Could psychotherapy help you overcome the psychological trauma caused by a criminal act? Research shows that a traumatic event in the context of death, death threats, serious injury or sexual assault can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In some cases, this stress can become a disorder. It then becomes imperative to treat it before the symptoms develop to the point of becoming disabling.
Assistance under the Act
In this context, timely psychological care increases the chances of long-term recovery. There is a Compensation Program for Victims of Crime (IVAC). Health professionals will be able to advise you, refer you and guide you through the administrative procedures to obtain this help, such as the reimbursement of psychotherapy costs.
If the crime involves a violent nature such as physical assault or sexual harassment, whether in the workplace or at school, psychological treatment can prevent the psychological repercussions. In fact, even witnesses and relatives of victims of violent crime will be able to benefit from specialized psychotherapeutic follow-up.
Throughout this process, the client should not forget himself, because he is the “barometer” of his relationship with the therapist. If he feels that trust does not settle naturally, he can decide whether to continue or not. For example, a victim of sexual harassment or violence often prefers to confide in a psychologist of the same sex. Throughout the process, the client must respect their personal journey. If necessary, if the client so wishes, the psychologist can accompany his client in a transition to a new therapist.
The approach of specialized psychotherapy
There are generally three steps in the process of helping people experiencing violent crime: diagnostic assessment, treatment and assessment.
Initially, the psychologist will listen and use his skills as an analyst and his communication skills to establish a climate of trust and alliance. Gradually, after a few sessions, the helping relationship will gradually settle and the person will accept his care; she will agree to let go and confide. At this crucial moment, the experienced psychologist will know how to dose and calibrate his intervention so as not to trigger an episode of revival or evoke a recurrence of chains of memories related to feelings of humiliation, suffering and injustice.
It is only after having properly observed, listened to and analyzed the facts, the psychological experience, the symptoms, that the psychologist will be able to conclude a diagnosis. Based on the presence of certain pervasive symptoms, such as repetitive memories, nightmares, dissociative reactions accompanied by an intense distress reaction, the psychologist will be able to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder.
In the second stage, there will be planning of a treatment that will generally consist in restoring to the client his skills in terms of regulating affects. The customer will have to regain his ability to calm down, relax, as well as reduce his activation. Subsequently, he will learn to expose himself gradually and gradually to his fears, with the aim of renouncing this insidious defense mechanism that is avoidance.
After all this work, we can expect progress to be made, and at the time of the assessment, the person can only rejoice in the progress made. At this stage, the consultation professional will be able to redefine expectations by reframing them, reformulating secondary objectives and establishing a psychological reconstruction leading to the normal functioning of everyday life.
Psychological reconstruction
In cases of severe trauma, victims may find themselves psychologically devastated. The feeling of helplessness felt can then easily lead to depression. A experienced psychologist will be able to interpret this range of affective reactions felt: his repertoire of cognitive-behavior intervention can help the victim to reframe his posture, to gradually move from an exploratory mode, to a “solution” mode, where he will take the right solutions in accordance with a positive reconstruction of his “psyche”.
The therapeutic work will bring the person towards a balance and acceptance, allowing to “heal” the psychological wounds and strengthen the mechanisms of defenses, to better regenerate the capacities of adaptation. Through an awareness of his defensive posture, the victim will shed new light on his suffering and on the dynamics of his attribution processes. It is therefore also a process of change that allows the person to move to the “solution” mode.
This article is written in collaboration with Dr. Rémi Côté, Ph.D., psychologist