Specialized support for crime victims, promoting healing and resilience.
You have experienced a crime or act of violence and are looking for safe, professional support through the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP).
Experiencing a crime can deeply affect your sense of safety, trust, and emotional well-being. The emotional scars can linger long after the incident, affecting your ability to feel secure or move forward with your life. You may feel anxious, fearful, angry, numb, or overwhelmed, even long after the event.
If you have been physically, emotionally, or psychologically impacted by a violent crime, you may be eligible for funded counselling support through CVAP, a program offered by the British Columbia Ministry of Justice. This support can help you begin to heal and regain control over your life, offering a crucial step toward recovery.
Afsah Ahmad is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and an approved registered service provider for CVAP through the British Columbia Ministry of Justice. As a registered CVAP provider, we offer direct billing for eligible counselling sessions, reducing financial stress so you can focus on your healing and recovery.
The effects of crime are not just physical. It often lives in the nervous system. Experiencing or witnessing a crime or an act of violence can deeply affect your sense of safety, trust, and emotional well-being. Trauma can also impact self-esteem, self-worth, relationships, and work life. You may feel anxious, fearful, angry, numb, or overwhelmed—sometimes long after the event has passed. These reactions are common and understandable. CVAP counselling offers funded therapeutic support to victims and their immediate family members to help you process what happened and reduce the emotional impact it continues to have on your life.
CVAP counselling focuses on stabilization, emotional regulation, and recovery. Therapy helps you understand trauma responses, build coping strategies, and gradually restore a sense of safety and empowerment. This is not about reliving the event, but about helping your mind and body heal from its effects.
Many clients find that with support, symptoms such as anxiety, nightmares, and emotional distress lessen over time. Therapy can help you feel more grounded, confident, and able to move forward with your life.
CVAP counselling at Cognizance Counselling is trauma-informed, compassionate, and client-centred. We work within CVAP guidelines while tailoring therapy to your individual needs and experiences. You remain in control of the therapeutic process at all times. Healing is possible, and support is available to help you regain stability, confidence, and peace of mind.
Q. How can I contact CVAP for funding?
A. For more information about funding, eligibility, or the application process, please contact:
Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP)
Ministry of Justice, British Columbia
📞 Lower Mainland: +1-604-660-3888
📞 Toll-Free: 1-866-660-3888
📧 Email: cvap@gov.bc.ca
Q. Is CVAP counselling available only to victims?
A. No. CVAP counselling is available not only to direct victims of violent crime, but also to immediate family members of victims and witnesses to violent or traumatic crimes.
Q. Do I have to wait for charges to be laid before applying for CVAP counselling?
A. No. You do not need to wait for criminal charges to be laid or for an offender to be convicted before applying for CVAP benefits.
Q. How do I apply for CVAP-funded counselling?
A. To access CVAP-funded counselling, you must submit an application (insert link to application form) to the Crime Victim Assistance Program. Once approved, CVAP will issue a claim number, which allows you to begin funded counselling sessions.
Q. Can I reach out to my counsellor for guidance about CVAP counselling?
A. Yes. If you feel overwhelmed by the application process or unsure about your eligibility, support is available to help you understand the process and next steps. You are also welcome to reach out to your counsellor for guidance or any questions about CVAP counselling.