The Role of a Therapist in Helping Scam Victims to Recover

Helping Scam Victims Understand What a Therapist Will Do to Support Them!

Principal Category: Scam Victim Recovery Psychology

Author:
•  Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Abstract

Victims of scams, particularly relationship scams, often face severe emotional and psychological trauma, including intense feelings of shame, self-blame, and grief. A psychological therapist, especially one with specialized training in trauma-informed care, plays a crucial role in helping these individuals understand and recover from their experiences. These therapists provide essential support by offering psychoeducation about trauma, normalizing victims’ reactions, and addressing feelings of shame and self-blame. They employ various therapeutic methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to help victims process traumatic memories and develop effective coping strategies. By focusing on safety, building trust, and fostering post-traumatic growth, therapists guide victims towards emotional healing and renewed resilience.

The Role of a Therapist in Helping Traumatized Scam Victims to Recover

Victims of scams often endure severe emotional and psychological trauma, experiencing feelings of shame, self-blame, and grief. A professional psychological therapist, particularly one specialized in trauma, plays a critical role in helping these individuals understand and recover from their experiences.

However, before going into the wound caused by eh betrayal trauma of the relationship scam, it is first important to understand what are therapists and what do they do.

What is a Psychological Therapist?

General Definition and Specialization in Trauma-Informed Care

What Are They and What Do They Do?

A psychological therapist is a trained professional who helps individuals deal with mental health issues, emotional challenges, and psychological distress. Their primary goal is to improve an individual’s well-being by providing support, guidance, and therapeutic interventions. Psychological therapists come from various backgrounds, including psychology, social work, counseling, and psychiatry. They utilize different therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and more.

General Roles and Responsibilities a Psychological Therapist

Assessment and Diagnosis: Evaluating clients’ mental health through interviews, questionnaires, and diagnostic tools to understand their issues and needs.

Therapeutic Interventions: Implementing evidence-based treatments tailored to individual clients to address issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and more.

Emotional Support: Providing a safe and confidential space for clients to express their feelings and thoughts.

Skill Building: Helping clients develop coping strategies, problem-solving skills, and healthy behavior patterns.

Monitoring Progress: Regularly reviewing clients’ progress and adjusting treatment plans as necessary.

Education and Guidance: Offering psychoeducation to clients and their families about mental health issues and effective ways to manage them.

Trauma-Informed Care Specialization

Therapists who specialize in trauma-informed care have additional training and expertise in understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma. This approach involves not only treating trauma-related symptoms but also creating an environment that avoids re-traumatization.

Key Aspects of Trauma-Informed Care

Understanding Trauma: Trauma-informed therapists have a deep understanding of the various forms of trauma, such as physical, emotional, sexual abuse, neglect, and complex trauma resulting from chronic exposure to traumatic events.

Safety: Ensuring that clients feel physically and emotionally safe in the therapeutic setting. This involves establishing trust, being transparent, and respecting clients’ boundaries.

Trustworthiness and Transparency: Building a therapeutic relationship based on trust, honesty, and open communication. Therapists explain treatment processes clearly and involve clients in decision-making.

Peer Support: Recognizing the value of support from others who have experienced similar trauma. Peer support can be an integral part of the healing process.

Collaboration and Mutuality: Therapists work collaboratively with clients, emphasizing partnership and shared decision-making. This approach empowers clients and validates their experiences.

Empowerment and Choice: Encouraging clients to take control of their recovery process by providing them with choices and fostering their autonomy. This includes respecting clients’ decisions and supporting their sense of control over their lives.

Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues: Being sensitive to the cultural, historical, and gender contexts of clients’ experiences. Therapists acknowledge the impact of systemic oppression and discrimination on trauma.

How Trauma-Informed or Specialized Therapists Differ

Specialized Training: Trauma-informed therapists undergo additional training to understand the complex nature of trauma and its pervasive effects on individuals’ lives.

Holistic Approach: They consider the whole person, including the physical, emotional, and psychological impacts of trauma. They integrate various therapeutic modalities to address these aspects comprehensively.

Focus on Safety and Stability: Before delving into traumatic memories, they prioritize establishing safety and stability in clients’ lives, ensuring they have the necessary coping skills and support systems.

Sensitivity to Triggers: They are highly attuned to potential triggers that may re-traumatize clients and work to avoid these during therapy sessions.

Strength-Based Perspective: They emphasize clients’ strengths and resilience, helping them recognize their ability to overcome adversity.

Continuous Education: Trauma-informed therapists stay updated on the latest research and best practices in trauma treatment to provide the most effective care.

A psychological therapist provides essential mental health support and treatment, while those specializing in trauma-informed care offer additional expertise and sensitivity to the unique challenges faced by trauma survivors. This specialized approach ensures that clients receive compassionate, comprehensive, and effective treatment that acknowledges and addresses the profound impact of trauma on their lives.

Understanding the Impact of Trauma, Shame, Self-Blame, and Grief

Here’s how a therapist can assist scam victims in this process:

Victim Trauma Education

Psychoeducation: Therapists educate victims about the nature of trauma, helping them understand that their reactions are normal responses to an abnormal event. This education helps demystify their feelings and reduces the stigma around their experiences.

Symptoms Identification: Victims learn to identify symptoms of trauma, such as flashbacks, anxiety, depression, and hypervigilance. Understanding these symptoms helps them recognize that their distress is a part of the healing process.

Victim Shame and Self-Blame Addressed

Normalizing Reactions: Therapists help normalize feelings of shame and self-blame by explaining that many victims experience these emotions. They emphasize that the blame lies with the scammer, not the victim.

