Psychotherapy Cults--Ethical Issues
Posted by:
Leah Gans
()
Date: September 02, 2004 12:12AM
While reading the Temerlins' articles, I'm remembering more of the problems with boundaries and my ex-guru/therapist.
There was rampant regression in our group, and it seemed induced by the leader. A roomful of adults could be gleeful or anxious like a kindergarten class with their attention riveted to the teacher. Y ( I'll call her "Y" since male leaders here are often called "X"!) could be tender or stern, and the group responded accordingly. The most difficult times would be when she'd fall silent. Had I only known she was having a narcissistic moment! But because I wasn't sure how to relate to her, I struggled to figure out whether she was a rejecting parent, or an uncaring jerk, or a skillful therapist who was refusing to rescue me, or an awakened guru who was appreciating the perfection in everything, or else, simply, another human being like myself, who was feeling helpless. Oy!
There was rampant regression in our group, and it seemed induced by the leader. A roomful of adults could be gleeful or anxious like a kindergarten class with their attention riveted to the teacher. Y ( I'll call her "Y" since male leaders here are often called "X"!) could be tender or stern, and the group responded accordingly. The most difficult times would be when she'd fall silent. Had I only known she was having a narcissistic moment! But because I wasn't sure how to relate to her, I struggled to figure out whether she was a rejecting parent, or an uncaring jerk, or a skillful therapist who was refusing to rescue me, or an awakened guru who was appreciating the perfection in everything, or else, simply, another human being like myself, who was feeling helpless. Oy!
Psychotherapy Cults--Ethical Issues
Posted by:
corboy
()
Date: September 02, 2004 05:36AM
To become as little children...
Yes, that 'kindergarten' atmosphere is very distinctive.
If you're considering studying on a committed basis
with some guru or teacher, I think it is very important to
see what kind of emotional 'vibe' is given off when they
meet with students as a group.
Now, this is complex. There can be a 'honeymoon' phase
in which new students are utterly enthralled with the
teacher.But if the teacher is fully adult, conscious and
seeks to ensure that students will wake up in relation to
these early idealizing transferances, then there really
should [i:58f96c5cb6]not [/i:58f96c5cb6]be an overwhelming, persistent
kindergarten vibe to the group as a whole. The 'honeymoon
phase' should be just a phase--temporary. Not something
that goes on for years and years.
And, people who encounter skepticism from others concerning
their guru should not experience that skepticism as a
personal affront, an insult or a threat. If you're defensive
when people are skeptical about your teacher, thats a sign
that you're experiencing the teacher as an extension of yourself.
If so, find out if your teacher is subtly encouraging you to do
exactly that. If a teacher really and truly is adult and wants
you to wake up and has the skill to assist you to wake up,
you will NOT be defensive in relation to your teacher.
At most,here and there, the newer students may manifest
adoration but if you stick around, you should see that they are
outgrowing it, and the older more experienced students
will come across as alert, adult, and as a federation
of individuals, not a bunch of clones and copy cats.
There should be NO evidence of favoritism, scapegoating
or gossip, and absolutely no backbiting toward people who
have chosen to leave, or who dont attend meetings as frequently
as the others do.
Another test is to see the role of humor and
laughter in groups.
A lot of needy leaders will crack jokes and subtly train
their devotees to bond with them and become their 'fan club'
by laughing loyally at their jokes--even the jokes are not funny
or are nasty. People like this want all the affirmation to go to them
and they are unable to come up with kindly humor that affirms
others.
Beware if you hear the kind of 'loyal laughter' that keeps dictatorships
going.
Lots of cult leaders make witty, but cruel jokes at the expense of
competitors, but cannot take a joke themselves. Or they
specialize in the kind of 'humor' that actually wounds. If someone
dares to say 'Ouch'--then they're accused of 'not having a sense of
humor.'
FYI that is known as 'gaslighting' or 'mindfuck. Putting up with that
furtive nastiness on a long term basis can mess with your head.
If a leader's humor runs too much to the 'put down' variety--
beware. Someone like that is usually unhappy, and you dont wanna
be on the receiving end.
Yet another test--see if the person and his or her students can
laugh from deep in their bellies. I once watched a guru whose
laugh sounded machine like--from his throat. No belly release
at all. Very sad, and very scary.
I once watched a small time, very needy guru come
on gang-busters likea bad nightclub comedian. He was
quite annoyed when the audience hesitated to bond with
him by failing to laugh right away. (He came across like
the kind of hustler who hits on every woman at the party
to ensure he'll get laid that night)
By contrast, I once attended a lecture by a very conscientious
teacher. He told an anecdote that was very amusing, and I
could sense silent merriment spontaneously welling up from
the audience. That lecturer could have easily, so very easily
prompted us to bond with him by giving cues that would've
caused us to bond with him by laughing out loud. Had he done
this, we would so easily have begun to condense as his fan
club.
But he did no such thing. He want us to stay alert and lucid
and refused to cloud the issue by milking it for personal
popularity by amusing us.
(And this man was not uptight. He was there to teach us
how to consider a complicated topic in a mindful,
adult manner--not there to entertain us or make himself
popular by pulling for laughs.)
