) an appeal hearing; e) a parole hearing; f) a hearing of the review board established for British Columbia.
The counselling benefits are provided to respond to the psychological or counselling needs that arise from the claimant’s victimization. The goal of counselling is to assist the claimant in their recovery from the psychological trauma experienced because of the injury. Treatment funded by the Crime Victim Assistance Program must focus on assisting the claimant to: develop skills and coping strategies to reduce the symptoms arising or related to the criminal offence and injury and, restore functioning to a level similar to the claimant’s pre-injury functioning.
The Counselling fees payable shall be determined by the Crime Victim Assistance Program and shall be determined based on the counsellors training, qualifications, membership in professionally accredited associations, and experience as set out in the Crime Victim Assistance (General) Regulation.
The amount that CVAP funds may be below what a counsellor charges and the client may be required to pay the difference to make up the cost of a session. This would be negotiated with your individual counsellor.