An Advocate is a VU student volunteer for the Sexual Assault Awareness and Facilitative Education Office (SAAFE). They have special training that enables them to be non-judgmental supporters to all affected by a traumatic event. Advocates can work with survivors, friends of survivors, and perpetrators. Some assault survivors find Advocates helpful in processing their experience in a non-threatening way. All interactions are completely confidential.

What can a SAAFE Office Advocate do for me?

• Provide a peer's perspective
• Provide information and referrals to campus and community resources
• Provide an informal, supportive, no pressure relationship
• Keep all matters confidential
• Be available 24 hours a day to accompany and transport clients to counseling appointments and offer needed support
• Help friends of an assault survivor understand how they can be supportive

What types of issues do SAAFE Office Advocates help with?

• Sexual assault and abuse
• Sexual Harassment
• Dating violence
• Regretted sex
• Sexuality issues
• Substance Use (Alcohol, Date Rape Drugs) and Sexual Assault
• Stalking
• Abusive relationships
• Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships
• Unplanned pregnancy
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's)
• Body image concerns and eating disorder issues

What is the relationship between the Advocates and the Counseling Center (CC)?

The SAAFE Office Advocates and the therapists at the Counseling Center work together to provide services that best each individual. Advocates refer students to CC for professional counseling and the CC refers some clients to Advocates if both the client and therapist feel it would be beneficial. Both CC and the Advocates believe the client should have complete control over all decisions. If the student chooses to meet with both, then the student will meet with the therapist and Advocate individually.