Q&A with Carol Mooney, a wellness counselor

What experience have you had dealing with sociopaths or other disordered personalities—personally, professionally, or both?

I worked for many years as a counselor in the criminal justice system with high-risk individuals involved in criminal offending, drugs and alcohol, volatile behaviors, chronic unemployment, very low education levels, mental health disorders and personality disorders (predominantly antisocial personality disorder), as well as a crisis counselor through the Mental Health Mental Retardation Department.

In addition, I speak from the inside out from personal experience with a relationship with a dangerous, toxic lethal individual. I know the pain, betrayal and utter shattering devastation and the effects emotionally, physically, spiritually, mentally, sexually and financially.

How do you go about helping clients who have tangled with a sociopath?

I help clients who have tangled with a sociopath by setting up appointments for counseling either by phone or in person if they are local.

I have a wellness chart I present that lists overall things that remind clients of healthful activities to consider everyday such as: journaling, reading spiritual devotionals, taking vitamins and supplements, hair appointments, pedicures, manicures, exercise, medical exams, counseling, meeting with friends and other activities to help relieve stress.

If clients are in danger, I refer them to agencies such as Domestic Violence Agencies, who can help with protective orders and resources, including shelters.

I find that going over particular cases, clients have a need to discuss personal circumstances, family history, support systems and how the devastation has affected them and their families and friends.

I have worked with many clients all over the United States for the past eight years involved in relationships with sociopaths and I have supported many of them as they came up and out of them successfully to move on to healthier living.

What’s one tip you can suggest to help Lovefraud readers recover from the betrayal of a sociopath?

One tip I would suggest to readers of Lovefraud recovering from the betrayal of a sociopath is to get regular counseling to work through trauma and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, and to learn to heal through gentleness to oneself by good support systems, and focusing on taking care of body, soul and spirit.

Yoga and deep breathing, sleep,exercise and plugging into activities mentioned above will help to move toward health, vitality and wellness. Thinking has a lot to do with attitude and our responses are valuable to health: “As a person thinks, so is he/she.” Proverbs