Cecil Hedrich, PCSW moved across the country to work at Project Help, Inc. because he believes in the mission of the organization and its focus of serving all victims of violent crime and sudden loss survivors. He currently holds a Provisional Clinical Social Worker license in the State of Florida and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker License in the State of Utah. He earned his Master’s in Social Work from the University of Utah.
Cecil has over 8 years combined professional experience working in the fields of mental health and crisis intervention. He has worked as lead counselor at a domestic violence agency, a child advocacy center director, and recently was a drug and alcohol therapist for an adolescent residential treatment center. Cecil is trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy by the Linehan Institute, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing through the EMDR institute, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Cecil is a Florida Designated Victim Services Practitioner, and is completing certification as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional through the International Association of Trauma Professionals. He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. His approach to counseling and advocacy work is one of treating the client with dignity and respect and finding ways for them to approach the lives they want to live even as they experience the after effects of trauma.

Success HELPline Story: (names have been changed to protect survivor)
It’s 3 am and the phone rings. A kind voice comes on the line “Crisis and Sexual Assault HELPline. Sara speaking. How may I help you?” The caller (whom we will call Jane) says, “I need someone to talk to. I don’t know what to do.” Sara calmly states “Let’s see what I can do to help.” Jane shared that she was on a date the night before and started to feeling funny. Her date offered to drive her home. The next thing Jane remembers is that she woke up with most of her clothes on the floor, feeling as if something wasn’t right, like something had happened to her. Sara’s compassion and reassurance allowed Jane to talk openly and freely about her emotions and feelings. Sara and Jane discussed whether or not Jane believes she was sexually assaulted. Sara reassured Jane that she called the right place and explained that the sexual assault was not Jane’s fault.

During this call, Sara took the time to explain the options that are available to victims of violent crime and helped empower Jane to be able to make important decisions. Should she report the crime to law enforcement? Should she have a forensic exam done? Could the sexual assault response advocate come with her to the exam? Coping skills were shared with Jane so she could help herself during this stressful and emotionally painful time. Sara also discussed the Project HELP’s counseling options. Free of charge and confidential, the counseling could be the start of Jane taking back the power and control that was taken from her.
After exploring all of the options, Jane is empowered to make a plan. With Sara’s kindness, explanations, and support, Jane decided to report to law enforcement and have a forensic exam. Sara started the process by calling the Sexual Assault Response Advocate on call and connected her to Jane.
Calls like this are common for our HELPline and Sara provided immediate crisis intervention. Like many of us, Jane would not have known what to do, how to do it, and where to go for help. In the end Jane received all of the services that a victim of sexual assault will need to begin the healing journey. With a fully trained sexual assault advocate by her side to help navigate the path from victimization through prosecution, Jane is on her way to becoming a survivor. With survivor focused crisis intervention counseling and support groups, people like Jane do not have to feel as if they are alone with unanswered questions and the fear of the unknown. Project HELP empowers victims to become survivors.

When a violent crime happens, and the police have left the scene, a victim is often left alone to wonder “why did this happen to me?” and “what did I do to deserve this?”. Project HELP has been helping victims of violent crime with crisis intervention and crisis response for more than 33 years.
A violent crime is an act in which the offender uses or threatens to use violent force upon a victim. The United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice lists the following five categories as violent crimes: Murder, Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Simple Assault. Violent crimes are committed with and without the use of weapons.
Project HELP has a 24-hour HELPline that is always answered by a live advocate so that victims of violent crime have someone to talk to, work on coping skills and find information and referral. Our volunteers undergo extensive training to help victims — day or night — through one of the most horrific time of their life.,. Project HELP has the most resources available in Collier County to provide survivors find the help they need…even if that’s just someone to listen.
Our fully-trained staff of advocates have the ability to work with individuals from victimization through prosecution. A victim can meet confidentially with a counselor in our facility and receive services free of charge Our counselors help them deal with the crime committed by offering crisis intervention techniques, coping skills, support groups, and referrals to other agencies for matters that may arise during their counseling sessions. Fully-trained advocate located at the State Attorney’s office to assist with orders of protection, answer questions regarding their case, and provide accompaniment to all of the arraignments and trials associated with their victimization.
Our advocacy program also offers assistance in filing for Victim Compensation. When a victim reports to law enforcement and the investigation is moving forward, a victim may be eligible for Victim Compensation. This is a fund set aside by the State of Florida to assist victims of crime in certain monetary compensation. Our advocates are available to determine if this fund relates to the losses that occurred and can assist in the filing of the paperwork and follow up.
Violent crime can happen to anyone and Project HELP wants the community to know that we are here and will help in any way that is needed. We also provide services not only to the victim, but to the victims’ family, friends, or anyone that may have emotionally been affected by the crime. The statement, “time can heal all wounds” can be true in some cases, but in the case of a violent crime, victims could greatly benefit from the additional help and support from an organization such as Project HELP. If you feel you want someone to talk to, need help coping with your situation, navigation of the judicial system, or information and referral, Project HELP is willing and ready to assist. Call our office at (239) -649-1404 during regular business hours or you can contact our HELPline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (239)-262-7227. When life hurts, Project HELP is just a phone call away.