. Email: Heathersvo@gmail.com, (612) 702-4716. Some cult information sites adhere to academic standards, but the vast majority of cult education sites are run by laypeople. Her lecture series focused on children born and/or raised in cultic groups with a special focus on issues of human rights. These are the 10 steps to follow to become an expert on SEO. 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. Website: marymoorelcsw.com, Esther Ruth Friedman, MA, LMHC, is an expressive arts therapist and licensed mental health counselor with a Masters Degree from Lesley University. Some are trained psychologists and social workers . 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. 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. He spent 14 years in two different eastern meditation groups (TM, International Society of Divine Love). In 1999, he received the John G. Clark Award for Distinguished Scholarship and Cultic Studies from the International Cultic Studies Association, and he has been involved in research with former cult members since 1993. People who exit on their own are sometimes called walkaways. People who have been forced to leave are sometimes called castaways., The same applies to terms such as intervention specialist, cult specialist, thought reform consultant, deprogrammer, or exit counselor, For instance, one particularly bad apple, in several respects, is, Many of them have been particularly nasty about , These scholars have often been referred to as . Heather Svoboda, MA LP, is a psychologist licensed and practicing in Minnesota, trained in counseling psychology and marriage and family therapy. During the past 10 years he has specialized in Bible-based communal groups and aberrational Christian groups. National Average Salary. www.drsteveeichel.com Myan received the AFF Achievement Award (1997) from AFF, the Leo J. Ryan Distinguished Service Award (1999) from the Leo J. Ryan Foundation, and a Lifetime Achievement Award (2011) from ICSA. He and his wife, Lorna, co-lead a support group for former cult members, which has been meeting for over forty years. Licensed & Board Certified Psychologist 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. Belonging. She was primary therapist at Wellspring Residential Retreat for cult survivors, founded by Paul Martin, PhD during his illness; team program developer for DV survivors and children and primary therapist with the Center for Domestic Peace in California; and on staff at various SF Bay area agencies serving adults, children, families, and those diagnosed with severe mental illness. He enrolled in a masters program in counseling and earned a degree and license to practice therapy. 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. One expert who himself lacks formal training has gained a decidedly bad reputation due to his sustained attacks on highly qualified cult experts he disagrees with, including degreed professionals. Start by researching . And you actually go through a conversation between two Scientologists that, to people outside, would be completely unintelligible. ! Top: Trump supporters hold a QAnon sign at a rally on Jan 5, 2021. She attended and assisted in organizing conferences and served as president of the local CAN affiliate, Free Minds. Ashlen recently completed her MSc in the Psychology of Coercive Control and conducted research on the relationship between reproductive coercion, psychologically abusive environments, and the extent of group identity in a sample of those who have left cultic groups. This virtual course can be attended within the comfort of your home or work environment Abusive relationships-where one person intentionally controls, manipulates, and exploits another-usually include psychological, physical, and/or sexual abuse. The people and organizations listed here are widely accepted as experts in this particular field. Only post-nominal letters indicate that the person has a position, academic degree, accreditation, etc. Print Email. Rachel has also done many YouTube videos and has been interviewed on other peoples YouTube channels regarding cults, undue influence, and narcissistic abuse. Listings were not solicited, and cannot be bought. In 2016 he received ICSAs Herbert L. Rosedale Award at the Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas. Some cult experts view cults primarily from a theological perspective, others from a sociological perspective, and still others consider both perspectives. RETIRN currently has offices in Newark, DE, Lansdowne, PA and Pontypridd, Wales and Buxton, England (U.K.). 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. But with their snap judgments, gossip and blather, they can not hold a candle to experts who present well-reasoned, insightful analyzes. Dr. Whitsett also has a specialty in Sexuality and was awarded a Fulbright Specialist Scholarship in 2016 to study, teach, and do research on this topic in China. Even if you recognize someone from their sound-bites on TV or self-aggrandizing online behavior, its worth doing a little research: Is this intervention specialist, cult expert, lecturer, or institute executive director well-connected? A lay expert may not suggest that they have formal credentials, such as a required license. Note that outtakes from the media are difficult. ), 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. Atkins points out that cult followers want to feel in it with fellow members AND their leader. Lots of new cults seem to be using millennial-friendly 'life coaching', wellness and yoga as their smokescreen. Patrick Ryanis a graduate of Maharishi International University. Perform acne treatments that exfoliate the skin enough to control acne, but not so much that the client cannot use home care products the next day. 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. Deprogramming. She has been working with former cult members and their loved ones since 1991. Additionally, Doug offers individual counseling to ex-members. 