FSA Education Community Guidelines for Chat: General Community Expectations and Political and Religious References
The below guidelines are intended to promote a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment for everyone in our paid subscriber community.
Our community is growing! I appreciate your understanding and cooperation in maintaining this space as one that prioritizes healing, compassion, respect, and a sense of emotional safety for all members - especially our new members, who often feel very vulnerable when first participating in Chat and can be highly sensitive (and understandably adverse) to conflict-ridden interactions due to their FSA history and painful family experiences.
General conduct guidelines to follow when commenting and replying in Chat or on Posts
Community Guidelines for the FSA Education for Chat and Post comments (political and religious references are addressed at the end of these guidelines).
Please be aware I have a ‘No Second Chances’ policy governing the below guidelines. Meaning, subscribers will be banned after violating the below guidelines the first time, including if the violation occurs during interactions with me.
Respect and Kindness: Treat everyone with respect. Use kind, supportive language. Everyone’s journey is different, and empathy is key.
Confidentiality: What’s shared in this space stays in this space. Respect others' privacy and avoid sharing personal details outside of the group.
No Judgment: While no group can guarantee itself to be a safe space for all at all times, we can aspire to be a “safe enough” space in our group Chats. There is no room for judgment or shaming, especially when we are inviting vulnerable new members to share their experiences without fear of criticism when joining our Chat conversations.
Supportive Language: Use encouraging and positive language. Offer help without imposing advice, and always ask before giving suggestions unless suggestions were specifically requested by the member you’re replying to.
Boundaries: Respect others' boundaries, both emotional and personal. If someone indicates they are not comfortable with a topic, be mindful and shift the conversation.
Zero Tolerance for Harmful Behavior: Any form of abusive language, harassment, or harmful behavior is not tolerated. If you witness this, please report it by pressing on the comment on the Mobile App or clicking on the three horizontal dots next to the comment in a browser to access the drop-down menu.
Stay Safe: If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsafe due to family issues and FSA dynamics, let someone you trust know, and reach out to a professional for support. This space is here to help, but it is not a substitute for professional therapy or emergency services, nor can I as the facilitator provide therapeutic services or crisis support.
Be Patient: Healing takes time. Everyone’s pace is different. Be patient with yourself and others as we support each other in our FSA recovery efforts.
POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS REFERENCES IN CHAT: We understand that our members come from diverse backgrounds and hold a wide range of views on many topics, including in regard to politics and religion. However, we ask that political and religious references be kept to a minimum in our Chats and Post comments for the following reasons:
Focus on Healing: This Substack is intended to be a “safe enough” space dedicated to supporting adult survivors of Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) in their recovery. The primary goal here is to provide emotional support, share coping strategies, and offer resources for healing. Political and/or religious discussions and debates can easily shift the focus away from our individual and collective recovery efforts and create unnecessary distractions that may hinder the healing process for some members. With that said, for some of us, the FSA dynamics we experienced in our families may have been fueled or amplified by political or religious influences. If this is a part of a community member’s story (as it is with mine, having been raised by a “Minister’s daughter”), I ask that you read such comments and sharings with an open heart and an attitude of care and tolerance.
Respect for Diversity: Members of this community hold different political views and religious orientations, or may be non-religious / atheist. Introducing political or religious discussions could lead to division and conflict. This forum is meant to be a place where all survivors of FSA feel respected and supported, regardless of their political or religious beliefs. By limiting political and religious references, we maintain a space where the focus remains on shared experiences of FSA and the common goal of healing. Mentioning your faith or religious or spiritual practices that have helped you in your FSA recovery is fine, but please avoid proselytizing in an attempt to convert others to your personal belief system.
Emotional Sensitivity: The topic of FSA can be deeply emotional and triggering for many. Political and religious conversations, particularly in today’s polarized climate, can introduce additional stress and discomfort, making it harder for some individuals to engage in the healing process. We aim to protect the emotional well-being of all members by ensuring that the discussions remain focused on healing rather than external factors.
A “Safe Enough” Space for All: Our Chat space is designed to be an inclusive, non-judgmental environment. By limiting political and religious references, we reduce the risk of alienating individuals who may feel excluded or invalidated due to their beliefs. This allows for a more supportive and empathetic community, where survivors can connect over their shared experiences without fear of judgment or conflict.
Encouraging Constructive Conversations: Political, ideological, philosophical, and religious assertions and assumptions can foster heated debates or disagreements that can derail constructive conversations. In our community, we promote positive, supportive, and solution-oriented discussions on FSA healing and recovery, centered on how to cope with and overcome the impacts of being scapegoated by family.
In summary: Our community supports conversations that focus on validating our experiences of Family Scapegoating Abuse and its effects; coping strategies; self-care; and healing. At some point I may offer a dedicated Chat space for socio-political discussions as related to scapegoating dynamics for those who want to participate in something like this, but I am unable to dedicate myself to initiating such a project currently or moderate such a space due to lack of time.
Learn More About My ‘No Second Chance’ Policy and Why I Instituted This Policy on My Substack
Thank you for taking the time to read the above guidelines. I so appreciate your presence here and your financial support of the FSA Education Substack. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to Direct Message me here on Substack by clicking on my profile photo. - Rebecca C. Mandeville, LMFT, CCTP