301 | Shining the Light in the Darkness: Exposing the Playbook of a Predator

Relationships often involve vulnerability, which perpetrators exploit to control, dominate, defraud, and abuse. Perpetrators use the appearance of affection to achieve their goals, making it difficult for victims to articulate the abuse, allowing it to go unlabeled and undetected. Victims often blame themselves for the negative emotions resulting from interpersonal exploitation and violence. Whether dealing with a child predator, human trafficker, social predator, or someone committing domestic violence, perpetrators use similar tactics to conceal their true nature and objectives. Psychologists, mental health professionals, and medical personnel, ministry leaders, and coaches can intervene and help heal the damage caused by predatory behaviors by understanding these methods. Participants will describe methods predators use to groom potential victims and protective individuals. Participants will analyze various techniques predators use to maintain compliance and forge a bond with the victim. Additionally, participants will evaluate specific faith-based counseling strategies for Christian clients that assist in the healing process, empowering victims to recover and build resilience.