Choosing help after a hijacking, robbery or assault

The difference between recovering and getting stuck often comes down to finding someone who understands not just trauma, but *your* kind of trauma and what you need right now.

After a hijacking, robbery or assault, you're not just processing fear or loss—you're dealing with a violation of your safety, often by someone you'll never see again, in a moment you couldn't control. That specificity matters when you're choosing who to talk to.

Most trauma counsellors work with a range of incidents. Some have trained deeply in acute, interpersonal violence. Some specialise in helping people process the immediate aftermath; others focus on the months afterward when hypervigilance or intrusive memories show up. You'll recover better if you find someone whose experience and approach match where you actually are.

Experience with robbery, hijacking and assault survivors

Not all trauma is the same to treat. A counsellor skilled in childhood abuse may use different techniques than someone experienced with street crime. Ask directly: have they worked with people after hijackings, robberies or assaults? How many? Over what period?

Specialised experience matters because these incidents carry particular patterns. You may be managing fear of specific situations (driving alone, being followed, crowds). You might be dealing with shame or self-blame about what you "should" have done. You could be struggling to trust strangers or authority figures. A therapist who recognises these patterns won't waste sessions helping you describe them from scratch.

Ask what frameworks or approaches they use. Some therapists work with trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT), which has strong evidence for crime-related trauma. Others use Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), somatic or narrative approaches. You don't need to know these methods inside out, but you should understand in simple terms how they work and why they fit your situation. If their explanation feels vague or like they're reading from a handbook, that's a yellow flag.

Timing also shapes what you need. If this happened last week, you may benefit from someone who can help you stabilise—sleep, focus, basic safety planning—before deeper processing. If it was two years ago and you're still having nightmares or can't go certain places, you need someone comfortable working deeper. Some counsellors are generalists; some explicitly say "I work best with recent incidents" or "I specialise in long-term trauma recovery." That honesty is valuable.

Practical fit and accessibility

Beyond expertise, three practical factors genuinely affect whether you'll stick with counselling and get better: location, timing and how you communicate.

After violence, travel can feel risky or exhausting. If the therapist's practice is in an area that makes you anxious, or requires a journey you dread, you'll find reasons to skip sessions. Proximity, or a therapist who offers video consultations (which many now do), removes a real barrier.

Timing flexibility also matters. You might have intrusive memories that surface at particular times, or you might simply need to fit counselling around work and family without adding stress. Ask about session length, frequency and whether they can accommodate changes if you're struggling.

How you prefer to communicate—whether you're most comfortable talking, or whether you'd benefit from techniques that don't rely on narrating the incident aloud—should steer your choice. Some people find it easier to start with a therapist who integrates body-focused work. Others need someone who can work with you over WhatsApp or email initially if face-to-face feels too raw.

Ask whether they've worked with your insurance or medical aid, and whether they'll handle claims or leave that to you. A therapist who manages admin hassle is one less thing you're carrying.

When you're vetting candidates, pay attention to how they respond to your questions. Do they listen to what you're describing, or give stock answers? Do they acknowledge what you've been through without minimising it? That respect and attunement in the first conversation often predicts the quality of your working relationship.

On Strove, you can read verified counsellors' profiles, check their qualifications and see what clients say about their approach. Use that to narrow down therapists with relevant experience, then book an initial chat to feel out whether they're the right fit for where you are now.