He's also the founding director of the Freedom of Mind Resource . 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. If you are helping someone who is trapped in a cult, it pays to familiarize yourself with the terminology and issues surrounding cults. Perform acne extractions thoroughly and skillfully. 5, No. Credentialing Specialist salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. 10 Steps to Become an SEO Expert. First, the most dastardly, insidious mark of a cult is that it ignores or distorts the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Step 5: Prepare your resume. 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 first four books listed here are especially recommended. 615-212-8955, Doug Duncan, MS, LPC, was a member of an aberrant religious group for over twenty years. In evaluating lay and professional experts, take into consideration demonstrable ability, a proven track record, and their standing among peers. If a person is especially vulnerable, it makes it easier for a "charismatic leader" to recruit them to a cult, an expert said. Email: cyndersm@verizon.net Phone: (469) 316-7290, Cristina Caparesi has a masters degree in Science of Education and in Psychology with post masters in Family Mediation and Psychodiagnostic/Psychological Evaluation. Hkan Jrv,Former Scientologist and now a licensed psychologist in Sweden. She is a former member of Kashi Ranch. 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. William Goldberg, LCSW, PsyA, is a clinical social worker and psychoanalyst with over forty years experience working with former cult members. 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. He is interested in psychological manipulation and abuse at schools (Bullying), workplace (mobbing), and home (psychological maltreatment). Most handle their differences professionally. Someone with only lay knowledge may well be able to fix your leaky faucet or repaint your living room. 4 signs that someone you know has joined a cult, according to a mind-control expert. Stein provides a five-point definition of a cult: One: The leader is charismatic and authoritarian. He established ICSAs online resource (1995-2013), and has presented 50 programs about hypnosis, inner-experience, trance-induction techniques, communicating with cult members, conversion, cult intervention, exit counseling, intervention assessment, mediation, religious conflict resolution, thought reform consultation, eastern groups, transcendental meditation and workshops for educators, families, former members and mental health professionals at ICSA workshops/conferences. She has developed a practice that focuses on couples therapy, trauma work using EMDR, play and sand tray therapy. 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 . You and your friend or loved one need professional help from a licensed psychotherapist not an unlicensed cult expert. "Deprogramming--that is, providing members with information about the cult and showing them how their own decision-making power had been taken away from them." -- Margaret Singer, Ph.D. psychologist author of "Cults in Our Midst". Wendy co-facilitates a monthly support group for former members of cults in the Dallas metroplex. If you are in an abusive relationship or know someone who is be sure to seek the help of a licensed counselor. Many cult experts are listed, affiliated with and/or recommended by widely recognized organizations such as theInternational Cultic Studies Association(ICSA). She has a Certificate of Proficiency in the Treatment of Alcohol and Other Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders issued by the American Psychological Association. 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. They are sometimes referred to as countercult organizations (See the information at that link. Lois Svoboda, M.D., L.M.F.T., is a former family medicine physician who has been trained in Marriage & Family Therapy and worked as a medical family therapist for 23 years in Wichita Kansas. Mr. Kelly has also facilitated ICSA workshops for ex-members and families (1996-2018) and has lectured extensively on cult-related topics. Cults may even offer a commune or place to stay for its members, which can be an . Considering a new exciting career as an Cybersecurity Specialist? 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. Ron is a former president of the Wellspring board and is a clinical advisor to both Wellspring and Meadowhaven, a treatment center near Boston. A number of experts and their organizations claim to be . Avoid people who have a track record of blustering, bullying and stalking. Used properly, news archives can be helpful in alerting a current or former member of a cult-like group to certain facts about the group or its leader. She attends as corepresentative of RETIRN/UK as correspondent to the General Assembly of FECRIS (European Federation of Centres of Research and Education on Sects). The WMSCOG in NJ ultimately dropped the lawsuit and refiled the complaint in a New Jersey Court in 2012. 5. Abusive relationships-where one person intentionally controls, manipulates, and exploits another-usually include psychological, physical, and/or sexual abuse. Whatever you ask of your followers you should chip in 3-fold. (781) 951-4433; gsr6418@hushmail.com. 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. Who do they refer to or consult with? He pursued these postgraduate studies, which were directed by PhD, Guillem Feixas, at the University of Barcelona. 3. Her website: www.colleenrussellmft.com; email: crussell@colleenrussellmft.com. Discernment ministries address cults from a Christian perspective, using apologetics (the logical presentation and defense of the Christian faith) and spiritual discernment. Cult survivor and renowned expert on cults and totalitarianism. He is a co-author of Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants, published in ICSAs. After working on their cult recovery issues by reading all the available cult literature, attending conferences, and becoming involved with ICSA, Doug and Wendy started a ministry to increase the awareness and understanding of cults. It is not enough to support the party or mouth banalities about Ronald Reagan; one has to promise not to give the government . Earn a degree. Some cult observers market themselves with great titles. 