One other test I learned (the hard way!!!) to use
is to see whether the teacher puts out what I call 'an
emotional traction beam.'
Someone like this will generate a kind of needy vibe,
and you'll feel as though you're being tugged at. They are
hungry for personal validation and aggressively panhandle you for
affirmation. They dont allow deep silences to develop, or given an
audience any 'space' to decide for themselves.
Very sophisticated leaders who are ashamed of being
narcissistic can try to conceal this neediness, but it will
always sneak out somewhere.
Yet another test is, after leaving sessions with the
teacher or group, do you most vividly remember the
material, or does the teacher's marvellous personality
somehow overshadow everything.
Working with my cult leader, I'd always respond to his
stories with 'Oh my god, how amazing X is, and how lucky
I am to work with him!'
A lot of times, Id be with others who admired X and we'd all
croon 'Oooh, he's so woonderful!' The guy wasnt even there!
It was different when I started to work with a therapist
who got his needs met in his private life and knew how
to keep the sessions clean.
Once, my therapist told me how he'd dealt with a sticky
situation.
What intrigued me most about the incident was not how
amazing my therapist was--what held my interest was that
it [i:58f96c5cb6]was possible to behave that way[/i:58f96c5cb6]. I didnt get curious
about my therapist; I got curious about what I could do so
that I could behave as resourcefully in that same
situation.
Back when I was in college, Dr. Francis Crick, co-analyst
of the DNA molecule, came to lecture. The auditorium was
jammed with scientists, graduate students--every seat was
taken and late comers sat in the stairwells.
This was one of the great scientists of the 20th century.
Excitement ran high.
Yet--this was not a regressed 'kindergarten' atmosphere.
We appreciated Dr. Crick, had the utmost respect for
him--yet collectively, the audience remained adult in
relation to him.
We were appeciative, but were not obsequious.
Must mention that Crick came across as someone
who just adored science, got a huge kick out of it,
and his happiness wasnt complete unless he could join
us and share the pleasure of it all.
It was like a team of avid rugby players gathering
at a pub, sharing a round of beers with a champion.
Respectful, yet friendly.
No one was giving their power away to anyone else.
The social/emotion atmosphere was clean and lucid.
Yes, that 'kindergarten' atmosphere is very distinctive.
If you're considering studying on a committed basis
with some guru or teacher, I think it is very important to
see what kind of emotional 'vibe' is given off when they
meet with students as a group.
Now, this is complex. There can be a 'honeymoon' phase
in which new students are utterly enthralled with the
teacher.But if the teacher is fully adult, conscious and
seeks to ensure that students will wake up in relation to
these early idealizing transferances, then there really
should [i:58f96c5cb6]not [/i:58f96c5cb6]be an overwhelming, persistent
kindergarten vibe to the group as a whole. The 'honeymoon
phase' should be just a phase--temporary. Not something
that goes on for years and years.
And, people who encounter skepticism from others concerning
their guru should not experience that skepticism as a
personal affront, an insult or a threat. If you're defensive
when people are skeptical about your teacher, thats a sign
that you're experiencing the teacher as an extension of yourself.
If so, find out if your teacher is subtly encouraging you to do
exactly that. If a teacher really and truly is adult and wants
you to wake up and has the skill to assist you to wake up,
you will NOT be defensive in relation to your teacher.
At most,here and there, the newer students may manifest
adoration but if you stick around, you should see that they are
outgrowing it, and the older more experienced students
will come across as alert, adult, and as a federation
of individuals, not a bunch of clones and copy cats.
There should be NO evidence of favoritism, scapegoating
or gossip, and absolutely no backbiting toward people who
have chosen to leave, or who dont attend meetings as frequently
as the others do.
Another test is to see the role of humor and
laughter in groups.
A lot of needy leaders will crack jokes and subtly train
their devotees to bond with them and become their 'fan club'
by laughing loyally at their jokes--even the jokes are not funny
or are nasty. People like this want all the affirmation to go to them
and they are unable to come up with kindly humor that affirms
others.
Beware if you hear the kind of 'loyal laughter' that keeps dictatorships
going.
Lots of cult leaders make witty, but cruel jokes at the expense of
competitors, but cannot take a joke themselves. Or they
specialize in the kind of 'humor' that actually wounds. If someone
dares to say 'Ouch'--then they're accused of 'not having a sense of
humor.'
FYI that is known as 'gaslighting' or 'mindfuck. Putting up with that
furtive nastiness on a long term basis can mess with your head.
If a leader's humor runs too much to the 'put down' variety--
beware. Someone like that is usually unhappy, and you dont wanna
be on the receiving end.
Yet another test--see if the person and his or her students can
laugh from deep in their bellies. I once watched a guru whose
laugh sounded machine like--from his throat. No belly release
at all. Very sad, and very scary.
