Counseling & Psychological Services
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Sexual Assault Protocol

Counseling and Psychological Services Protocol

The actions of Counseling and Psychological Services staff may vary depending on whether we are brought in before, during, or after a student’s contact with police or emergency room personnel.

Counseling and Psychological Services Center Staff will be prepared to do the following:

  1. If the sexual assault has just occurred, make sure the survivor is safe from further harm. Help her/him get a support person to be with her/him, and make sure doors and windows are locked.
  2. Encourage the survivor to seek medical attention to assure that injuries and not-so-obvious internal injuries are treated. Medical attention is available at the emergency room at Watauga Medical Center (262-4164). Medical attention that does not involve concern for prosecution may be received within the limited hours of the Student Health Center (262-3100). If needed, the counselor will help arrange transportation (e.g. University Police, ambulance) and call the hospital in advance to inform them of preliminary information.
  3. Ask the survivor not to shower, clean or change clothes before making a decision about a physical examination or forensic exam. They should bring a change of clothes with them if they go to the emergency room.
  4. Explain possible financial costs and resources for forensic exam.
  5. Make sure a female counselor is made available if needed or requested.
  6. Establish a rapport with the student, gathering information for assessment and service delivery, and averting a potential state of crisis.
  7. Validate the emotional reactions of the person. Intense, painful reactions are common responses to a traumatic event. Let the student know that their emotional experience is a normal reaction to an abnormal event.
  8. De-emphasize clinical, diagnostic, and pathological language communicating person to person rather than “expert” to “survivor”, using straightforward terms.
  9. Ask the survivor if she or he wants the accompaniment of a friend, roommate, family member, RA or RD, significant other, female officer, etc., while restricting the number of people in the immediate area to reduce noise, distraction, and tension.
  10. Inform the survivor about reporting options to the law enforcement office with jurisdiction. 
  11. Have as a primary concern the emotional well being and support of the student, and to establish a plan for possible follow-up counseling services.
  12. Provide the complainant constant reassurance that the choice for sexual activity should always be mutual.
  13. Attempt to help the student regain a sense of control and make her or his own decisions on how to handle the assault (when possible).
  14. Inform the survivor of her or his rights and choices, and help her or him explore options.
  15. Support the student in making decisions about whom to tell and how to proceed.
  16. Explain the limits of confidentiality.
  17. Give the survivor the handout on “What Should You Do after a Sexual Assault or Rape” because the complainant’s memory may not be clear, or he or she may be in a state of shock.
  18. Give supportive others that accompany the survivor a copy of the handouts, “Do’s and Don’ts of Helping Sexual Assault Survivors,” and “Guidelines for Helping Someone Who Has Been Sexually Assaulted”.
  19. Assume a helping role, not an investigating role.
  20. Help the student identify ways to comfort herself/himself, self-soothe and perhaps relax.
  21. Help the person identify sources of support including friends, family, clergy or other support networks.
  22. Provide crisis counseling for friends and loved ones of survivors distressed by the event.
  23. Encourage and help the survivor to resume a regular lifestyle as soon as possible.
  24. Provide follow-up counseling, supportive assistance, and/or referral, if desired.
  25. Counselors avoid any bias or judgments that reporting or confronting is good and disengaging responses are weak and inadequate. The choice should be the survivor’s.
  26. The Counseling Center participates with the local Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) to insure cooperative and informed relationships for all parties involved in response to sexual assaults.