She also facilitates small educational/interactive workshops for former members, face to face since 2009 and online since 2018. [1] He frequently appears in the news and other media discussing groups some consider cults. Protect the system against damage, changes or illegal access. Ashlen is featured in Season 3 of the BET+ Original Series: American Gangster: Trap Queens. She realized she had been in a cult in 2004 after talking with a former member, reading Margaret Singers Cults in our Midst, and visiting the ex-member website. She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, United Kingdom, as both a clinical and a counselling psychologist, and she is a registered counsellor/psychotherapist with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. And of course, quoting experts is not the same as talking and interacting with them. Cathrine Moestue, Cand.Psychol., grew up in Oslo, Norway in an upper-middle-class family with four siblings. He focuses on how problematic unconscious God images are influenced by psychological and developmental factors, especially trauma. There are now groups and leaders online who recruit and exploit people through the web without ever meeting them face-to-face. He and his wife Vicki wrote Damaged Disciples: Casualties of Authoritarian Churches and the Shepherding Movement, published by Zondervan. He is involved with hypnosis both as a therapeutic tool and as a field of research, having published on the matter in La Revista de Psicoterapia international journal, as well as in the International Journal of Cultic Studies. While in the group, she pursued a career in accounting and software, helping to found and grow a company which went from 3 to 500 employees from 1981 to 1998. Whatever you ask of your followers you should chip in 3-fold. We do not receive any form of compensation for these listings.For obvious reasons we have chosen not to include individuals who have developed a negative reputation in the field. She presented her findings in 2015, at ICSAs conference in Santa Fe, which included an interview with Attorney Peter Skolnik. For instance, some Institutes are merely one-person efforts. The people and organizations listed here are widely accepted as experts in this particular field. ), is Research Coeditor of ICSA Today and is a cofounder of RETIRN (please also see www.retirn.com), a private practice that provides services to individuals and families who have been affected by cultic influence and abusive relationships. Since 2009 she has also treated patients who grew up in different high demand groups. Carol Giambalvos interest in cults and thought reform began in 1978 when her step-daughter began exhibiting a drastic personality change following becoming a devotee in ISKCON. Editor of the online journal of SOS Abusi Psicologici, Manipulation and Abuse http://www.abusievessazioni.it/; she is an expert for the Criminal Court of Udine in the branch of education, with a specialization in criminology and problems related to cultic affiliations; Italian Co-correspondent for ICSA Today. Some are trained psychologists and social workers . Sometimes this means one person has to put aside his or her favorite tried-and-true strategy and try something different. Most cult experts themselves no longer use the terminology of deprogramming because of the controversies surrounding this intervention process. Many cult experts are listed, affiliated with and/or recommended by widely recognized organizations such as theInternational Cultic Studies Association(ICSA). These cult experts help current cult members understand why and how to leave. Others do not provide intervention or counseling services, but rather engage in academic research. Linda has developed a new MSc Psychology of Coercive Control program at the University of Salford and is leading the program with Rod Dubrow-Marshall. 860 717 4400, Steve K. D. Eichel, PhD, ABPP, ICSA President, is Past-President of the American Academy of Counseling Psychology and the Greater Philadelphia Society of Clinical Hypnosis. www.dallascult.com; (214) 607-1065, Wendy Duncan, MA, LBSW, has a Masters Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a licensed social worker in the state of Texas. They think they are following the Lord, but they have become like a mannequin trying to pass for a live body. You may opt to take additional training and become a computer systems analyst or independent consultant. Develop mechanisms for leaders and employees to engage in honest, two-way dialogue in a safe environment. Patrick Ryanis a graduate of Maharishi International University. Understand the true meaning of SEO. Not to mention, a passion for fitness! Rick Alan Ross runs the Cult Education Institute, a non-profit organization located in Trenton, New Jersey. Rod co-founded the Re-Entry Therapy Information and Referral Network (RETIRN) UK in 2004 with Dr Linda Dubrow-Marshall, where he serves as a consultant in helping individuals and families who have been adversely affected by destructive or damaging cults and other extremist and high demand/manipulative groups or relationships. 