If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you need to talk to someone right now, our 24 hour hotline is 908-233-7273. You can also call or text 988 any time, day or night.
Sometimes the hardest part is not knowing where to look. Finding support in Union County NJ can start with nothing more complicated than one phone call.
Maybe you are searching for a therapist. Maybe you want a support group, or a workshop, or just one honest conversation with someone who will not ask you to explain everything at once. Maybe you are not even sure “support” is the right word for what you need yet. That’s a perfect place to start.
This is a plain guide to what is actually here for you in Union County, New Jersey, and how to reach it.
Where do I start if I don’t know what kind of help I need?
You do not have to sort out your own situation before you call. Reach out through our Contact page or the hotline, and say as much or as little as you want. Part of what an advocate does is help you find the next right step, not hand you a form to fill out first.
Is there support here if what I’m dealing with is domestic violence?
Our program is focused on sexual violence support, so if domestic violence is the main thing you are facing, we want to point you toward people who work with that every day. The New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-572-7233, or if you are in Union County, call the YWCA at 908-355-4357.
If sexual violence is also part of what happened, or you are not sure how to draw the line between the two, call us anyway. We would rather help you find the right door than have you guess which one to knock on.
Where can I find mental health workshops or community programs in Union County?
Our Community Wellness Programs run year-round. Meditation nights. Sound bowl sessions. Reflection circles built around writing and gentle movement. Subsidized yoga for veterans. Racial justice and healing dialogues. None of it requires you to be in crisis first, and none of it requires you to already be “in the system” somewhere else. Some of it is just a quiet room and other people who showed up too. For a lot of people, support in Union County NJ starts here rather than in a therapy office.
What if I want something that feels reflective, not just clinical?
Sometimes we want a space to process that looks a little different from traditional therapy. Our Soul Scribing and Reflection Circles and Sound Bowl Sessions offer another way to slow down, turn inward, and create space for whatever may be coming up.
These experiences can stand on their own or complement the work you may already be doing in therapy. There is no one right way to care for yourself, and you are always welcome to explore what feels meaningful and supportive for you.
Is sexual violence support available where I live, like Scotch Plains?
Yes. We serve all of Union County and nearby counties, not only Berkeley Heights, where our office is based. Whether you live in Scotch Plains, Elizabeth, Westfield, Plainfield, or anywhere in between, the hotline and our Sexual Violence Support services are available to you, free of charge.
Support in Union County NJ does not depend on which town you live in. If something happened recently, our guide on what to do after a sexual assault walks through your options. If you are further out and thinking about your legal options, this page covers that ground. And if you live outside Union County entirely, the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault can point you to the program that covers your county.
Does any of this cost money?
No. All services through Karolina’s Place are completely free. You can call the hotline, speak with an advocate, receive support, access mental health counseling, or have someone accompany you through parts of the process at no cost.
If you are interested in ongoing private counseling outside of our free services, you may also qualify for financial assistance through New Jersey’s Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO). VCCO may help cover counseling costs for eligible survivors. Click here to learn more about VCCO and see if you may qualify.
You never need to figure any of this out before reaching out to us. Start wherever you are, and we can help you understand your options.
What if I just want to ask a question, not commit to anything?
That is more than ok and encouraged! You can call the hotline only to ask what a first conversation looks like. You can read through this page quietly and decide later, or never call at all. Nothing here obligates you to anything.
Common questions about support in Union County NJ
Do I have to be in crisis to reach out?
No. You can call for support at any stage, whether something just happened or it has been years.
Is calling confidential?
Yes, within the limits that any advocate or counselor works under, such as mandatory reporting laws that apply in certain situations. If you want specifics on what stays private in your situation, ask directly when you call.
Do you only help people who live in Berkeley Heights?
No. Our office is in Berkeley Heights, but we serve all of Union County and nearby counties.
What if I’m trying to help someone else, not myself?
You are more than welcome to call on someone else’s behalf, or to read through our guide on supporting a survivor before you talk with them.
No matter what brought you here, you do not have to have it figured out first. Every kind of support in Union County NJ described on this page is free, confidential and open to you today. Our 24-hour hotline is 908-233-7273, or you can call or text 988. Contact us when you are ready, whenever that turns out to be.