TSSA Trauma Support
TSSA Trauma Support is a registered NPO, providing free, volunteer-based trauma support, psychological first aid, and victim empowerment to communities across Gauteng and beyond. With over 300 trained trauma support volunteers, TSSA responds to individuals affected by crime, sexual assault, domestic violence, and trauma — while building trauma-informed communities through training and education.
Contact & Location
- Philip Stoneman
- 49 Leeuwpoort Street, Boksburg, 1459', East Rand, Gauteng
Opening Hours
Opening hours not available. Contact the organisation directly.
About
About TSSA Trauma Support
TSSA (Trauma Support SA) is a registered Non-Profit Company (NPC: 2013/042781/08) and Non-Profit Organisation (NPO: 181-187), founded in 2012 by Philip Stoneman — a practitioner with over 23 years of experience in the victim empowerment field. Stoneman previously directed the iThemba Rape and Trauma Support Centre, where staff and volunteers handled close to 3,500 sexual assault cases and contributed in-depth medico-legal and post-exposure prophylaxis services. The vision for a national, community-focused trauma support organisation grew directly from that work and the gaps it highlighted.
TSSA's head office and primary operations are based in Benoni on the East Rand, Gauteng, with satellite teams in Welbekend/Bapsfontein, Honeydew (Johannesburg), Bloemfontein (Free State), and Tzaneen (Limpopo).
Mission and Approach
TSSA exists to make trauma-informed support accessible to all South Africans. Their model is built on three pillars: Listen, Protect, Connect — an evidence-based trauma response framework that helps trained volunteers provide psychological first aid and stabilise individuals in crisis without requiring professional registration.
All services are provided free of charge. TSSA relies entirely on community support and funding, operating without grant income or institutional subsidies. In mid-2025 the organisation publicly appealed for community support after the withdrawal of corporate partnerships placed strain on their ability to maintain consistent services.
Services Relevant to GBV and Sexual Violence
- Trauma Support to Sexual Assault Survivors — TSSA's founding director has specific expertise in sexual assault victim empowerment, and the organisation explicitly references sexual assault as a core trauma type they respond to. Dedicated Victim Support Documents on Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault are published on their website as public resources.
- Crisis Response — Trained volunteer teams respond to scenes and situations involving traumatic incidents, including domestic violence and GBV.
- Victim Empowerment — TSSA trains community volunteers in psychological first aid and Trauma-Informed Care (TIC), building a wider network of first responders capable of supporting survivors before and during referral to professional services.
- Training — The TraumaWise Training programme equips lay people and organisations to respond to trauma appropriately, reducing re-traumatisation and improving survivor outcomes.
- Trauma-Informed Communities — TSSA works to shift community awareness and build supportive environments in which survivors feel safe to speak, seek help, and access services.
Contact and Reach
TSSA is actively operational in Benoni and the East Rand, with reach into Johannesburg's northern suburbs, Bloemfontein, and Tzaneen. All enquiries go through the team email, and volunteers can be reached via the website contact form at ticisa.org.za.