1952) is an American deprogrammer, cult specialist, and founder and executive director of the nonprofit Cult Education Institute. Robert Pardon, MDiv, ThM, is the Executive Director of the New England Institute of Religious Research (NEIRR) and MeadowHaven. In evaluating lay and professional experts, take into consideration demonstrable ability, a proven track record, and their standing among peers. She was one of the original founders of reFocus and the original Cult Awareness Network, NY/NJ chapter. They are no longer a vital expression of the Body of Christ and are becoming a cult. To further her understanding of her life experiences and develop a career using these invaluable life learnings Linda began her journey towards becoming a Mental Health Clinical Counselor. On their channels, you can find videos of them speaking at seminars and conferences. She has presented on this theme nationally and internationally, including presentation to the Minister of Social Services and a government delegation in Israel in 2012. 866-538-9048 (fax) Remember, this is an unregulated industry, and not everyone who calls him- or herself an expert is qualified to help you. She has spent most of her career in the mental health field.Wendy and her husband, Doug, are former members of a pseudo-Christian, Bible-based cult and several years after leaving, they became active in cult awareness activities. After years of working hard to save the world, she became disillusioned and, after several attempts, in 1992 she successfully escaped this destructive group by running away. If you are interested in any of these services, please Email:info@hopevalleycounselling.comWebsite:www.hopevalleycounselling.comPhone:+44 1433 639032. Only post-nominal letters indicate that the person has a position, academic degree, accreditation, etc. She is a member of the Mental Health and Research committees for ICSA. Create Dialogue Mechanisms. They are frequent presenters at churches, civic groups, and conferences, as well as facilitators of a support group for former members of cults and high-demand groups. Similarly, there are organizations and individuals who address deviations from the Jewish faith. Some websites consist primarily of news articles copied from original sources. Buyer beware: Helping people to leave a cult, or to deal with the aftermath of a cult experience, necessarily involves a certain amount of (mental health) counseling in addition to expert advice. They are frequent presenters at ICSA conferences. These are the 10 steps to follow to become an expert on SEO. Most of these resources address cults primarily, though often not exclusively, from a theological point of view. The more information she gathered on the indoctrination processes and thought reform used in cults, the more concerns arose about her involvement in est and The Hunger Project. Founded in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt, this cult is one of the main Illuminati groups. He was honored with AFFs 1990 John G. Clark Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Cultic Studies for this study, which was published as a special issue of the Cultic Studies Journal and has been translated into several foreign languages. If someone you know is involved in a cult, its worth doing some research yourself. Such groups may be manipulative cults, cult-like social movements, abusive churches, or even destructive personal relationships. She works as project planner and Director of the Helping Centers for Job Harassment in the Workplace of the Udine Province and of CISL- Pordenone Province. For example, a one-on-one cult can develop between a pastor and a church member, a boss and an employee, a teacher and a student, etc. 2, 15-24. In 1983, she and her husband, Noel, left their associations with est, The Hunger Project and Sterling Institute and began a personal search for information to aid their recovery process. In 2010 ICSA awarded her the Margaret L. Singer Award for advancing the understanding of coercive persuasion and undue influence. Cult leaders tend to be highly charismatic. A lay expert may not suggest that they have formal credentials, such as a required license. Certification and education are essential in cybersecurity specialist positions. Additionally, she is on the board of the Open Minds Foundation and works with Freedom of Mind. As is the case inany other profession, thisfield of work has its share of charlatans, angry loners, self-proclaimed experts, and the like. She received a Master of Social Work from Norfolk State University in 2013 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from Old Dominion University in 2011. Having the perspectives of a survivor and a mental health provider, she is passionate about raising awareness about spiritual abuse and how to counsel those who are experiencing or have experienced it. Before starting her private practice in 2001, Rachel had been the Clinician at the former Cult Clinic in Los Angeles, had worked at the Maynard Bernstein Resource Center on Cults, and was the Clinician at the Cult Hotline and Clinic in New York where she met with people privately and also ran a monthly support group for the families and friends