I once watched a small time, very needy guru come
on gang-busters likea bad nightclub comedian. He was
quite annoyed when the audience hesitated to bond with
him by failing to laugh right away. (He came across like
the kind of hustler who hits on every woman at the party
to ensure he'll get laid that night)
By contrast, I once attended a lecture by a very conscientious
teacher. He told an anecdote that was very amusing, and I
could sense silent merriment spontaneously welling up from
the audience. That lecturer could have easily, so very easily
prompted us to bond with him by giving cues that would've
caused us to bond with him by laughing out loud. Had he done
this, we would so easily have begun to condense as his fan
club.
But he did no such thing. He want us to stay alert and lucid
and refused to cloud the issue by milking it for personal
popularity by amusing us.
(And this man was not uptight. He was there to teach us
how to consider a complicated topic in a mindful,
adult manner--not there to entertain us or make himself
popular by pulling for laughs.)
One other test I learned (the hard way!!!) to use
is to see whether the teacher puts out what I call 'an
emotional traction beam.'
Someone like this will generate a kind of needy vibe,
and you'll feel as though you're being tugged at. They are
hungry for personal validation and aggressively panhandle you for
affirmation. They dont allow deep silences to develop, or given an
audience any 'space' to decide for themselves.
Very sophisticated leaders who are ashamed of being
narcissistic can try to conceal this neediness, but it will
always sneak out somewhere.
Yet another test is, after leaving sessions with the
teacher or group, do you most vividly remember the
material, or does the teacher's marvellous personality
somehow overshadow everything.
Working with my cult leader, I'd always respond to his
stories with 'Oh my god, how amazing X is, and how lucky
I am to work with him!'
A lot of times, Id be with others who admired X and we'd all
croon 'Oooh, he's so woonderful!' The guy wasnt even there!
It was different when I started to work with a therapist
who got his needs met in his private life and knew how
to keep the sessions clean.
Once, my therapist told me how he'd dealt with a sticky
situation.
What intrigued me most about the incident was not how
amazing my therapist was--what held my interest was that
it [i:58f96c5cb6]was possible to behave that way[/i:58f96c5cb6]. I didnt get curious
about my therapist; I got curious about what I could do so
that I could behave as resourcefully in that same
situation.
Back when I was in college, Dr. Francis Crick, co-analyst
of the DNA molecule, came to lecture. The auditorium was
jammed with scientists, graduate students--every seat was
taken and late comers sat in the stairwells.
This was one of the great scientists of the 20th century.
Excitement ran high.
Yet--this was not a regressed 'kindergarten' atmosphere.
We appreciated Dr. Crick, had the utmost respect for
him--yet collectively, the audience remained adult in
relation to him.
We were appeciative, but were not obsequious.
Must mention that Crick came across as someone
who just adored science, got a huge kick out of it,
and his happiness wasnt complete unless he could join
us and share the pleasure of it all.
It was like a team of avid rugby players gathering
at a pub, sharing a round of beers with a champion.
Respectful, yet friendly.
No one was giving their power away to anyone else.
The social/emotion atmosphere was clean and lucid.
Psychotherapy Cults--Ethical Issues
Posted by:
corboy
()
Date: September 04, 2004 10:56PM
A therapist who was formerly a devotee describes how he found he could not reconcile therapy ethics with his loyalty to group and guru.
[b'Traumatic Abuse in Cults: A Psychoanalytic Perspective' which can be read on his website
[hometown.aol.com] Abuse in Cults
On a Google listserve on 1998/06/06 there is an example of one group which giave workshops in which members who were psychotherapists were taught to recruit clients into the organization--a violation of professional ethics.
(One wonders whether any participant ever objected to this process, ever stood up and objected.)
[groups.google.com]
There is a crying need for the mental health profession to issue public statements re-affirming that it is out of line and a violation of professional ethics for any therapist to encourage a client or patient to join that therapist's religous community or growth group.
One recurring theme is how often a closed group or society courts and obtains the support of members who are psychotherapists. Troubled members of the group are then very often referred to these devotee-therapists, who often put the reputation of the group ahead of, and at the expense of the welfare of the devotee client.
It does not appear that nearly enough is done to educate student-therapists in graduate school that they must understand, that they never engage in these kinds of dual relationships, and that always, they must be aware that they could be courted and seduced by a group that has unsavory motives and wishes to gain a veneer of legitimacy by having psychotherapists among its members--and as its in-house referral service.
Note:
The essay 'Traumatic Abuse in Cults' can also be read on the website
for former members of Guru Maharaji's 'Elan Vital' movement.
The section 'Psychology' includes another excellent essay 'The Dark Side of Enlightenment' by Daniel Shaw, and a small and well-chosen library of articles--well worth a visit!
[www.ex-premie.org]
[b'Traumatic Abuse in Cults: A Psychoanalytic Perspective' which can be read on his website
[hometown.aol.com] Abuse in Cults
On a Google listserve on 1998/06/06 there is an example of one group which giave workshops in which members who were psychotherapists were taught to recruit clients into the organization--a violation of professional ethics.
(One wonders whether any participant ever objected to this process, ever stood up and objected.)
[groups.google.com]
There is a crying need for the mental health profession to issue public statements re-affirming that it is out of line and a violation of professional ethics for any therapist to encourage a client or patient to join that therapist's religous community or growth group.
