Crisis Assistance

First contact with Women's Crisis Support ~ Defensa de Mujeres will be with an Advocate who will provide a supportive environment where survivors can talk openly, both through the 24-hour crisis line and in-person or telephone peer counseling sessions. Advocates provide resources, referrals and information about domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as advocating for survivors with other agencies. Advocates will also assist new clients to develop safety plans, and arrange for additional agency services as necessary, which may include legal assistance, emergency shelter, or clinical counseling.In collaboration with law enforcement and medical providers. Advocates may also provide emergency response for survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault, including accompaniment to an evidence examination if appropriate.

Individual Counseling

Women's Crisis Support ~ Defensa de Mujeres provides individual peer counseling sessions over the crisis line, office phone, or in-person by appointment.
After the initial intake/assessment, clients may receive additional counseling sessions.WCS~DdM also provides short-term professional counseling focusing
on issues of domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

Support Groups

We offer weekly drop-in domestic violence support groups in English and Spanish at our offices in Santa Cruz and Watsonville:

Santa Cruz, Spanish: Tuesdays 6:00 - 7:30, English: Wednesdays 6:00 - 7:30

Watsonville, Spanish: Tuesdays 5:30 - 7:00

A closed, limited session support group for sexual assault survivors is conducted annually. Clients receiving sexual assault survivor services are eligible to be
screened for participation in the group.

Counseling service fees are on a sliding scale, but no client will be denied services based on inability to pay.