Frequently Asked Questions - Healing the Scapegoat Wound FSA Education
In September 2025, the Healing the Scapegoat Wound FSA Education E-Publication became a public, subscription gift (donation) supported Substack. Important: While I hope to one day create an FSA Education non-profit entity, currently your financial contributions to Healing the Scapegoat Wound FSA Education E-Publication (a for-profit entity) are NOT tax deductible.
In a world of quick answers from non-experts and emotionally activating soundbites, I'm committed to providing you with deeply researched insights into the insidious systemic phenomenon I named ‘Family Scapegoating Abuse’ (FSA) in a trauma-informed manner. Your monthly or annual subscription gift (donation) supports my efforts to raise global awareness about the devastating effects of FSA on child victims and adult survivors, in conjunction with my original Family Scapegoating Abuse research.
Learn more about what my Substack can offer FSA survivors by visiting my ‘About’ page.” Prefer to make a one-time donation? You can do so securely via my Ko-fi Account! https://ko-fi.com/rebeccacmandeville
Frequently Asked Questions
If you've been in the ‘family scapegoat’ role, you know how deeply the trauma imprints on you, conditioning you to expect rejection, abandonment, and isolation. This makes it incredibly hard to see — let alone trust — possibilities for true connection. Yet, the path to healing isn't walked alone. It requires the courage to take a calculated risk: the risk to connect, to share, and to build community with others who truly understand.
Attention Apple iOS Users
Thinking of upgrading your subscription through the Apple iOS app? Please know this first: As a publisher, I have zero control over Apple iOS app subscriptions, including cancellations; refunds; the inflated pricing (Apple adds on at least 30% to my subscription price and it goes to them, not me), etc. I suggest you upgrade through a web browser, not the Apple iOS app.
About Rebecca C. Mandeville
Qualifications and Background
Q: What’s your qualifications and background in relation to Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) and its effects on child victims and adult survivors?
A: I’m a world-renowned Family Systems expert and licensed Clinician, Clinical Researcher, and Certified Complex Trauma Treatment Professional. I coined the term ‘Family Scapegoating Abuse’ (FSA) via my original Family Systems research and am the leading world expert on this insidious systemic phenomenon. I’m also the author of the first book on FSA, Rejected, Shamed, and Blamed and am an FSA survivor myself - I therefore know first-hand how confusing, distressing, and painful being in the ‘family scapegoat’ role can be.
Published Work and Research
Access my latest peer-reviewed studies on FSA here: https://oapub.org/hlt/index.php/EJPHS/article/view/202/202
My clinical research website: https://www.scapegoatrecovery.com
My Role on Substack
Q: What is your role on Substack, and how can I contact you?
A: Per my Substack’s Terms of Service, I serve as a trauma-informed group facilitator and educator on Substack, not as a clinician. I do not offer individual mentorship, free consultations, coaching, counseling, or analysis of your personal family situation, nor can I advise you directly on family matters. However, our community is a valuable space for sharing "experience, strength, and hope” and as a community we can offer you our collective wisdom, as well as understanding, support, and validation.
You can check out my ‘Notes’ here (Notes are like ‘Tweets’ on Substack) and my my latest Substack activity here.
Q: Can I see you privately for a consultation?
A: I am now able to see those who donate to the maintenance and moderation of my Substack online community for a single (not weekly) FSA Recovery Consultation. Monthly subscribers will receive a 10% discount if we agree to go ahead with the consultation. Annual subscribers receive a 15% discount.
Why Am I Getting So Many Emails From Substack When I Only Signed Up To Receive Your Publication?
You may have subscribed to my recommended content when subscribing. Your Profile Settings may also be set up so that Substack curates other authors and publications and sends you their content. You also may be getting marketing emails from Substack. Here’s how to reduce unwanted emails:
1. Unsubscribe from a specific Substack email:
Open any Substack email you receive.
Locate the "Unsubscribe" link, typically at the bottom of the email.
Click the "Unsubscribe" link to remove yourself from that specific publication's email list.
2. Adjust email preferences within your Substack account:
Log in to your Substack account and navigate to your account settings by clicking on your profile avatar and scrolling down to ‘Settings’.
Find the "Notifications" section, which may be under "Marketing" or "Subscribing".