One recurring theme is how often a closed group or society courts and obtains the support of members who are psychotherapists. Troubled members of the group are then very often referred to these devotee-therapists, who often put the reputation of the group ahead of, and at the expense of the welfare of the devotee client.
It does not appear that nearly enough is done to educate student-therapists in graduate school that they must understand, that they never engage in these kinds of dual relationships, and that always, they must be aware that they could be courted and seduced by a group that has unsavory motives and wishes to gain a veneer of legitimacy by having psychotherapists among its members--and as its in-house referral service.
Note:
The essay 'Traumatic Abuse in Cults' can also be read on the website
for former members of Guru Maharaji's 'Elan Vital' movement.
The section 'Psychology' includes another excellent essay 'The Dark Side of Enlightenment' by Daniel Shaw, and a small and well-chosen library of articles--well worth a visit!
[www.ex-premie.org]
Psychotherapy Cults--Ethical Issues
Posted by:
corboy
()
Date: September 10, 2004 12:36AM
This article gives a good checklist for persons trying to assess a psychotherapist or the behavior of a spiritual leader who has appropriated theories and techniques based on psychotherapy. The original article has diagrams that cannot transfer to message board posts--the URL is
[users.snip.net]
[b:126763f113]Undue Therapist Influence: A Paradigm[/b:126763f113]
Steve K. D. Eichel, Ph.D.
[i:126763f113]Medical ethics[/i:126763f113]
All things being equal (or all things considered), always favor the less intrusive approach. ([i:126763f113]Moderator note: the Prime Directive in health care is 'Above all, do no harm'[/i:126763f113])
The more [i:126763f113]intrusive [/i:126763f113]the treatment, the more the need for:
([i:126763f113]Moderator note: In other words, as intrusiveness increases, therapist accountability must increase--not decrease!)[/i:126763f113]
*External controls.
*External validation of the treatment's effectiveness.
*Therapist compliance with scientifically-validated treatment guidelines.
[b:126763f113]General rule[/b:126763f113]
*The more intensive and intrusive the therapy, the stronger the likelihood of abuse.
*The more intensive and intrusive the therapy, the more we need external controls.
*Conscious and unconscious motivations that might contribute to abuse
Material gain
Sexual conquest
Desire to validate one's own memories of abuse
Desire for professional fame and power
[i:126763f113]Modalities of abuse[/i:126763f113]
*Con-artist tactics (the therapist has strong sociopathic tendencies and is not primarily concerned with client wellbeing).
*Well-intended abuses of power: Therapeutic Techniques that can become exploitive.
Transference intensification methods.
*Prolonged sessions. (that exceed the 50 minute hour)
*Intensive therapy (e.g., analysis).
*Encouragement of dependence.
*Covert and overt sexualization.
*Hypnosis and hypnoidal methods: A new hypnosis model suggested by Theodore X. Barber may account for the ease with which some clients have trance experiences even without formal hypnosis.
*Hypnotherapy, especially by relatively untrained or poorly trained therapists.
*Guided imagery.
*Regression therapy.
[i:126763f113]Social Demand methods[/i:126763f113]
*Group therapy
*Role-playing
*Milieu therapy
[i:126763f113]Dimensions[/i:126763f113]
Treatment Permissiveness
Highly permissive
Decreased pervasiveness
Target is specific behavior, not underlying personality, change.
Focus is on current life, not childhood.
Minimal attempts by therapist to direct client's behaviors outside therapy hour.
Minimal interpretation of client's world by therapist.
[i:126763f113]Decreased influence[/i:126763f113]
*Highly client-centered ([i:126763f113]Focus is on client, therapist doesnt draw attention to him/herself, therapist keeps self-disclosure to a minimum--moderator[/i:126763f113] As one therapist puts it 'This hour belongs to YOU.')
*Permissive techniques only (See list above)
*Minimal use of overt or covert pressure.
*Minimal interpretation of client's world by therapist.
[i:126763f113]Decreased Intrusiveness[/i:126763f113]
*Minimal confrontation; "soft" confrontation.
*Minimal direction of affect experience and expression.
*Minimal attempts by therapist to direct people within client's sphere of social interaction.
*Minimal attempts by therapist to influence client's decision-making process.
*Decreased regression and dependency.
*Minimal attempts to initiate client regression.
*Minimal attempts to facilitate dependency.
[i:126763f113]Highly coercive[/i:126763f113]
*Increased pervasiveness
*Target is underlying personality change.
*Focus is on childhood, especially "forgotten" experiences; high degree of interpretation.
*Attempts by therapist to direct client's behaviors outside therapy hour.
[i:126763f113]Increased influence[/i:126763f113]
*Therapist directs treatment agenda.
*Therapist relies on directive techniques.
*Therapist incorporates overt or covert pressure.
*Therapist routinely interprets client's world; may encourage radical redefinitions of personal history (at risk for so-called "false memories")
[i:126763f113]Increased intrusiveness[/i:126763f113]
*Targeted "hard" confrontation.
*Therapist directs client's affect experience and expression.