of those in cults. Most cults have single leaders, or they're typically called collectives. Likewise, the term sect often used in Europe instead of the word cult is controversial for the same reasons. It should be noted that the majority of them refer to Christians and Christian organizations particularly those that participate in evangelism among Jews as cultists and cults. (After all, when defined theologically, cults depart from the essential doctrines and practices of a particular faith). That is the time it takes to learn specific specialist skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. He has co-authored several articles and book reviews on cult-related topics for the CSJ/CSR. Ashlen Hilliard (she/her) is Director of Events for the International Cultic Studies Association(ICSA) and a volunteer co-organizer of SAFE, the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education (SAFE) in Portland, Oregon. Helena Lfgren is a licensed psychotherapist, former member of the Unification church (1990-1992), member of the support group FRI, co-founder of the former Swedish support group SESAM, and co-founder of an informal network in Sweden for people who meet members or former members of high demand groups in their work. Understand how search engines work. Since exiting, she has been active with the local, national and international cult awareness and recovery networks. Not all cult experts, lay or professional, have the expertise, training, and licensure to provide effective assistance in this area. Education. There are many online research sources about cults. Considering a new exciting career as an Cybersecurity Specialist? For her Masters thesis/project Linda educated several mental health agencies in her area about cults and provided them with a DVD of her presentation Cults: Gaining Perspective. Linda chose her career as an LPCC to offer her a wide range of practice in mental health including recovery from group exploitation. She also worked at Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center in Ohio during Dr. Paul Martins final illness. She worked as a Senior System Consultant, Software Designer, and VP of Marketing. Rosanne Henry, MA, LPC, is a psychotherapist practicing in Littleton, Colorado. The journal and her contribution was entitled, The Last Draw: Cults and Creativity. Email: dwehlelcsw@gmail.com Phone: (212) 479-7963, Joseph F. Kelly, a graduate of Temple University (focus in religion), has been a cult intervention specialist (thought reform consultant/exit counselor,mediator) since 1989. 5. Linda is an avid reader of all things psychology relatedincluding individual and group exploitation. With a broad range of professional experience, she has served at community mental health centers, medical centers, and the Jewish Family & Children Service. 4, 2003), which she coauthored with Dr. Stephen Kent, and Why cults are harmful: Neurobiological speculations on inter-personal trauma. Step 5: Prepare your resume. She is a former-member and has served two internships at Wellspring Retreat Center, Ohio. This is a list of questions you can use to interview a therapist to make sure that you feel good about their expertise, their level of professionalism, and whether or not they feel like a good fitfor you. The list is published on the website of Janja Lalich, Ph.D., an international authority on cults and coercion. Professional investigators make excellent rescue specialists, given the addition of advanced training in the psychoemotional aspects of the assignment. Former Scientologist and now a licensed psychologist in Sweden. Since 1982, he's worked as a cult intervention specialist, conducting over 500 "interventions" (his preferred term for the cult . Unfortunately, some experts who are very good at marketing themselves are exactly the ones to stay away from. Used incorrectly, such articles may instead confirm what the person has come to expect: lies and persecution. Look for websites that offer a variety of research resources including original material written by recognized, respected experts. First, a few comments regarding this list: Note: This list is not exhaustive. She has a BA in Religion from Barnard College, studied at Union Theological Seminary, and received her MSW at Yeshiva University. He is also interested in the implementation of codes of ethical practices in all kind of organizations and associations in Spain. But genuine expertise generally is accompanied by professional behavior. Cult Brands welcome customers of all ages, races, creeds, and socioeconomic backgrounds with open arms. Doubts may also grow as cult members ascend in the cult's hierarchy and get a clearer view of how the sausage is really made, family therapist and cult specialist Rachel Bernstein tells Inverse. Diana, Leaving the Cult: Play Therapy in Childhood and Talk Therapy in Adolescence. 