Victim Empowerment & Education Program (VEEP)
VEEP is a therapeutic program for children and youth survivors of violence and their caregivers. We accept referrals for survivors of child sexual abuse, sexual assault, traumatic grief, bullying, domestic violence, and teen dating violence. We provide trauma therapy to underserved communities through home visits and telehealth services. The VEEP team is committed to increasing accessibility for therapeutic services in rural areas.
VEEP offers no-cost therapy to individuals, families and groups, using Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Narrative Therapy, Psychodrama and other expressive arts. These are evidence-based or promising evidence-based practices. Clients are typically referred by Child Advocacy Centers, Rape Crisis Center of Robeson County (The Starting Point), Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, Robeson House, Southeastern Family Violence, DSS and Public Schools of Robeson County. VEEP also accepts self-referrals. VEEP has served more than 180 survivors of violence and their families.
The VEEP team provides training to organizations on the dynamics of complex trauma, a variety of evidence-based practices, how to use expressive arts in therapy, working with rural Latine and Lumbee communities, group work and rural social work practice.
VEEP Referral Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdiMVBCfDOuC71tl9BuME8ateo_eDuy0vDXkKfDJzvJmr0WiQ/viewform
Meet the VEEP Team
VEEP Team (Left to Right)
Emily Locklear, MSW, LCSWA
Martica Bacallao, PhD, MSW, MA, LCSW, TF-CBT, IFS, TEP
Stephanie Edwards, MSW, LCSWA
Ashley Prows-Beard, LCSW, TF-CBT
Ashley Prows-Beard, MSW, LCSWA, is our designated Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate who provides the therapeutic services to the victims referred for treatment. She has shared a story of one of her clients that she is very happy about
“I began working with a client who had endured multiple traumas throughout the course of her lifetime. Since working with her, I have witnessed the development and practice of skills in identifying and regulating intense emotions. She consistently utilizes the coping skills she has learned through our therapeutic program to manage difficult feelings and triggers associated with her experiences. Through VEEP, she has obtained safe housing and was able to excel in her studies as she continues to work towards her Bachelors’ degree from UNC Pembroke. She continues to work diligently towards self-awareness and self-care despite not having that behavior modeled for her as a child. She often expresses a desire to advocate for others who have survived traumatic upbringings, domestic violence, and rape. Today, this young woman embodies the meaning of resilience in the face of suffering.”
What We Do
Counseling and support for children, youth, families & groups of those who have been victimized or have experienced direct/indirect violence. Services include TF-CBT, IFS, and psychotherapy.
Paint Party
An enjoyable time to express yourself through painting. Two facilitators guide Paint Party in positive and encouraging ways with a different theme each time. You can paint along with the theme or paint your own images. Supplies provided.
SEE-IT
An interactive theatre experience where a group of youths explore a social issue that includes conflict. The group builds a story, the story is acted out, and the group decides how the characters can better cope with the social issue and its conflict.
Online Trauma Interventions
- Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (C-BITS) is offered twice a year in a group format for children and youth.
- Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is offered individually online.
Problematic Sexual Behavior – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT)
Problematic Sexual Behavior-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is offered to children aged 7-12 and their caregivers in an online format.
Veep Funding
The NC Youth Violence Prevention Center (NC-YVPC) in partnership with SAMHSA and the U.S. Department of Justice offers this program for assisting and empowering survivors of crime and violence.