*Therapist attempts to direct people within client's sphere of social interaction.
*Therapist attempts to direct client's decision-making process.
[i:126763f113]Increased regression and dependency.[/i:126763f113]
*Therapist deliberately and/or routinely regresses client.
*Therapist attempts to "reparent" client.
[i:126763f113]Suggestions for therapist working at various points along the continuums (Permissiveness vs. Coercion; Minimal vs. Maximum External Control).[/i:126763f113]
[u:126763f113]Therapy is highly permissive. [/u:126763f113]
Supervision/consultation can be informal and on as-needed basis.
[u:126763f113]Therapy involves moderate degree of influence and directiveness.[/u:126763f113]
Ongoing, regular supervision/consultation.
Therapist makes certain to keep abreast of research, including research critical of therapy approach.
Therapist engages in own therapy (focus on counter-transference) on as-needed basis.
[u:126763f113]Therapy is highly coercive.[/u:126763f113]
Ongoing, regular supervision/consultation, preferably with a highly skilled, mature therapist [i:126763f113]not [/i:126763f113]connected with agency or practice.
Therapist is engaged in own therapy with a highly skilled, [i:126763f113]mature [/i:126763f113]therapist [i:126763f113]not [/i:126763f113]connected with agency or practice.
Agency or program is routinely evaluated by outside credentialing body.
Therapist routinely and continuously exposes him/herself to research, including research critical of therapy approach.
([i:126763f113]Moderator note: It is important to see that Eichler insists any therapist using high risk methods must get regular consultation/supervision from someone who is 'mature'--that -which I take to mean someone who is [u:126763f113]not [/u:126763f113]a member of that therapist's 'fan club.'
It is noteworthy how most cultic therapists practice high risk methods and yet avoid the accountablity structures in Eichler's list: they much prefer to associate with other therapists who are disciples or admirers--which means they do not consult or socialize with persons who are mature. And the cultic therapists usually avoid getting input from persons who are independant of them--everything is kept 'in house' as much as possible.
Finally, cultic therapists are likely to avoid peer review by audiences outside their cozy circle. They prefer to market their material to adoring, uncritical audiences[/i:126763f113])
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[i:126763f113]The following is based on a series of presentations and workshops by Dr. Steve Dubrow-Eichel, Dr. Linda Dubrow and Roberta Eisenberg to: The Fourth International Conference on Sexual Misconduct by Psychotherapists, Other Health Care Professionals & Clergy hosted by the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, Chestnut Hill, MA (1998, October); the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, Pittsburgh, PA (1998, June); and the annual Renfrew Foundation conference, Philadelphia, PA (1997, November)].
[/i:126763f113]
[users.snip.net]
[b:126763f113]Undue Therapist Influence: A Paradigm[/b:126763f113]
Steve K. D. Eichel, Ph.D.
[i:126763f113]Medical ethics[/i:126763f113]
All things being equal (or all things considered), always favor the less intrusive approach. ([i:126763f113]Moderator note: the Prime Directive in health care is 'Above all, do no harm'[/i:126763f113])
The more [i:126763f113]intrusive [/i:126763f113]the treatment, the more the need for:
([i:126763f113]Moderator note: In other words, as intrusiveness increases, therapist accountability must increase--not decrease!)[/i:126763f113]
*External controls.
*External validation of the treatment's effectiveness.
*Therapist compliance with scientifically-validated treatment guidelines.
[b:126763f113]General rule[/b:126763f113]
*The more intensive and intrusive the therapy, the stronger the likelihood of abuse.
*The more intensive and intrusive the therapy, the more we need external controls.
*Conscious and unconscious motivations that might contribute to abuse
Material gain
Sexual conquest
Desire to validate one's own memories of abuse
Desire for professional fame and power
[i:126763f113]Modalities of abuse[/i:126763f113]
*Con-artist tactics (the therapist has strong sociopathic tendencies and is not primarily concerned with client wellbeing).
*Well-intended abuses of power: Therapeutic Techniques that can become exploitive.
Transference intensification methods.
*Prolonged sessions. (that exceed the 50 minute hour)
*Intensive therapy (e.g., analysis).
*Encouragement of dependence.
*Covert and overt sexualization.
*Hypnosis and hypnoidal methods: A new hypnosis model suggested by Theodore X. Barber may account for the ease with which some clients have trance experiences even without formal hypnosis.
*Hypnotherapy, especially by relatively untrained or poorly trained therapists.
*Guided imagery.
*Regression therapy.
[i:126763f113]Social Demand methods[/i:126763f113]
*Group therapy
*Role-playing
*Milieu therapy
[i:126763f113]Dimensions[/i:126763f113]
Treatment Permissiveness
Highly permissive
Decreased pervasiveness
Target is specific behavior, not underlying personality, change.
Focus is on current life, not childhood.
Minimal attempts by therapist to direct client's behaviors outside therapy hour.
Minimal interpretation of client's world by therapist.
[i:126763f113]Decreased influence[/i:126763f113]
*Highly client-centered ([i:126763f113]Focus is on client, therapist doesnt draw attention to him/herself, therapist keeps self-disclosure to a minimum--moderator[/i:126763f113] As one therapist puts it 'This hour belongs to YOU.')
