Most people reach us in the middle of something unfinished: a protection order that has not been served, a place to stay that runs out on Friday, a court date set before anyone has explained what will happen in the room. The sequence below is the order we work in, and it rarely moves in a straight line. Sessions get rescheduled, a referral falls through, a survivor decides to pause. That is normal here.
First contact
Survivors can reach us directly through the contact form or by phone. Practitioners send a short referral instead, and we ask them to leave out graphic detail and identifying case information. What we need is enough context to schedule properly: language preference, whether children are involved, and whether a court date is already set.
Intake conversation
We go through what has happened, what is still happening, and what the person wants to change first. An isiXhosa or Afrikaans interpreter is booked in advance where needed. Nothing from this conversation is written down in a form that carries a name.
Safety planning
Safe places to stay, who to call at which hour, how children move between schools, what goes into a bag that can leave the house quickly. The plan is written plainly and reviewed again once a protection order or bail condition changes the picture.
Referrals and court preparation
We place people into services across the Western Cape and Gauteng, and where a matter is going to court we walk through what the day looks like beforehand: who speaks, where to sit, how long the wait usually is. Referral timelines differ, and a placement can take longer than anyone would like.
Ongoing counselling
Weekly or fortnightly, depending on what is manageable. Some people stay for a few months and some for much longer. Sessions can pause and restart, and family members can be brought in when that is what the survivor wants.
Practitioners who want the full sequence in writing can request the referral pack, and a short outline of what we cover sits alongside our capabilities and company pages.
Most people come to us through a social worker, a clinic, or a legal aid attorney, but survivors and family members can also make contact directly. Below is what each route looks like in practice, including the hours we work and the realistic waiting time before someone gets back to you.
Call 016 246 3007 during office hours, Monday to Friday. If the line is busy or you would rather not speak first, send a short message and we will arrange a time that suits you. First calls usually run 30 to 45 minutes.
We return missed calls within one working day. If you leave a number that is not safe to call back, say so and we will use another route.
Email info@theintensiveabuseunit.com or use the contact form. Please keep identifying details out of the first message: a first name, a safe contact method, and the general nature of the request are enough to start.
Written enquiries are answered within two working days. Court preparation requests are prioritised when a date is already set.
Social workers, clinic staff, and attorneys can request the referral pack by email. Include the type of support needed, the province, and any deadline such as a court date. We confirm receipt within one working day.
Intake is then scheduled directly with the client, usually within five working days of the referral reaching us.
A first reply is not a full session. It is a short conversation to confirm that the unit is the right place for your situation, to check whether you are safe to receive calls, and to agree on the next step. If we are not the right service, we say so and point you towards one that is, whether that is a shelter, a legal aid clinic, or a public health facility.
Practical questions about hours, languages, and what we do not record are covered in the help pages, and the privacy note explains how case information is stored.