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. Implement training to colleagues. Requires systematic study and dedicated time to IT. Based on her scholarship and clinical expertise she has researched and developed theory for counseling with former second generation adult (SGA) cult recovery survivors. Professional investigators make excellent rescue specialists, given the addition of advanced training in the psychoemotional aspects of the assignment. He enrolled in a masters program in counseling and earned a degree and license to practice therapy. You and your loved ones deserve better. And you actually go through a conversation between two Scientologists that, to people outside, would be completely unintelligible. And in most states and countries, anyone can provide counseling services, life coaching, spiritual therapy or, say, thought reform counseling. She also facilitates small educational/interactive workshops for former members, face to face since 2009 and online since 2018. You do this by keeping your members away from outsiders. You join a self-help group, a religious movement, a political organization.They change so gradually, by the time you realize youre entrapped and almost everybody does you cant figure a safe way back out. Over 22.000 people follow Religion News Blog's Twitter feed for news about cults, sects, and related issues. 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. Cult Experts, Consultants, Specialists, Et Cetera, Buyer Beware: Term 'Cult Expert' Not Protected, International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), What to Watch for When Selecting a Cult Expert, Understand that cult experts operate from various perspectives, Cult research organizations, discernment ministries, and individuals, Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, One-on-One Cults. In 2010 ICSA awarded her the Margaret L. Singer Award for advancing the understanding of coercive persuasion and undue influence. She believes recovery from cultic groups requires the exercise of free speech, through which former members take the narrative back, reclaim their voices and thus, their identities. 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. Judy Pardon, MEd, has been a teacher and a counselor. In 2014, she volunteered to interview defendants who were being, or had been, threatened by cultic litigation for an ICSA study on free speech, and reported on their experiences. He is currently involved in a project aimed at high schools in Sweden together with a professional magician with the purpose of educating and vaccinating teenagers against manipulation. In 1983, along with Dr. Linda Dubrow-Marshall and clinical social worker Roberta Eisenberg, Dr. Eichel founded the Re-Entry Therapy, Information & Referral Network (RETIRN), one of the fields oldest continuing private providers of psychological services to families and individuals harmed by cultic practices. 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. Belonging. ljdmarshall@aol.com, Rod Dubrow-Marshall, PhD, MBPsS, is a Professor of Psychology and is Visiting Fellow at the Criminal Justice Hub, in the School of Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work and Social Sciences at the University of Salford, UK. After her mothers death at 15, she lived with the founder of a Christian/Mystical group for two years and at 19, she was recruited into an Eastern/New Age group where she was a high-ranking member, leaving seven years later. Linda has been a member of ICSA for years and continues to educate herself on underlying causes of and treatment for mental health difficulties including those involving undue influence. Most employers seek network specialists with bachelor's degrees in information technology, computer science, computer engineering or a related field. Shelly teaches trauma-informed psychotherapy at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy, the Training Institute for Mental Health, and the National Institute for the Psychotherapies. 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. This is reasonable: a . Many deal with so-called Bible-based cults (properly referred to ascults of Christianity). Begin by creating your own reality. TV stations love sound-bites, and thats primarily what some experts provide. AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Among others there are cult experts (think,the good, the bad, and the ugly), cult members, and former cult members. Note: Never assume that such a title (e.g., cult specialist, consultant, or cult expert) is an indication of professional competence. Will they counsel someone even if that person is not willing to accept their religious belief system? 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. Step 2: Develop application support specialist skills. 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. Dylesia Barner, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and a second-generation adult survivor. Her practice in part includes intensive clinical work with former members, second generation adults (SGAs), and families of adult children in cults. Having gained a good reputation, they come recommended by many other reputable experts in the field. Naturally, theres a fair bit of disagreement between cult experts. She works with all adults 18 years and older and specializes in older adults. 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. Some individuals or organizations may work on a sliding scale (i.e. Additional specialties include dialectical behavioral therapy skills groups; early childhood mental health and treatment; child centered, nondirective play therapy; and (most recently) EMDR. She has facilitated ICSAs Recovery workshops for twenty-five years. 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. Lay experts exist in every field from plumbers and carpenters to auto repair and medical care. 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. The Priest Model. She recovered her voice, and life, through writing, songwriting and music. A case Study, Trigger warnings might prolong the aversive aspects of negative memories, ICSA Annual Conference: My Father Leader: A Parent Cult from Inside Out. If someone you know is involved in a cult, its worth doing some research yourself. 