*Permissive techniques only (See list above)
*Minimal use of overt or covert pressure.
*Minimal interpretation of client's world by therapist.
[i:126763f113]Decreased Intrusiveness[/i:126763f113]
*Minimal confrontation; "soft" confrontation.
*Minimal direction of affect experience and expression.
*Minimal attempts by therapist to direct people within client's sphere of social interaction.
*Minimal attempts by therapist to influence client's decision-making process.
*Decreased regression and dependency.
*Minimal attempts to initiate client regression.
*Minimal attempts to facilitate dependency.
[i:126763f113]Highly coercive[/i:126763f113]
*Increased pervasiveness
*Target is underlying personality change.
*Focus is on childhood, especially "forgotten" experiences; high degree of interpretation.
*Attempts by therapist to direct client's behaviors outside therapy hour.
[i:126763f113]Increased influence[/i:126763f113]
*Therapist directs treatment agenda.
*Therapist relies on directive techniques.
*Therapist incorporates overt or covert pressure.
*Therapist routinely interprets client's world; may encourage radical redefinitions of personal history (at risk for so-called "false memories")
[i:126763f113]Increased intrusiveness[/i:126763f113]
*Targeted "hard" confrontation.
*Therapist directs client's affect experience and expression.
*Therapist attempts to direct people within client's sphere of social interaction.
*Therapist attempts to direct client's decision-making process.
[i:126763f113]Increased regression and dependency.[/i:126763f113]
*Therapist deliberately and/or routinely regresses client.
*Therapist attempts to "reparent" client.
[i:126763f113]Suggestions for therapist working at various points along the continuums (Permissiveness vs. Coercion; Minimal vs. Maximum External Control).[/i:126763f113]
[u:126763f113]Therapy is highly permissive. [/u:126763f113]
Supervision/consultation can be informal and on as-needed basis.
[u:126763f113]Therapy involves moderate degree of influence and directiveness.[/u:126763f113]
Ongoing, regular supervision/consultation.
Therapist makes certain to keep abreast of research, including research critical of therapy approach.
Therapist engages in own therapy (focus on counter-transference) on as-needed basis.
[u:126763f113]Therapy is highly coercive.[/u:126763f113]
Ongoing, regular supervision/consultation, preferably with a highly skilled, mature therapist [i:126763f113]not [/i:126763f113]connected with agency or practice.
Therapist is engaged in own therapy with a highly skilled, [i:126763f113]mature [/i:126763f113]therapist [i:126763f113]not [/i:126763f113]connected with agency or practice.
Agency or program is routinely evaluated by outside credentialing body.
Therapist routinely and continuously exposes him/herself to research, including research critical of therapy approach.
([i:126763f113]Moderator note: It is important to see that Eichler insists any therapist using high risk methods must get regular consultation/supervision from someone who is 'mature'--that -which I take to mean someone who is [u:126763f113]not [/u:126763f113]a member of that therapist's 'fan club.'
It is noteworthy how most cultic therapists practice high risk methods and yet avoid the accountablity structures in Eichler's list: they much prefer to associate with other therapists who are disciples or admirers--which means they do not consult or socialize with persons who are mature. And the cultic therapists usually avoid getting input from persons who are independant of them--everything is kept 'in house' as much as possible.
Finally, cultic therapists are likely to avoid peer review by audiences outside their cozy circle. They prefer to market their material to adoring, uncritical audiences[/i:126763f113])
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[i:126763f113]The following is based on a series of presentations and workshops by Dr. Steve Dubrow-Eichel, Dr. Linda Dubrow and Roberta Eisenberg to: The Fourth International Conference on Sexual Misconduct by Psychotherapists, Other Health Care Professionals & Clergy hosted by the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, Chestnut Hill, MA (1998, October); the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, Pittsburgh, PA (1998, June); and the annual Renfrew Foundation conference, Philadelphia, PA (1997, November)].
[/i:126763f113]
Psychotherapy Cults--Ethical Issues
Posted by:
Hope
()
Date: September 10, 2004 05:41AM
This is immensely valuable material Corboy.
My first encounter with a psychologist that I consulted to help me untangle the mess I was in after my LGAT\naturopath took the codependency route - Why was I so codependent?? Why did I stick around.
We really didn't go into detail at all about the relationship because she diagnosed me as a codependent at the first visit, and also spoke of the value Landmark has for some people. As I recall some of the things I asked her regarding her practice and methods, after reading extensively on therapists for cult-like relationships, the information I gave her should have been huge red flags. I was actually asking for more of the same LGAT\twisted eastern philosopyy because I thought it was just me that didn't understand (didn't get it). Seven months of once-a-week visits and I was in worse shape than when I went in.
Educating counselors on cults and cultish relationships is extremely important and needed.
Thanks for all these references.
My first encounter with a psychologist that I consulted to help me untangle the mess I was in after my LGAT\naturopath took the codependency route - Why was I so codependent?? Why did I stick around.
