Radius Child and Youth Services is a specialized community-based organization that provides clinical assessment and counselling services to children, adolescents and families affected by interpersonal abuse. Specifically, we specialize in working with children, youth, and families who have experienced sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, neglect, or witnessed intimate partner violence. We also specialize in working with youth who have engaged in sexually abusive behaviour, with children under 12 years old who have engaged in concerning sexual behaviour, and intrafamilial[1] sexual abuse and reunification. Radius Child and Youth Services has been working with these populations for almost 40 years, so we think we’ve gotten pretty good with helping to create positive changes in the lives of people affected by abuse.
Dealing with the affects of abuse or abusive behaviour is difficult. We are here to help and acknowledge the courage and strength it takes for every individual and family to walk through our doors. We are committed to offering a compassionate, friendly, and non-judgemental environment to all who attend our services. We are also committed to every individual’s uniqueness and we will work together with you to build a future free from abuse, neglect, and violence.
There are two phases to the services in our program. The first is the assessment phase and the second is the counselling phase.
“My counsellor at Radius was the only person in my life who was constant and showed me she cared. Radius became the rock under my feet.”
– Former Radius Client, Age 16
Learn More about Assessment & Counselling
Assessment
An assessment is a “getting to know you” process, which is designed to help us learn about your current strengths, concerns, risks (if applicable), and counselling needs. The assessment will help us to understand you and your family/caregivers and it is an essential component in creating the best possible counselling plan for you. Counselling plans are individually tailored to suit you and your family’s needs, goals, and wishes.
Counselling
The recommendations from the assessment will guide the development of a unique counselling plan for you. Counselling means you are working on addressing problems, worries, or concerns you have in your life. Unlike an assessment, where you just describe the problem(s), counselling is the work that is done to help you with the problem.
Group Counselling
Group counselling is an important part of influencing change and healing with all client populations. Through the creation of small theme-based groups, clients experience a sense of universality which allows them to see that they are not alone in the challenges they have encountered and their healing journey. Through this reduction of isolation there is an instillation of hope, which helps create optimism, promoting healthy futures for all involved.
New Services Developed During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Help the Helpers:
Radius has been providing complimentary consultation services to front line staff and supervisors at Ontario Children’s Aid Societies.
Online Parent Education Workshops:
In a new partnership, Thrive Child & Youth Trauma Services (https://www.thrivechildandyouth.ca/) has generously made available their online parenting courses for parents utilizing Radius’ services.
