FSA Survivor Resources

Jun 01, 2024

"Rebecca C. Mandeville's pioneering research on the systemic phenomenon she named Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) marks the establishment of a new - and critically important - area of study within the field of Family Systems. At last, survivors of this devastating phenomenon have names and terms to describe what happened to them in their family and a means of moving forward in their healing and recovery process."
- Joshua Mitchell, PhD, LMHC

Adult survivors of Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) often feel isolated, desperate, hopeless, and invalidated. The below resources have been helpful to clients in my private practice and my social media followers, and I've now updated the list for 2024:

Read My Book on introductory book on Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA), Rejected, Shamed, and Blamed: I've been privileged to receive hundreds of messages and comments from people all around the world who kindly let me know how much my introductory research-based book on what I named 'Family Scapegoating Abuse' (FSA), Rejected, Shamed, and Blamed, has helped them to have hope that they could indeed take steps to heal from this most insidious form of systemic 'invisible' abuse. My book is available internationally on Amazon and via these other major online book retailers and subscription services. If you haven't read my book yet, I encourage you to do so.

Join the Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) Education™ Substack Community: As a trauma-informed facilitator of this free Educational Substack with paid Community features, I’ve intentionally focused on creating an online environment that reduces nervous system activation and promotes recovery and healing as you engage with other survivors of family scapegoating abuse (FSA).

While it can feel temporarily satisfying to keep the focus on those who have caused us harm, online offerings aimed at abuse survivors that continuously activates their nervous system via highly charged content can move us beyond our Window of Tolerance when we have a history of relational trauma.

My hope is that our online community space will be a place where your nervous system can settle down as we take a more thoughtful, trauma-informed approach toward healing from the effects of family scapegoating abuse and narcissistic family abuse. You’ll also have access to my latest FSA articles. Paid subscribers enjoy exclusive Community Features that take place in a private, paywall-protected Chat space such as Ask the Community and a Dream Exploration group. We’ll be launching a writer’s group soon for people working on their memoirs or other autobiographical material. Learn more about my Substack community for FSA adult survivors.

Subscribe to the FSA Education Substack to access my FSA Recovery Quick-Start Guide (link and QR Code will be in your ‘Welcome’ email)

Visit My Website at scapegoatrecovery.com: Learn more about my background, my FSA research, and my introductory book on FSA.

What Is Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA)? Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) is associated with a specific pathological family system phenomenon that I have been researching on for many years. Learn more about FSA here.

Take the Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) Self-Test: Most 'family scapegoat' self-tests I've taken a look at are not trauma-informed. Check out my brief FSA self-test to see if you may be in the family scapegoat role and impacted by complex trauma (C-PTSD). There's also a full FSA self-test in my book, Rejected, Shamed, and Blamed. This self-test should not be used for diagnostic purposes. You can check out the FSA Questionnaire here.

Complete this brief Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) Recovery Worksheet: This worksheet will help you to explore issues that you may not realize are associated with FSA. Check out the worksheet here.

The research behind the term I coined, Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) - and why FSA merits global attention: https://www.scapegoatrecovery.com/2024/05/25/why-family-scapegoating-abuse-fsa-deserves-global-attention/

Check out Dr. Janina Fisher’s FREE WORKSHEETS: Soothing the Traumatized Brain

Free PDF from Dr. Janina Fisher: Learning to Love Our “Selves”

Tips to process Core Anger: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/03/12/1236973762/anger-management-types-purpose-cause (You might also want to read the book ‘The Dance of Anger’ by Harriet Lerner, PhD)

Find me on YouTube: As a licensed YouTube Health Partner, I provide free public education about Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) and its effects, as well as healing from FSA on my channel Beyond Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA).

Single-Session Consultations for FSA Recovery: Due to a high volume of requests, as of March 2024 my Video Consultation Waiting List is closed except to licensed Clinicians, my YouTube Channel Benefactor Members, and my Substack's Founding Member Subscribers. Learn more about my Single-Session service.

Find a trauma-informed Psychotherapist trained in Family Systems

Many therapists and coaches are working online now, and some offer low-fee slots to those who are in financial need. Psychology Today's website allows you to use filters to find therapists in your area who address your specific issues and you can filter for online service providers as well if you live in the United States. Click on the filter 'Types of Therapy', then 'Show More Types of Therapy' and then 'Family Systems' to find a therapist who will be familiar with family roles such as 'identified patient' and 'family scapegoat'. A therapist with in-depth training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) may also be helpful as they are trained in doing 'parts' work, which benefits most adult survivors of FSA. Mental Health telehealth platforms also offer financial aid if you reach out to their support team. You also can ask to be matched with a licensed Marriage, Family Therapist (LMFT), as these psychotherapists are required to receive a great amount of training in Family Systems as part of their Masters programs. Recovering from family scapegoating abuse is difficult to do alone or only with the help of an online forum or self-help book, especially if C-PTSD symptoms are present. Decide to get help, and don't stop until you do.

Take the International Trauma Questionnaire: The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) is a brief, simply worded measure, focusing only on the core features of PTSD and CPTSD, and employs straightforward diagnostic rules. The ITQ was developed to be consistent with the organizing principles of the ICD-11, as set forth by the World Health Organization, which are to maximize clinical utility and ensure international applicability through a focus on the core symptoms of a given disorder. Access the ITQ here.

Searching for a Trauma-Informed (TIST-Trained) Therapist? You can search for a practitioner in your area here (they may be able to see you online if they are too far to see in person).

Searching for a Trauma-Informed Coach? You can check out this international directory here.