We really didn't go into detail at all about the relationship because she diagnosed me as a codependent at the first visit, and also spoke of the value Landmark has for some people. As I recall some of the things I asked her regarding her practice and methods, after reading extensively on therapists for cult-like relationships, the information I gave her should have been huge red flags. I was actually asking for more of the same LGAT\twisted eastern philosopyy because I thought it was just me that didn't understand (didn't get it). Seven months of once-a-week visits and I was in worse shape than when I went in.
Educating counselors on cults and cultish relationships is extremely important and needed.
Thanks for all these references.
Psychotherapy Cults--Ethical Issues
Posted by:
corboy
()
Date: November 22, 2004 10:50AM
[www.kluweronline.com]
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy
27 (3): 215-223, Fall 1997
Treatment with Unethical Practitioners; Caveat Emptors
Robert S. Pepper
Abstract (*The author discusses dysfunctional psychoanalytic institutes, but his observations also apply to situations in which student therapists receive inadequate training from charismatic leaders of psychotherapy cults)
Therapists who are trained at psychoanalytic institutes often foster unethical relationships between trainees and senior therapists. This practice may pass on the damage to the unsuspecting population of patients at large.
One way in which trainees are harmed, at these institutes, is in their failure to develop a clear sense of the importance of boundaries in treatment. In not learning how to develop a secure frame from their own treatment, neophyte therapists are often unable to recognize the need for appropriate boundaries in their treatment of others. As a result, their patients may be in danger. The therapist who does not value the struggle to maintain a healthy balance between independence and dependence in their own treatment will probably not be able to help their patients find the proper balance either. One can only wonder how such a therapist could help their own patients know when the time to end treatment is at hand.
My own research seems to indicate that unethical treatment practices at these institutes cut across ideological and theoretical differences within the analytic community. Consequently, the problem is not one of individuals who are poorly analyzed and poorly trained. Rather, the focus is a wider one, [i:1b4f44d962]in which a serious blindspot seems to be endemic to a system that fosters a lack of regard for appropriate boundaries in treatment.[/i:1b4f44d962]'
Article ID: 424071
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy
27 (3): 215-223, Fall 1997
Treatment with Unethical Practitioners; Caveat Emptors
Robert S. Pepper
Abstract (*The author discusses dysfunctional psychoanalytic institutes, but his observations also apply to situations in which student therapists receive inadequate training from charismatic leaders of psychotherapy cults)
Therapists who are trained at psychoanalytic institutes often foster unethical relationships between trainees and senior therapists. This practice may pass on the damage to the unsuspecting population of patients at large.
One way in which trainees are harmed, at these institutes, is in their failure to develop a clear sense of the importance of boundaries in treatment. In not learning how to develop a secure frame from their own treatment, neophyte therapists are often unable to recognize the need for appropriate boundaries in their treatment of others. As a result, their patients may be in danger. The therapist who does not value the struggle to maintain a healthy balance between independence and dependence in their own treatment will probably not be able to help their patients find the proper balance either. One can only wonder how such a therapist could help their own patients know when the time to end treatment is at hand.
My own research seems to indicate that unethical treatment practices at these institutes cut across ideological and theoretical differences within the analytic community. Consequently, the problem is not one of individuals who are poorly analyzed and poorly trained. Rather, the focus is a wider one, [i:1b4f44d962]in which a serious blindspot seems to be endemic to a system that fosters a lack of regard for appropriate boundaries in treatment.[/i:1b4f44d962]'
Article ID: 424071
Psychotherapy Cults--Ethical Issues
Posted by:
corboy
()
Date: December 06, 2004 06:44AM
[board.culteducation.com]
(quote)
If a person is unaware of being in trance, or is unfamiliar or unconvinced of the phenomenon of hypnotic enhancement of perception, fantasy and suggestibility, then that person is likely to attribute the vividness and intensity of the trance experience to some special characteristic of the message and/or communicator. (Moderator note: social psychologists call this 'attribution bias')
That is, the person links his/her feelings of intensity with what has been said or who has said it, not with how (ie. hypnotically) it was said. The message is therefore experienced as "more real" or "more true" than other messages, and the communicator of the message is endowed with extraordinary (or even supernatural) characteristics or skills.
Hypnosis involves powerful transference. The induction process involves establishing and utilizing rapport, and hypnosis is perhaps first and foremost an interpersonal process (Fromm, 1979). Most subjects, after being hypnotized, feel closer, more trusting, and more positively about their operator than before. It is always more difficult to objectively assess someone (or what that someone says) after a powerful transference relationship has developed.
Hypnosis involves the suspension of "normal" logic. Trance logic is characterized by, among other things, lack of criticalness and the ability to hold two contradictory beliefs as true without one cancelling out the other (Orne, 1959). Thus, in trance one can have the sensation of cold and still be aware of being seated in a warm, heated room. Corollary: in trance, people can accept notions or ideas that they would otherwise reject because they contradict other beliefs known to be based in reality. For example, the members of one Hindu-based cult believe that the space program is a hoax and yet may listen to and accept weather reports based on satellite pictures.'