Uncheck the boxes next to the types of emails you want to stop receiving, such as "Marketing" or "Reading Suggestions".
You can also adjust push notification preferences for the same categories.
Community Interaction and Support
Q: How can I get personal advice or support for FSA-related situations?
A: For personal feedback on your situation, you can pose questions privately to our community via the popular Ask the Community feature in our Chat space. Community members often have a wealth of wisdom and FSA experience to share and I also contribute to these conversations; however, as per our Community Guidelines, we do not offer ‘advice’ or tell you what to do; instead, we share our “experience, strength, and hope” based on our own FSA-related experiences that you may then apply to your situation, if you wish. You can email me your question for the community or send it to me via a Direct Message on Substack. (Please note that I cannot advise you directly on your family matters, and our community is not equipped to advise on 'crisis' situations.)
Q: How do I introduce myself to other Community Members?
A: I send a ‘Free-Form Chat Thread’ out every Saturday where community members (subscribers) can discuss FSA-related topics of interest. You can introduce yourself in this thread, which you’ll receive via email and/or push notification (if you’re using the mobile app).
Q: Do you have moderators reviewing messages in Chat Threads and Post Comments?
A: Yes. I serve as the moderator and I review all comments and replies on my Substack. I will remove any comment that violates are Community Guidelines (see below), including comments that invalidate another’s healing process (tools and techniques they use, people they follow, ‘advice-giving’, etc), as such comments can provoke ‘toxic shame’ within FSA survivors. Subscribers may use the ‘Report’ feature attached to each comment (or reply) if they are concerned that a Community Guideline has been violated.
Q: Do you reply to each and every comment left by subscribers?
A: While I review all comments, replies, etc, I may not always leave a reply in return. I do try to ‘heart’ the comment / reply so you know I saw it. If you would definitely like a reply from me, let me know this in your comment, bearing in mind my role on Substack as facilitator and educator, not counselor / consultant. I also prioritize subscribers comments on days I’m short on time, which can happen when I’m engaged in a new FSA research study.
Q: Are there community guidelines and Term of Service I need to follow? And what type of individual best fits your particular community environment?
A: Yes, our subscriber community is international and diverse. Please adhere to our Community Guidelines to ensure our community remains a safe, respectful, and healing space for all. My Substack community is best suited for people who value depth, clinical accuracy, ethical practice, trauma-informed content, and a nuanced understanding of complex trauma. They are probably looking for healing, not just validation of their anger. My content might resonate more with individuals who are past the initial shock and outrage phase of waking up to the fact they’ve been the target of Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) and are ready for deeper, more sustainable healing work in an expert-led community. Not only do I offer subscribers unique insights into FSA and how to heal from it; my content promotes critical shifts in perspective; and offers the potential for healing that my expertise provides. discussing FSA provides.
Read my Substack’s Terms of Use and Service here (this is in addition to Substack’s Terms of Use and Service): https://familyscapegoathealing.substack.com/tos
Privacy and Security
Q: How do you protect my privacy as a community member?
A: To maintain the security and integrity of our community and to comply with financial regulations and Stripe’s anti-fraud measures, we do not accept pre-paid credit cards when making a donation. Similarly, subscriptions initiated using disposable email addresses are not permitted as they hinder our ability to verify legitimate transactions and prevent potential misuse of the platform. These measures are also in place to ensure a safe and trustworthy environment for all our subscribers.
If you are a current subscriber using a pre-paid credit card or disposable email address and have trouble renewing your subscription, please email me or Direct Message me here.
Q: Can I advertise, promote, or solicit my products, services, or publications on your Substack?
A: Sorry, to protect my subscribers from unwanted interactions, I do not allow any kind of solicitation on my Healing the Scapegoat Wound Substack. I also will immediately ban subscribers who do so. I will also ban subscribers who use my Substack in an attempt to “fish” for subscribers and/or convert them to clients.
Subscription Gift (Donation) Information
Q: How much is a monthly or annual subscription gift (donation) and why should I donate?
