Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Program Name/Specialization

Community Psychology

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

First Advisor

Ciann Wilson

Advisor Role

Supervisor

Abstract

Barriers and Strategies for Reducing Wait Times for Counselling in the Post-Pandemic Crisis Setting: Perspectives from Community-Based Sexual Assault Centres

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified gender-based violence (GBV), placing unprecedented strain on nonprofit organizations already operating with limited resources. In Ontario, sexual assault services have increasingly relied on short-term, trauma-informed counselling strategies to manage rising demand and reduce waitlists. However, research has yet to comprehensively evaluate the benefits and limitations of these approaches within the nonprofit sector. This study addresses this gap by exploring perceptions of service delivery and short-term trauma-informed strategies used by service providers and advocating for increased funding to better support survivors. Grounded in critical feminist theory and a transformative paradigm, this research prioritizes intersectionality and inclusivity to enhance service accessibility and support within funding constraints. Semi-structured interviews with 8 service providers from 8 Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) organizations informed a thematic analysis identifying key care practices and systemic barriers linked to underfunding. Findings contribute to more inclusive and sustainable support strategies, offering actionable recommendations for service providers and policymakers. By addressing funding challenges and promoting equitable practices, this research aims to strengthen the capacity of sexual violence nonprofits to support survivors in a post-pandemic crisis context.

“This is a Societal Issue Not Just a Womxn's Issue”- Addressing the Impact of Vicarious Trauma in in Womxn-Dominated Nonprofit Gender-based Violence Services Vicarious trauma significantly impacts frontline workers, particularly in the nonprofit sector. In womxn-dominated gender-based violence organizations, where funding and resource constraints are common, the effects of vicarious trauma are especially severe yet under-researched (Shakespeare & Lafrenière, 2012). Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological approach with acritical feminist lens, this study explores how chronic underfunding in the nonprofit GBV sector exacerbates vicarious trauma among worker leading to the disempowerment of womxn. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight service providers from eight Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) organizations, and content analysis was applied to identify key challenges. Findings reveal the perceptions of personal, organizational, and societal nature of GBV frontline work forces womxn to provide unpaid labor, reinforcing cycles of vicarious trauma that perpetuate GBV. This study underscores the urgent need for increased advocacy for structural support and funding to enable GBV service providers to offer care that recognizes and dismantles GBV. Recognizing GBV as a societal issue, not just a womxn's issue, this research calls for fair compensation and sustainable funding to ensure frontline workers have the resources necessary to provide effective care while safeguarding their own well-being as well as survivors.

Convocation Year

2025

Convocation Season

Fall

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Available for download on Tuesday, August 29, 2028

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