Being a victim of crime sometimes means you have experienced trauma. Your reactions are normal and are a natural part of dealing with a crime.

There are many different types of crime – but every crime has a victim.

Ways of coping

Everyone has their own way of coping with crime. You may find it helpful to:

  • talk about how you feel with someone you trust
  • structure your life as much as possible
  • defer major life decisions where possible
  • accept that you will have good days and bad days
  • do nice things for yourself
  • eat regularly and nutritiously
  • maintain or increase your physical exercise
  • limit the use of alcohol and drugs
  • keep a journal
  • be kind and gentle with yourself.

Professional support

It is important to look after yourself, and get the support you need.

Sometimes it is hard for family and friends to understand, respond to and provide the support you need.

There are many support services that can help you manage the effects of crime, including:

There are also services that specialise in supporting certain groups, like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the LGBTQIA+ community, culturally and linguistically diverse groups and people with disabilities.

See our list of support services for more.

Types of therapy

As a victim of crime, you may wish to seek counselling or other therapeutic support such as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

The type of therapy you choose is entirely a matter for you and your counsellor or health practitioner. We do not provide advice about what therapy you should or should not receive.

Counselling

If you decide to engage in counselling or therapy while criminal proceedings are underway, it is important to be aware that the fact you are receiving counselling (and, in some circumstances, aspects of counselling records) may become relevant during criminal proceedings. In some cases, the prosecutor may be required to inform the defendant’s solicitor that counselling or therapy has occurred.

There are legal protections that apply to counselling communications. If you have questions about how this process works, or what protections apply, you can speak with your Witness Assistance Team (WAT) officer or the prosecutor.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing

You might consider Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. This can be an extremely successful therapy for a range of issues including panic attacks, complicated grief, sexual or physical abuse, disturbing memories and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

However, it is important to make an informed decision about your treatment—especially if criminal proceedings are ongoing and you may be required to give evidence in court.

EMDR works by helping the brain process traumatic memories. As a result, memories may feel more distant or less emotionally intense. In some cases, this process can affect how memories are recalled. This may be raised by defence lawyers when assessing the accuracy of a witness’s testimony.

If you are undertaking therapy, including EMDR, you may wish to inform your practitioner that criminal proceedings are ongoing so they can take that into account. You should speak with your Witness Assistance Team (WAT) officer or the prosecutor if you need.

Your wellbeing remains the priority, and any decisions about treatment should be made in consultation with your chosen health professionals.

See the EMDR Association of Australia (external site) website for more information about EMDR, including what an EMDR session is like.