A: As the world's foremost expert on Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA), my Substack offers unparalleled value, reflecting over two decades of specialized research, clinical practice, and direct support for survivors. Creating content and facilitating my Substack community is now my full-time job. Your donation allows me to create a wealth of carefully crafted FSA-related content via my e-publication here on Substack, including deeply insightful analyses, evidence-based coping strategies, occasional video livestreams, and a supportive community discussion ‘Chat’ space, all meticulously crafted from my unique perspective and extensive experience as a clinician and researcher specializing in Family Scapegoating Abuse and its effects on children and adult survivors. In short, my Substack is a dedicated resource built upon the most comprehensive understanding of FSA available globally and is a critical resource for anyone seeking clarity, validation, and tangible pathways to healing from this complex and often misunderstood form of family dysfunction.
SUBSCRIPTION GIFT PRICES:
A monthly subscription gift (donation) is $10.00 USD and renews each month automatically until you cancel it. Monthly subscribers receive a 10% discount if they choose to schedule an FSA Recovery Consultation with me, as mentioned above.
Annual subscription gifts (donations) are $100.00 USD. Annual subscription gifts DO NOT renew automatically. Annual subscribers may schedule an FSA Recovery Consultation with me and receive a 15% discount.
Email me at fsaexpert@proton.me if you’d like me to extend your annual subscription gift before your subscription ends.
You may cancel your recurring monthly donation by visiting your Stripe customer portal at https://billing.stripe.com/p/login/4gw4jj6DO3PO4la9AA. Use the same email address and password you use to access my Substack.
Taxes: Customer is responsible for paying any taxes on their subscription gift if their governments require them. Your donations to Healing the Scapegoat Wound (a for-profit entity) are NOT tax deductible.
Q: Will you be raising your subscription gift prices and if so, will I be notified first?
A: Your donation amount will NOT be raised as long as you don’t cancel (or let your subscription gift expire).
Q: Do you offer free trials?
A: No, sorry. Our community members value their privacy and subscribers on free trials can be disruptive to those who are committed to co-creating a safe, supportive online community. If you need financial assistance, please reach out to me to discuss.
Q: Can I make a monthly or annual subscription gift to support your FSA research and adult survivor advocacy efforts without participating in your Community events?
A: Absolutely - and I’m always grateful when you choose to support my FSA work in this way!
Q: What if I can’t afford to make a monthly or annual donation?
A: You may also enjoy my e-publication with FSA-focused articles for free!
Managing Your Subscription Gift
Q: What’s your refund policy?
A: Substack has a ‘no refund’ policy on their subscriptions. However, I can override this, at my discretion. Therefore, do be sure to reach out to me via an email or Direct Message here on Substack before or right after you unsubscribe so we can discuss your specific situation regarding a possible refund of your subscription gift (donation).
Q: How do I cancel my subscription gift? Can I just unsubscribe from your emails?
A: Unsubscribing from receiving my emails will NOT cancel your subscription gift. To cancel your monthly subscription gift, navigate to your Substack account settings. Within your Subscriptions, locate the publication you wish to unsubscribe from and click on "To cancel your paid subscription, click here". On the next page, you can either pause your subscription or click "Cancel Subscription" to completely terminate it. Please note that per Substack, ANNUAL subscription gifts can NOT be refunded if cancelled early, per Substack’s policies. If you believe that your situation qualifies you for a full or a pro-rated refund, simply email me or Direct Message me here to discuss. You can also visit your Stripe Customer Portal to adjust your monthly subscription gift. Use the same email address and password you use to access my Substack.
Q: I'm not receiving your emails in my Inbox. What should I do?
A: If you didn’t receive your Welcome email or it went to a different folder, you'll want to 'Whitelist' my Substack's email address. Instructions for whitelisting are provided in the Welcome email. You’ll likely find my emails in your ‘Promotions’ folder if you have Gmail; just move my email to your ‘Primary’ folder and click on ‘Yes’ when Gmail asks if you want my emails to go to your primary inbox in the future.
Q: How do I ensure I receive all of your content?
A: To receive content via both email and push notifications, go to 'Settings' (via your profile) and 'Notifications' and toggle on 'Both'. If only push notifications are enabled (for the Substack mobile app), you won't receive posts via email.
Q: How do I adjust my profile settings, including my username and notification preferences?
A: To adjust your profile settings, including your username and notification preferences, click on your profile avatar (the colored circle) and then 'Settings'. Alternatively, you can visit https://substack.com/settings (you may need to sign in).
Make your Substack Private: See Linda’s post, below.