5. For example, it could mean that a client will be using an exfoliating serum twice a day instead of once a day. To discuss exit support, counselling or training you can call me on Phone: 44 07511784650 Website: https://www.tothinkagain.co.uk/, Doni Whitsett, PhD, LCSW, is a Clinical Professor at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work where she teaches various courses in practice, behavior, mental health, and human sexuality. Vanessa N. Weber, MSW, LCSW has worked with victims of cults and their families, since 1980. First, the most dastardly, insidious mark of a cult is that it ignores or distorts the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Dylesia Barner, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and a second-generation adult survivor. Stein provides a five-point definition of a cult: One: The leader is charismatic and authoritarian. Leona Furnari, MSW, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in Boulder, CO, specializing in recovery from trauma, including recovery from abusive groups, spiritual abuse and harmful relationships. Belonging. She presented this paper at the October 2016 Pratt Institute conference: Art of Mentalizing: Communicating the Unknown, with Peter Fonagy as the keynote speaker. Lorna Goldberg, LCSW, PsyA, Board member and past president of ICSA, is a clinical social worker and psychoanalyst in private practice and Director, Institute for Psychoanalytic Studies. If you are helping someone who is trapped in a cult, it pays to familiarize yourself with the terminology and issues surrounding cults. Email: helena.lofgren@lofgrensanalys.se, Phone: +46708197777, Linda Dubrow-Marshall, PhD, Reg. He is presently an adjunct professor in the social work and social science departments of Dominican College and he is on the faculty of the Institute for Psychoanalytic Studies. 8. Her talks have included The Psychobiology of Trauma and Child Maltreatment (2005, Madrid) and Why Cults Are Harmful: A Neurobiological View of Interpersonal Trauma (2012, Montreal). www.dallascult.com; (214) 607-1065. Great tips on how to start you're own Cult! 2Among cult experts you can encounter: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors, Loose Cannons, Rogues, Charlatans, et cetera. www.dallascult.com; (214) 607-1065, Cyndi Matthews, PhD, LPC-S, NCC is an experienced counseling clinician working in private practice and a counseling professor at the University of North Texas-Dallas. Terms such as one-on-one cult or cultic relationship are sometimes used to describe relationships in which there is a significant imbalance of power. Psychotherapy and Cult Recovery, http://www.sosabusipsicologici.it/?lang=en, Navigating Worldviews & Meaning Making Before, During, & After Meditation-Related Challenges, Social isolation linked to changes in brain structure and lower cognition ability, The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is conducting its 2022 Annual International Conference jointly with Info-Secte/Info-Cult of Montreal Speakers, ICSA Annual Conference Workshops: Working with Born and Raised-in Former Cult Members (for mental health professionals), ICSA Annual Conference: Cultic behaviour in the Church of England. Visual: Robert Nickelsberg / Getty Images. The term cult is often applied to a religious movement that exists in some degree of tension with the dominant religious or cultural inclination of a society. The term 'cult' comes from the Latin cultus, meaning 'worship. Implement training to colleagues. Dylesia owns Existence, Consciousness, Bliss Counseling, Psychotherapy & Wellness Center in Nashville, TN and is a Doctorate of Social Work student at Millersville University. There is a common misperception that you (as a cult leader and founder) have to brainwash or "force" members to join. For the first 12 years of her life, the cult controlled her entire existence . This course is designed for counselors, social workers, and therapists who work with victims, perpetrators, Probation and Parole professionals who desire to become more proficient surrounding Intimate Partner Violence. She has worked in child protection, community mental health, and as a school social worker. Since 1984, Carol has done exit counseling and writing in the field, as well as serving as director with several organizations boards, organizing and conducting recovery workshops and working with hundreds of people who have walked away from destructive cults. The first four books listed here are especially recommended. Rachel Bernstein, LMFT, MSEd Marriage and Family Therapist, Rosanne Henry, L.P.C. Mr. Kelly has also facilitated ICSA workshops for ex-members and families (1996-2018) and has lectured extensively on cult-related topics. He spent 14 years in two different eastern meditation groups (TM, International Society of Divine Love). Influence of a Charismatic Antisocial Cult Leader: Psychotherapy With an Ex-Cultist Prosecuted for Criminal Behavior. AASECT Certified Sex Therapist This model is explained in the ICSA Book on Cult Recovery in a chapter entitled Relational Psychoeducational Intensive: Time Away for Post-Cult Counselling. 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Oslo, Norway in an how to become a cult specialist family with four siblings, Colorado professional behavior Cand.Psychol.! Intervention or counseling services, but does not account for time spent in Education.
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