Cult influence is designed to disrupt a person's authentic identity and replace it with a new identity. Focus on your hygiene. Ms. Wehles article, Plunge into the Abyss: Psychodynamic Group on Creativity and Trauma, is the lead article in the Winter 2016 issue of the journal Group. Colleen Russell, LMFT, CGP, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) since 1992, and Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) since 2008. 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. Mary Moore is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker currently practicing in Maryland. 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. Founded in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt, this cult is one of the main Illuminati groups. She also wrote a chapter on guidelines for therapists in the book, Recovery from Cults, edited by Michael Langone. She is an EMDR International Association certified therapist and consultant. Itsmeaning differs depending on the contextin which it is used, and often also on the perspective of the person using it. International Journal of Cultic Studies, Vol. Since exiting, she has been active with the local, national and international cult awareness and recovery networks. Someone with only lay knowledge may well be able to fix your leaky faucet or repaint your living room. She has presented on cults, with a particular focus on second-generation adults (SGAs) at various mental-health agencies, universities, and at the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) annual conference in New Jersey. Implement training to colleagues. aLicensed Mental Health Counselor, and/or someone certified by theNational Board for Certified Counselors), and for non-licensed and non-certified people who charge feesin exchange for their services. Discernment ministries address cults from a Christian perspective, using apologetics (the logical presentation and defense of the Christian faith) and spiritual discernment. See also our own list ofrecommended experts. Mr. Ryan is the co-founder TM-EX, the organization of ex-members of Transcendental Meditation. Intervention and counseling services usually do not come cheap. Wendy is also the author of I Cant Hear God Anymore: Life in a Dallas Cult. Never listen to your conscience. She attended and assisted in organizing conferences and served as president of the local CAN affiliate, Free Minds. 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. So I called a cult deprogramming expert, and asked him how to convince Trump supporters to change their minds. With R.E.T.I.R.N., she addresses issues of psychological harm, cultic relationships, and counseling against coercion. In other words,you must still put in the time to research cult experts before selecting one. Rick Alan Ross runs the Cult Education Institute, a non-profit organization located in Trenton, New Jersey. William Goldberg, LCSW, PsyA, is a clinical social worker and psychoanalyst with over forty years experience working with former cult members. An isolated farm in the middle of Idaho is good but if such a retreat isn . Roberta Cobrin Eisenberg, MSW, BCD is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice and a cofounder (1983) and clinical associate of R.E.T.I.R.N. Stacy J. Willis. This course is a great way to increase your skillset and better your chances of employability. Understand the true meaning of SEO. We are constantly on the lookout for the best talent especially those . BENEFITS OF ONLINE CERTIFICATION COURSE. The third thing is total ideology, like, 'You only need me and no other belief system has any relevance whatsoever.' Cult intervention should never include hypnosis or other manipulative methods of persuasion and suggestion, which are techniques often associated with destructive cults, groups and/or leaders. These cult experts help current cult members understand why and how to leave. So you want to be a Cult Leader? Pardon received, with his wife, Judy, ICSAs Herbert L. Rosedale Award. She is a regular presenter at conferences and a published author, including a co-authoring a chapter entitled Pathological Spirituality for a medical text book entitled Spirituality and Psychiatry, published by RCPsych Publications in UK 2009. Lorna has co-written with Bill Goldberg, a chapter on psychotherapy with targeted parents in the book, Working with Alienated Children and Families (2012), edited by Amy J.L. Ashlen is featured in Season 3 of the BET+ Original Series: American Gangster: Trap Queens. This can take the form of other, related work experience, or it can take the form of a structured internship or other formal hands-on learning. Dont be fooled by lofty sounding names and titles. For one thing, many cult experts do not actively solicit clients. It's often suggested that cult leaders use brainwashing tactics to attract and keep followers . Forming a Group. Listings were not solicited, and cannot be bought. Note: Never assume that such a title (e.g., cult specialist, consultant, or cult expert) is an indication of professional competence. In 2014, Rev. www.ecb-nashville.org. You do this by keeping your members away from outsiders. In recent years the word cult has been most commonly used as a pejorative term for a religious group that falls outside the mainstream and, by implication, engages in . Judy Pardon, MEd, has been a teacher and a counselor. MeadowHaven can accommodate individuals or families who require long-term (up to a year) care to recover from trauma and cultic abuse. In the media, cult experts are still often referred to as deprogrammers people who deprogram someone who has been programmed by brainwashing or mind control. 5. Your journey to fulfilling a language specialist position may follow these steps: 1. 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. The group, which drew on communist teachings, isolated her from her family and made her feel guilty for her privileged upbringing. For about 20 years she has been involved in helping former members of different high demand groups in Sweden as a volunteer in the support group FRI and as a member of the board of the support group SESAM in Sweden. 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. 