Struggling with issues around sexual abuse and relationships (including family relationships? Reach out to https://www.wannatalkaboutit.com/

Recovery Books recommended by our FSA Education community subscribers (public Discussion Thread): https://familyscapegoathealing.substack.com/p/community-discussion-thread-share/comments

Scapegoating as Social Violence: For a broader view of scapegoating in society throughout the centuries, read The Scapegoat by Rene Girard. From the back cover: “In 'The Scapegoat', the author audaciously turns to classical mythology, medieval narrative, and the New Testament to explore the scenes behind 'texts of persecution, ' documents that recount collective violence from the standpoint of the persecutor.”

Curious what type of clinical signs FSA adult survivors might experience? Watch my YouTube video covering this important topic. (Suitable for FSA adult survivors as well as clinicians and certified trauma-informed coaches.)

Are you a Clinician / Therapist or a Certified Trauma-Informed Coach interested in knowning more about FSA? Check out my YouTube playlist created especially for Mental Health Professionals. Suitable for FSA adult survivors as well.

Share My Public Service Announcement on FSA: Family scapegoating abuse is painfully under-recognized by the general public - and is often missed by treating Mental Health professionals. It will take a grassroots movement from FSA adult survivors to bring attention to this form of abuse worldwide. Consider sharing this Public Service Announcement I created to raise societal awareness and understanding regarding this form of insidious, systemic psycho-emotional abuse.

Complex Trauma (C-PTSD) Workbook: I use Dr. Janina Fisher's C-PTSD workbook in my practice. As most FSA adult survivors suffer from complex trauma and some form of structural dissociation, you may want to take a look at it to see if it might benefit you. Best used with a trauma-informed therapist or certified trauma-informed coach. You can learn more about Dr. Fisher's workbook here: Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma. Dr. Fisher also has an international search feature on her website to find a therapist trained in Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST).

'Focusing' by Eugene Gendin: Focusing is a 6-step self-help tool to help get insight on something that is bothering you. It’s a body-centered approach that orients to your “felt sense” of an issue. A few survivors I know have found Focusing helpful in their FSA healing journey. You can learn more about 'Focusing' here: https://counsellinginhamilton.com/focusing/

10 Self-Care Tips for FSA Adult Survivors: I wrote this originally for my clients in my private practice. It's been available on my website for awhile, but some of you may have missed it or could use these 'friendly reminders'. Access my Self-Care article.

11 Principles Supporting Narcissistic Family Abuse Recovery: Narcissistic family systems differ somewhat from dysfunctional ones and there are some things you will need to be clear on if you intend to embark on a journey of hope and healing if the scapegoating abuse you experienced is fueled by narcissistic family dynamics. Read about the 11 principles I use in my work with FSA clients raised in narcissistic family systems here: https://www.scapegoatrecovery.com/2024/03/03/recovering-from-narcissistic-family-abuse/

Free Affirmations Playlist: I created these affirmations for adult survivors of FSA for my private practice clients as well as my YouTube community and they are proving to be a very helpful tool, based on the feedback I've been getting. For best results, read the instructions in the video descriptions.

10 Strategies for Navigating Family Gatherings: I wrote this article originally to help my FSA adult survivor clients over the holidays, but you can apply these strategies to any family gathering you plan to attend (item 10 addresses those who have ended contact). Read my article here.

Understanding the Pathological Family Projective Identification Process: Read my article to understand the underlying forces that support family scapegoating abuse (FSA) in families.

Narcissistic versus Dysfunctional Family Systems: Not all families that scapegoat are narcissistic in their structure. Learn what makes a family dysfunctional versus narcissistic by watching this video.

About Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD): These days it seems that anyone who behaves in a hurtful, insensitive manner is labelled a narcissist (or 'narc'). This is simply not the case. Research on narcissism confirms that it exists on a spectrum. Many people have narcissistic traits, but not everyone has NPD. If you are confused regarding whether or not a family member may be a full-blown narcissist, read this article from the Cleveland Clinic. You might also like to read this article about the latest findings on narcissism from Scientific American as well as this article on how to spot a narcissist.

Thinking of ending contact? If you are thinking of cutting ties with scapegoating family members, read my article on why 'going no contact' can be a legitimate, trauma-informed recovery strategy. Watch my video where I discuss the unexpected emotional aftermath that some FSA adult survivors experience after ending contact.

Scapegoat Abuse and Contested Wills / Estate / Inheritance Issues (Article): https://disinherited.com/family-estrangement/black-sheep-and-scapegoats-in-dysfunctional-families/

Center for Institutional Courage: Similar to dysfunctional and narcissistic family systems, institutions often fail the very people they should protect. Dr. Jennifer Freyd, who coined the terms 'Betrayal Trauma Theory' (BTT) and 'DARVO' (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender), has established the Center for Institutional Courage as a means of inviting institutions / organizations to examine their dehumanizing, traumatizing practices: You can learn more about Dr. Freyd's mission for her non-profit center here: https://www.institutionalcourage.org/

Al-Anon: Scapegoating is common in family systems impacted by alcohol / addiction. Al-Anon offers confidential group support (12-Step based) for those who need to get the focus back on themselves versus ruminating over the needs / concerns of others. In-person and online meetings available. Learn more (and find meetings) here.

National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.): Scapegoating at times qualifies as a form of domestic abuse, particularly if you are in a relationship with a narcissist who is aligned with scapegoating family members. Confidential help is available at https://www.thehotline.org/

Legal Aid (in the United States): Find a lawyer and affordable legal aid: https://www.usa.gov/legal-aid

🔴 NEED HELP NOW? Being scapegoated can be extremely traumatizing. If you feel in danger of harming yourself, this is a list of international hotlines where you can speak to someone: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/ You can also search for crisis support in your country here: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/11181469?hl=en

Visit My Substack Archives to See Previous Articles on FSA