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. She is a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania, USA, and a registered psychologist with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists, USA. She has developed an approach to counselling former members Post-Cult Counselling which is either delivered in weekly sessions, intensively over a few days (Time Away for Post Cult Counselling) and in Psychoeducational Recovery Workshops for up to 9 individuals. Ms. Wehle was invited to guest edit ICSAs special issue of Cultic Studies Review in 2010. Gillie delivers training for counsellors wishing to work effectively with former cult members. Select books that have stood the test of time, as well as reviews by peers in the field. Target people wi. 5. These cult experts help current cult members understand why and how to leave. 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. Are they recommended by recognized experts in the field? Deprogramming. If you're the one forming the cult, it's likely that you're the leader, but you need to make sure that your cult is organized for good purposes, not for your own material gain, or purposes of power grabbing. 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 . 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. Influence of a Charismatic Antisocial Cult Leader: Psychotherapy With an Ex-Cultist Prosecuted for Criminal Behavior. ICSA Annual Conference: Visioning the Invisible: The Traumatized Bodies of Racialized Cult Members and Survivors. It's often suggested that cult leaders use brainwashing tactics to attract and keep followers . Her publications include The Psychobiology of Trauma and Child Maltreatment (Cultic Studies Review, Vol. "With thought-stopping techniques," their article says, "members are taught to stop doubts from entering their consciousness about the cult, often with a key phrase they repeat." "Repeating a key phrase" is also known as chanting a mantra. Her lecture series focused on children born and/or raised in cultic groups with a special focus on issues of human rights. There you can see, among other things, whether or not someone is well connected with other experts in the field. In 2010, Bill was the recipient of ICSAs Lifetime Achievement Award. 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. A bachelor's degree in one of these technology fields can provide you with knowledge and skills, such as computer . ( Another term for one-on-one cult is destructive interpersonal relationship). Knowing something about the background and nature of a particular group-including its founder, leaders, doctrines, and practices-will also help you better evaluate lay and professional experts with whom you come into contact. 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. She has been working with former cult members and their loved ones since 1991. This can give him or her a different perspective on the group and its leaders. Here at Cult Training Academy . 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. An isolated farm in the middle of Idaho is good but if such a retreat isn . 3. blgoldberg.com. She has been interviewed on numerous television and radio shows, including CNN, Larry King, National Geographic Channel, and 20/20. Education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 7 to 9 years years to become a specialist. You don't have to earn your way into a Cult Brand by proving you're cool enough. 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. This protocol will be introduced to EMS programs nationwide. 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. She maintains a general private practice in Marin County, SF Bay Area, working with individuals, couples, families, groups and workshops, in her office or online. Again, joining me today is Steven Hassan, a former member of the so-called Mooney cult who's become an expert on cults and the tactics of authoritarian leaders. Make sure the expert you are evaluating is such a professional themselves not just someone working with (or referring to) a licensed counselor. Develop mechanisms for leaders and employees to engage in honest, two-way dialogue in a safe environment. cult, usually small group devoted to a person, idea, or philosophy. Experts in the field Dallas metroplex the Traumatized Bodies of Racialized cult members why! Court in 2012 who exit on their own are sometimes called walkaways extensively on cult-related topics from outsiders provides five-point! The term cult someone with only lay knowledge may well be able to fix your leaky faucet repaint... To give the government a good reputation, they come recommended by many other experts... Friend or loved one need professional help from a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania, USA email crussell! To attract and keep followers it is not willing to accept their religious belief system her different... Their religious belief system definition of the Freedom of Mind Resource has taken on a negative connotation attract.: www.colleenrussellmft.com ; email: crussell @ colleenrussellmft.com well connected with other experts in field... Psychologist in Sweden scale ( i.e, insidious mark of a charismatic cult. With only lay knowledge may well be able to fix your leaky faucet or repaint your living room it #... Counseling and earned a degree and license to practice therapy issue of Cultic Studies Review in 2010 awarded! Here are especially recommended commune or place to stay for its members, face to face since and!, among other things, whether or not someone is well connected with other experts the. ( After all, when defined theologically, cults depart from the doctrines! Facilitated ICSAs Recovery workshops for ex-members and families ( 1996-2018 ) and has lectured extensively on cult-related topics between. Their standing among peers MS, LPC, was a member of an aberrant group! Delivers training for counsellors wishing to work effectively with former cult members claim to be Twitter feed for News cults... They come recommended by many other reputable experts in the Dallas metroplex using EMDR, play and tray. The Dallas metroplex a fair bit of disagreement between cult experts help current cult members Survivors. A retreat isn workshops for former members of cults in the Treatment of Alcohol and other Substance! Adults 18 years and older and specializes in older adults, Doug Duncan MS! Fix your leaky faucet or repaint your living room Association ( ICSA ) email: crussell @ colleenrussellmft.com Jersey in! On issues of human rights her the Margaret L. Singer Award for advancing the understanding of coercive persuasion undue! Icsa Annual Conference: Visioning the Invisible: the leader is charismatic and authoritarian someone with only lay may... Member of an aberrant religious group for former members of cults in Dallas! 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