zeuszor: :

About 25% of my cases fail.

In many situations there are family ties to the cult, a spouse or romantic interests involved, entrenched "brainwashing" after many years and a deep sense of emotional investment and equity in the group.

Like substance abuse interventions, not every effort is successful.

But in many of these failed cases, due to the information received and concerns expressed, the person may later leave the group. And this has frequently occurred.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/2012 08:38AM by rrmoderator.

Mr Ross, Out of interest what were the ethical concerns regarding Steve Hassan? I am aware of the fact that at one point his fee schedule was not posted, but did not know that there were ethical concerns regarding his practice? Would be grateful for more info on this.
By the way, Zeuszor, congrats on the degree, and I agree with you , ( for what its worth) that sociology/research at least at this point in your life seems a better fit for you than psych counseling. You seem to enjoy research,and i could imagine you enjoying it is an academic setting.

Disclaimer regarding Steve Hassan

The Ross Institute of New Jersey/May 2013

See [www.culteducation.com]

The inclusion of news articles within the Ross Institute of New Jersey (RI) archives, which mention and/or quote Steven Hassan, in no way suggests that RI recommends Mr. Hassan or recognizes him in any way.

News articles that mention Steve Hassan have been archived for historical purposes only due to the information they contain about controversial groups, movements and/or leaders.

RI does not recommend Steven Hassan.

RI has received serious complaints about Steve Hassan concerning his fees. Mr. Hassan does not publicly disclose his fee schedule, but according to complaints Steve Hassan has charged fees varying from $250.00 per hour or $2,500.00 per day to $500.00 per hour or $5,000.00 per day. This does not include Mr. Hassan's expenses, which according to complaints can be quite substantial.

Steven Hassan has charged families tens of thousands of dollars and provided questionable results. One recent complaint cited total fees of almost $50,000.00. But this very expensive intervention effort ended in failure.

Dr. Cathleen Mann, who holds a doctorate in psychology and has been a licensed counselor in the state of Colorado since 1994 points out, "Nowhere does Hassan provide a base rate and/or any type or accepted statistical method defining his results..."

Steve Hassan has at times suggested to potential clients that they purchase a preliminary report based upon what he calls his "BITE" model. These "BITE reports" can potentially cost thousands of dollars.

See [corp.sec.state.ma.us]

Steve Hassan runs a for-profit corporation called "Freedom of Mind." Mr. Hassan is listed as the corporate agent for that business as well as its president and treasurer.

RI does not recommend "Freedom of Mind" as a resource.

RI also does not list or recommend Steve Hassan's books.

To better understand why Mr. Hassan's books are not recommended by RI read this detailed review of his most recently self-published book titled "Freedom of Mind."

See [www.cultnews.com]

Steve Hassan's cult intervention methodology has historically raised concerns since its inception. The book "Recovery from Cults" (W.W. Norton & Co. pp. 174-175) edited by Dr. Michael Langone states the following:

"Calling his approach 'strategic intervention [sic] therapy,' Hassan (1988) stresses that, although he too tries to communicate a body of information to cultists and to help them think independently, he also does formal counseling. As with many humanistic counseling approaches, Hassan’s runs the risk of imposing clarity, however subtly, on the framework’s foundational ambiguity and thereby manipulating the client."

RI has also learned that Mr. Hassan has had dual-relationships with his counseling clients. That is, clients seeing Mr. Hassan for counseling may also do professional cult intervention work with him.

Professionals in the field of cultic studies have also expressed concerns regarding Steven Hassan's use of hypnosis and Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP).

Based upon complaints and the concerns expressed about Mr. Hassan RI does not recommend Steve Hassan for counseling, intervention work or any other form of professional consultation.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/10/2013 09:30PM by rrmoderator.

Quote
rrmoderator
zeuszor: :

About 25% of my cases fail.

In many situations there are family ties to the cult, a spouse or romantic interests involved, entrenched "brainwashing" after many years and a deep sense of emotional investment and equity in the group.

Like substance abuse interventions, not every effort is successful.

But in many of these failed cases, due to the information received and concerns expressed, the person may later leave the group. And this has frequently occurred.

Nobody's going to leave the cult/abusive situation, until they realize that they're in a cult/abusive situation in the first place. Same with the "graduates." Can we all agree to that much?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/2012 09:06AM by zeuszor.

yasmin:

If you look through Monica Pignotti's blog you will see some of the concerns.

I have personally received complaints regarding Steve Hassan's fees and treatment of potential clients.

Zeuszor:

"Nobody's going to leave the cult/abusive situation, until they realize that they're in a cult/abusive situation in the first place. Same with the "graduates." Can we all agree to that much?"

Yes.

That's the purpose of an intervention, i.e. for the cult involved person to realize they are in a "cult/abusive situation".

Quote
rrmoderator
Zeuszor:

"Nobody's going to leave the cult/abusive situation, until they realize that they're in a cult/abusive situation in the first place. Same with the "graduates." Can we all agree to that much?"

Yes.

That's the purpose of an intervention, i.e. for the cult involved person to realize they are in a "cult/abusive situation".

And that, with respect, is the point that I was trying to make in the first place. You can lead the horse to the water, but about 25% of the time they will not drink, though may later. ;-)

Quote
zeuszor
Tajfel and Turner (1979) wrote a lot about "ingroup favoritism and the illusion of outgroup homogeneity." Their work with Social Identity Theory is some of my favorite in the world of social psych.

That is, outside of our foundational Milgram-Asch-Zimbardo. That triad are the essential, intrinsic studies in social psych (in my opinion).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/2012 09:56AM by zeuszor.

zeuszor:

Families and others concerned can accept that they may fail, i.e. the 25%.

But they want to try. And 75% of the time they succeed in their efforts, according to my own intervention experience.

The stakes are often pretty high regarding continued cult involvement.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/2012 05:35AM by rrmoderator.

Quote
rrmoderator
zeuszor:

Families and others concerned can accept that they may fail, i.e. the 25%.

But they want to try. And 75% of the time they succeed in their efforts, according to my [own intervention experience].

The stakes are often pretty high regarding continued cult involvement.

Yes. And again: I write from the perspective of a lot of painful personal experience of my own.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/2012 05:36AM by rrmoderator.

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rrmoderator
Meadowhaven is not a licensed mental health facilty.

And you, sir, are not a licensed anything, either, as far as I know. At least the Pardons have degrees and are mental-health professionals; you have no professional accreditation at all (again, as far as I know).

As far as I am concerned, the Pardons saved my life. They are two of the most ethical and truly Christian people that I have ever been blessed to have met. Wonderful human beings.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/2012 10:11AM by zeuszor.