“But I’m not a therapist!”: Why Victim Advocates Need to Understand Mental Health
By Dr. Kate Watson
There is a common refrain in advocacy work: “I’m not a therapist.” And that’s true. Victim advocates are not responsible for diagnosing, treating, or providing clinical care. But that doesn’t mean mental health isn’t part of the work. In fact, whether we name it or not, mental health shows up in nearly every interaction advocates have with survivors. Understanding just a little about it can make the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling effective.
You’re already seeing mental health (you just might not call it that). Survivors rarely walk into a conversation neatly labeling their experiences. Instead, advocates hear things like “I can’t sleep,” “I feel numb all the time,” “I don’t know why I keep going back,” and “I feel like I’m losing control.” These are not abstract concepts but lived experiences that often reflect anxiety, depression, trauma responses, or ambivalence. Without a basic understanding of mental health, it is easy to misinterpret what is happening, where numbness can be seen as disinterest, avoidance as resistance, and ambivalence as noncompliance. When advocates understand the underlying dynamics, however, these same behaviors begin to make sense, and when things make sense, we respond with more patience, less judgment, and greater skill.
Ironically, learning about mental health is one of the best ways to avoid acting like a therapist.
When advocates don’t have a framework, they may feel pressure to “fix” what they’re seeing. That pressure can lead to: Giving advice too quickly, trying to solve problems that aren’t theirs to solve, and taking on emotional responsibility for outcomes. A basic mental health foundation can help advocates recognize symptoms without diagnosing, validate emotions without trying to treat them, and support without overstepping. It reinforces the advocate’s role: to walk alongside, not to direct or repair.
Advocates are often the first to hear statements that raise concern:
“Sometimes I think everyone would be better off without me.”
“I just don’t care what happens anymore.”
Without some grounding in mental health, these moments can feel alarming and unclear. Should you escalate? Refer? Stay present? A basic understanding helps you recognize warning signs, respond calmly instead of reactively, and connect clients to appropriate resources when needed. It doesn’t make you responsible for clinical decisions, but it helps you avoid both underreacting and overreacting.
The goal is not to turn advocates into clinicians. The goal is to build literacy: Knowing common terms, recognizing patterns, and understanding how trauma impacts thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Think of it as learning the language of the work you are already doing. Because the truth is, advocates are often the bridge between survivors and the systems meant to support them. When you understand even a little about mental health, you strengthen that bridge.