302.368.9136 (Office) Considering a new exciting career as an Cybersecurity Specialist? It is the oldest group of its kind in the world. Become a Cult Analyst. Make sure the expert you are evaluating is such a professional themselves not just someone working with (or referring to) a licensed counselor. steve@dreichel.com Certain sites and their operators have even been known to actively whitewash groups that are widely considered cults. These are some of the things we have encountered that should set off alarm bells of a . See also our own list ofrecommended experts. 3. Bluster may play well in the media and on social media. Since 1992, she has been Associate Director of the New England Institute of Religious Research (NEIRR) and MeadowHaven, where she has worked with former cult members, including some who have experienced profound trauma. This is reasonable: a . You may opt to take additional training and become a computer systems analyst or independent consultant. She is trained in relational/interpersonal psychoanalytic psychotherapy, sensorimotor psychotherapy, family therapy, and internal family systems. And in most states and countries, anyone can provide counseling services, life coaching, spiritual therapy or, say, thought reform counseling. Some websites consist primarily of news articles copied from original sources. 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. 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). The organizations top management originated within the group, but is no longer affiliated, having been sold by the owners a few years ago. It's often suggested that cult leaders use brainwashing tactics to attract and keep followers . or nave people. 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. They won't harm you until you are a threat to them. And of course, quoting experts is not the same as talking and interacting with them. Cultic relationships are not limited to marriages or domestic partnerships, but can also occur in situations where one person is in a position of power and the other is not. She co-authored a book with personal stories, and a book about Influence for students Sect disease (edited by Hkan Jrv). This applies to all exercises specialists such as personal trainers and yoga practitioners. These may, in fact, include religion scholars who have become known as cult apologists (cult defenders). Learning the language gives you access to the world inside the cult. 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). Keep your thoughts and feelings to only those you trust. Cult Brands take it as a given that you're already cool enough. cult, usually small group devoted to a person, idea, or philosophy. Step 2: Develop application support specialist skills. Some work only with referrals from other experts in the field. For the past twenty years she has been active in the counter cult movement working closely with the former Cult Awareness Network and ICSA. 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. He has been a cult intervention specialist (exit counseling, mediation, religious conflict resolution, thought reform consulting) since 1984. 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 . It takes 4 years of professional experience to become a specialist. He is also an active researcher in a variety of other areas including organizational behaviour and healthiness, the social psychology of identity and prejudice, and public policy and education. The word "cult" is burrowing through the Las Vegas faith community on the eve of a visit from an international specialist in controversial religious groups. 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. For many years she has given lectures about influence and manipulation, also at the University of Stockholm. Mary Moore is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker currently practicing in Maryland. Ms. Allen gained a breadth of experience volunteering at the Cult Clinic of JBFCS in NYC for three years and has gone on to work as a therapist with former cult members in community mental health. A number of experts and their organizations claim to be . Often when this expert addresses a cult or cult-like group he sounds like an authority on the movement, even though most of his information is a rehash of various media reports. 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. 2, 15-24. Some are helpful; a lot are not. 4. Her passion for social justice and advocacy is exemplified in her counseling practice and current research, both of which focus on effective counseling interventions for marginalized populations, such as cult survivors, domestic violence survivors, and LGBT populations. Ms. Lofgren received treatment by Wellpring, when they came to Sweden in 1992. Some are written by respected cult experts, and some by informed lay (experience) experts. And while not all may necessarily agree with each other on various issues, they are known to treat each other with professional courtesy. Paranoia: To maintain a false sense of comfort, cults often rely on paranoia tactics. Bottom line: be aware that some organizations, websites and individuals listed on ICSAs links page are not necessarily recommended by the organization. It absolutely does not work," said Steve Eichel, a clinical psychologist in Delaware and specialist in cult recovery. Avoid people who have a track record of blustering, bullying and stalking. Do you want devoted followers who leave their families for you, give their money to you, gi. Nevertheless, in most places, anyone can call themselves a consultant or offer counseling without necessarily using that term. Education. 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. She is a former member of Kashi Ranch. Never reflect. Judy Pardon, MEd, has been a teacher and a counselor. 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