(quote)
If a person is unaware of being in trance, or is unfamiliar or unconvinced of the phenomenon of hypnotic enhancement of perception, fantasy and suggestibility, then that person is likely to attribute the vividness and intensity of the trance experience to some special characteristic of the message and/or communicator. (Moderator note: social psychologists call this 'attribution bias')
That is, the person links his/her feelings of intensity with what has been said or who has said it, not with how (ie. hypnotically) it was said. The message is therefore experienced as "more real" or "more true" than other messages, and the communicator of the message is endowed with extraordinary (or even supernatural) characteristics or skills.
Hypnosis involves powerful transference. The induction process involves establishing and utilizing rapport, and hypnosis is perhaps first and foremost an interpersonal process (Fromm, 1979). Most subjects, after being hypnotized, feel closer, more trusting, and more positively about their operator than before. It is always more difficult to objectively assess someone (or what that someone says) after a powerful transference relationship has developed.
Hypnosis involves the suspension of "normal" logic. Trance logic is characterized by, among other things, lack of criticalness and the ability to hold two contradictory beliefs as true without one cancelling out the other (Orne, 1959). Thus, in trance one can have the sensation of cold and still be aware of being seated in a warm, heated room. Corollary: in trance, people can accept notions or ideas that they would otherwise reject because they contradict other beliefs known to be based in reality. For example, the members of one Hindu-based cult believe that the space program is a hoax and yet may listen to and accept weather reports based on satellite pictures.'
Psychotherapy Cults--Ethical Issues
Posted by:
corboy
()
Date: September 20, 2006 12:04AM
A Library of URL links
[board.culteducation.com]
Problems and Pitfalls for Small Groups
[board.culteducation.com]
[board.culteducation.com]
Problems and Pitfalls for Small Groups
[board.culteducation.com]
Re: Psychotherapy Cults--Ethical Issues
Posted by:
whatamess
()
Date: July 03, 2012 12:52AM
Thank you very much for the link to 'dysfunction in training organisations'. I was a student in such an institution. It was very cult-like with the course leaders instilling loyalty through quite subtle manipulation. By playing on the students' vulnerabilites, the leaders managed to create an atmosphere in which guilt and shame were pervasive. There was scapegoating of some students while others escaped censure even when they ignored the 'rules'. The course leaders 'punished' anyone with an independent mind or who displayed certain values or ethics and rewarded immature and dysfunctional behaviour. The marking of course work was incredibly arbitary: the 'favourites' would be awarded high marks while other student who were much more talented would barely scrape a pass. And in the event of any subordination, they would fail the student, just to keep him or her in place.
It really did feel like a cult. What is worrying is that the students are being taught a warped value system and many will presumably go on to become incompetent or even abusive counsellors. I would describe the behaviour of the course leaders as verging on abusive. I certainly left there feeling quite damanged. Unfortunately, in the UK, there is no government regulation of counselling and counselling courses are not officially regulated. Some (not all) are accredited by a professional body but in practice the training providers have a very free rein to practice as they wish. On the course I was on I never saw any evidence of the professional body overseeing standards. The training provider certainly failed to follow the professional body ethical guidelines.
The complaints process, predictably, is 'in-house' and I imagine it would be something of a whitewash. Theoretically, a complaint can be made to the professional body that accredits the course (if there is one) but it is a long-drawn out and stressful affair. Considering the importance of the role of counselling, and the importance of having high standards of professionalism in both training and practise, the current situation is very worrying. And as already has been stated on this thread, the whole system is very self-serving - the students have to select supervisors who trained at the organisation, in some cases they are the course leaders! A counsellor I saw (who trained at the organisation and is one of the 'approved counsellors' for students) most definitely was carrying on in the tradition of the training provider. I found her manner and approach unethical.
It seems, as others have said on here, that when selecting a counsellor the message is very much 'buyer beware'.
It really did feel like a cult. What is worrying is that the students are being taught a warped value system and many will presumably go on to become incompetent or even abusive counsellors. I would describe the behaviour of the course leaders as verging on abusive. I certainly left there feeling quite damanged. Unfortunately, in the UK, there is no government regulation of counselling and counselling courses are not officially regulated. Some (not all) are accredited by a professional body but in practice the training providers have a very free rein to practice as they wish. On the course I was on I never saw any evidence of the professional body overseeing standards. The training provider certainly failed to follow the professional body ethical guidelines.
The complaints process, predictably, is 'in-house' and I imagine it would be something of a whitewash. Theoretically, a complaint can be made to the professional body that accredits the course (if there is one) but it is a long-drawn out and stressful affair. Considering the importance of the role of counselling, and the importance of having high standards of professionalism in both training and practise, the current situation is very worrying. And as already has been stated on this thread, the whole system is very self-serving - the students have to select supervisors who trained at the organisation, in some cases they are the course leaders! A counsellor I saw (who trained at the organisation and is one of the 'approved counsellors' for students) most definitely was carrying on in the tradition of the training provider. I found her manner and approach unethical.
It seems, as others have said on here, that when selecting a counsellor the message is very much 'buyer beware'.
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