Pre-trial counselling
Everything you need to know about counselling when you are going through a police investigation or court case
Being a victim of crime can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone.
Our Pre-Trial Counselling service is here to offer a safe, space where you can talk about how you’re feeling, ask questions, and get help while everything with the police and court is happening.
You can talk about anything that’s on your mind, whether it’s related to the case or not, you’ll be in control of what you share.
We are here for you.
What is pre-trial counselling?
Pre-trial counselling is when you talk to a counsellor after you’ve reported something to the police, and you may have to go to court. It’s a safe, space where you can talk about how you’re feeling, ask questions, and get help while everything with the police and court is happening.
A group called The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) help to make decisions about court cases. If someone is getting pre-trial counselling or therapy, counsellors must follow the guidelines made by the CPS.
You get to decide if and when you want to start counselling, no one can make that choice for you.
It’s perfectly fine to talk about anything you want to during counselling whether it’s related to the investigation or not.
Confidentiality
What you talk about with your counsellor is private, and won’t be shared with anyone else unless you agree, or if we are very worried about your safety or the safety of another person or if we have to by law, for instance if a court asks for your information – but that almost never happens.
Sometimes, during a criminal case, the police or CPS may want to see your counselling notes. We might have to tell the police if you share new information about the investigation with us.
If this is requested, we will always talk to you first.
Why would the police want my notes?
The police and lawyers need to check all kinds of information that could help understand what happened—both things that help the investigation and things that might stop it going forward.
Counselling notes can sometimes be looked at as important information. If counselling notes mention anything about the situation, they might be included in the case that goes to court.
What happens when the police ask for my counselling notes?
Sometimes, the police may request part of your notes to help with their investigation.
You don’t have to share your notes if you don’t want to, and we’re not legally required to give them to the police but it might support you and help the police if you do. If you agree, the police don’t need to have a copy of all your notes. We’ll always check with you first to see if you want to share them. We can also look through the notes together and give you a copy of anything that gets sent.
What if the court requests to see my notes?
If we or you say no to sharing the notes, the court could later decide that the police can see them. If that happens, some information might have to be shared with the defence lawyer, which means the person accused could see some of your notes. But this only happens in very rare cases. That’s why we keep our notes brief and limited.
What happens in pre-trial counselling?
Just like other types of counselling, you will meet with your counsellor regularly. The counselling will give you the opportunity to share whatever is on your mind, no subject is too big or too small.
It’s perfectly fine to talk about anything you want to during counselling whether it’s related to the investigation or not.
You’ll be asked to sign a Pre-Trial Counselling Agreement, which explains the main points.
During each session, your counsellor will give you a chance to look at your notes to make sure you’re okay with everything and that it’s all correct. It’s really important for you to feel in control of your information.
If you want, you can ask your counsellor to help you read through your notes. Sometimes it can be hard to go through your notes, but they can support you and make it easier in a way that feels comfortable for you.
Who can I talk to about this if I have any questions?
Your counsellor will discuss this with you during your sessions. You can also talk to your investigating officer.
Useful links to other services
- Victim Support – confidential support for victims of crime.
visit victimsupport.org.uk - GRASAC (Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre) – confidential and non-judgemental support for all survivors of sexual violence.
visit glosrasac.org - National and Local Services
visit the Talk Well resources page
Talk Well follows the best practice guidelines for pre-trial counselling set by Bluestar, an organisation appointed by the government’s Home Office. This means every survivor of trauma can get high-quality support, no matter what happens with the court case.
Working in partnership with NHS Gloucestershire