Cognitive Restructuring: Through cognitive-behavioral techniques, therapists assist victims in challenging and changing negative thought patterns. This helps reduce feelings of shame and self-blame, replacing them with more balanced and self-compassionate thoughts.

Grief Processing

Acknowledging Loss: Therapists help victims acknowledge and mourn the losses they have suffered, whether financial, emotional, or relational. This grieving process is essential for moving forward.

Stages of Grief: Victims are guided through the stages of grief, from denial and anger to acceptance. Therapists provide support at each stage, helping victims navigate their emotions and find ways to cope.

Therapist-Supported Strategies for Recovery

Building a Safe Therapeutic Relationship

Trust and Safety: Establishing a trusting and safe relationship with the therapist is foundational. This relationship provides a secure environment where victims can express their emotions without fear of judgment.

Empathy and Validation: Therapists offer empathy and validation, making victims feel heard and understood. This emotional support is crucial for healing.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Typical Therapy

Thought Reframing: CBT helps victims identify and challenge distorted thoughts and beliefs about themselves and the scam. By reframing these thoughts, victims can develop a healthier and more accurate self-view.

Behavioral Activation: Therapists encourage victims to engage in positive activities and behaviors that counteract feelings of helplessness and depression. This can include social interactions, hobbies, and physical activities.

Trauma-Informed Approaches

Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT): This approach specifically addresses trauma-related thoughts and behaviors. It helps victims process traumatic memories and reduce trauma symptoms.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR is a specialized therapy that helps victims process and integrate traumatic memories. It can be particularly effective for those experiencing severe trauma.

Helping Victims to Develop Coping Skills

Stress Management: Therapists teach stress management techniques such as mindfulness, relaxation exercises, and grounding techniques. These skills help victims manage anxiety and prevent overwhelm.

Emotional Regulation: Victims learn strategies to regulate their emotions, reducing the intensity of negative feelings and improving their ability to cope with stress.

Rebuilding Trust and Relationships

Trust Exercises: Therapists use exercises to help victims rebuild trust in others. This can involve gradual exposure to social situations and practicing healthy communication and boundary-setting.

Relationship Skills: Victims receive guidance on building and maintaining healthy relationships, which is crucial for their social support network and overall well-being.

Achieve Post-Traumatic Growth

Finding Meaning: Therapists help victims find meaning and growth in their experiences. This can involve exploring personal strengths, resilience, and new perspectives gained from overcoming the trauma.

Setting Goals: Victims are encouraged to set and pursue personal goals, which fosters a sense of purpose and direction in their lives.

How Many Types of Therapy Are There?

The number of therapeutic methods is continually growing, but here are a few of the typical varieties of psychotherapy that may be helpful to scam victims.

Well-Known Therapies:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This therapy helps you identify and change negative patterns of thinking and behavior. It enhances your understanding of the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): A form of CBT aimed at regulating emotions and managing impulsive behaviors. It integrates CBT techniques with mindfulness practices like yoga and meditation.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): This method uses guided eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation to help the brain process traumatic memories and lessen their impact.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy: Based on the concept that everyone has an inner family of parts, each with unique needs and perspectives. Therapists help you develop self-awareness and resolve conflicts between these parts.

Couples Therapy: Designed for partners looking to improve their relationship. Therapists provide tools to better understand each other’s needs and resolve conflicts.

Group Therapy: Offers support from others with similar issues while receiving treatment together. It’s beneficial for those who feel isolated and is often more affordable than individual sessions.

Somatic Therapy and Holistic Approaches: These methods incorporate spirituality, nutrition, and physical health alongside psychological work and/or medication.

There are numerous types of therapy available today. Instead of familiarizing yourself with all options, you can narrow your focus by working with your therapist and considering your specific situation, goals, and personal preferences. These are listed to help you be more familiar with them.

Conclusion

The journey to recovery for scam victims is complex and multifaceted. A trauma or other professional psychological therapist provides essential support by helping victims understand the impact of trauma, shame, self-blame, and grief. Through education, cognitive-behavioral techniques, trauma-informed approaches, and the development of coping skills, therapists guide victims toward healing and recovery. By rebuilding trust and fostering post-traumatic growth, victims can move forward with renewed strength and resilience.

Statement About Victim Blaming

Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.

These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.

Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org

SCARS Resources:

♦ Enroll in SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org

♦ To report criminals visit reporting.AgainstScams.org – we will NEVER give your data to money recovery companies like some do!

♦ If you are a victim of scams go to ScamVictimsSupport.org for real knowledge and help

♦ Come and join our kinder, safer, no-hate, anti-scam education and discussion group: support.AgainstScams.org

♦ Sign up for our free support & recovery help by support.AgainstScams.org

♦ Join our WhatsApp Chat Group at: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BPDSYlkdHBbDBg8gfTGb02

♦ Follow us on X: x.com/RomanceScamsNow

♦ Follow us and find our podcasts, webinars, and helpful videos on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/@RomancescamsNowcom

♦ See SCARS Institute Scam Victim Self-Help Books at shop.AgainstScams.org

♦ Learn about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org

♦ Dig deeper into the reality of scams, fraud, and cybercrime at www.ScamsNOW.com and www.RomanceScamsNOW.com

♦ Become a SCARS Institute Member – Help Us Help Others – learn more at membership.AgainstScams.org

♦ See more scammer photos on ScammerPhotos.com

You can also find the SCARS Institute on Facebook, WhatsApp, X, LinkedIn, and TruthSocial

Psychology Disclaimer:

All articles about psychology, neurology, and the human brain on this website are for information & education only

The information provided in these articles is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.

While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.

Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.

If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.

Also, please read our SCARS Institute Statement About Professional Care for Scam Victims – here

If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.

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