3, 2006), A Self Psychological Approach to the Cult Phenomenon (Journal of Social Work, 1992), Cults and Families (Families in Society, Vol. In 2010 ICSA awarded her the Margaret L. Singer Award for advancing the understanding of coercive persuasion and undue influence. or nave people. Her publications include The Psychobiology of Trauma and Child Maltreatment (Cultic Studies Review, Vol. Deprogramming. She works with all adults 18 years and older and specializes in older adults. Some are trained psychologists and social workers . Email: whitsett@usc.edu Phone: (323) 907-2400, Dana Wehle, LCSW, MFA., has twenty years experience as a certified psychoanalyst and licensed clinical social worker in private practice in New York City. Develop mechanisms for leaders and employees to engage in honest, two-way dialogue in a safe environment. She attended an ICSA former member workshop that summer, then returned to college, obtaining Bachelors and Masters degrees in Social Work. Worse, they believe they are going in the right direction! As mentioned earlier, when researching cults it is necessary to understandthedifferences between theological and sociological definitionsof the term cult.. Who are their professional contacts and affiliations? The term cult comes from the Latin word cultus, which means to worship a deity, but in the last few centuries its colloquial definition has transformed.In a 1981 edition of the Harvard Mental Health Letter, psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton defined three characteristics of a . Other terms you may hear are: high-demand groups, LGATs, intentional communities. Discuss fees as soon as possible and get everything in writing. It is the responsibility of billing specialists to collect payments, balance the books, and secure the revenue of the company. Additionally, Doug offers individual counseling to ex-members. Visual: Robert Nickelsberg / Getty Images. Unfortunately, some experts who are very good at marketing themselves are exactly the ones to stay away from. That is the time it takes to learn specific specialist skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. 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. Linda Hughes has a Masters Degree from The University of Dayton and is a licensed professional clinical counselor in the state of Ohioin the Columbus area. Keep a polite distance so you are not made into an "enemy" of their group, which can be potentially dangerous in tight knit communities or remote towns. She practices client-centered and trauma-informed therapy in a community clinic with people (ages 2.5 and up) from many different cultures, life experiences, and needs. She spoke publicly about her own experiences and undue influences to classrooms, media, conferences, legislators and callers seeking help. He spent 14 years in two different eastern meditation groups (TM, International Society of Divine Love). He focuses on how problematic unconscious God images are influenced by psychological and developmental factors, especially trauma. Rachel spoke numerous times at the former Cult Awareness Network conferences and then became involved with the International Cultic Studies Association, speaking to attendees and participating in panels and workshops. 615-212-8955, Doug Duncan, MS, LPC, was a member of an aberrant religious group for over twenty years. Their teachings . rpdmarshall@gmail.com, Gillie Jenkinson, PhD, is an accredited counsellor and psychotherapist in UK and is experienced in delivering counselling face-to-face as well as on the telephone and Skype. Some experts deal not only with cults, but also with other abusive relationships with a high degree of control, such as those that involve domestic violence or human trafficking. Nevertheless, in most places, anyone can call themselves a consultant or offer counseling without necessarily using that term. In 1976, she and her husband, William Goldberg, began facilitating a support group for former cult members that continues to meet on a monthly basis in their home in Englewood, New Jersey. Here are the steps for how to become a network specialist: 1. She accepts insurance. 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. differences between sociological and theological definitions, difference between theological and sociological definitions, Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs, The Cult of Trump: A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control, Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants, Traumatic Abuse in Cults: A Psychoanalytic Perspective, differences between theological and sociological definitions, John de Ruiter College of Integrated Philosophy, The Church of Almighty God (Eastern Lightning). She is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, The American Group Psychotherapy Association, The San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group, and The Northern California Group Psychotherapy Society. Shelly Rosen, LCSW, is a psychotherapist with 35 years of clinical experience. Certain sites and their operators have even been known to actively whitewash groups that are widely considered cults. To one degree or another, all cults deny the deity of Jesus Christ. 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. There is no such thing as a professional cultural expert license. She participated in Divine Light Mission, later renamed Elan Vital and The Prem Rawat Foundation, from 1973 to 2001, having been recruited in her first year of college. Most cult experts themselves no longer use the terminology of deprogramming because of the controversies surrounding this intervention process. Ron is a former president of the Wellspring board and is a clinical advisor to both Wellspring and Meadowhaven, a treatment center near Boston. ! He and his wife, Lorna, co-lead a support group for former cult members, which has been meeting for over forty years. Some cult experts are licensed mental health counselors, while others have no formal training in counseling. Speaking about cults: There is a never-ending discussion about the definition of the term cult. The word is controversial, in large part because over the years it has taken on a negative connotation. Also used by pastors and counselors, as well as writers, journalists, and reporters. Youll even find certain academics viewed by some as cult apologists (or cult defenders) due to their advocacy on behalf of groups generally considered to be cults. Answer (1 of 9): Steal the teaching of another religion, make a few changes, and then claim that you received it through some sort of revelation. Robert Pardon, MDiv, ThM, is the Executive Director of the New England Institute of Religious Research (NEIRR) and MeadowHaven. He works primarily with Catholics who seek psychological services grounded in a Catholic worldview. She is also co-editor of ICSAs Cult Recovery: A Clinicians Guide to Working With Former Members and Their Families, which is due to be published in 2017. 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