My dad went to Choices with his girlfriend a few weeks ago, and I am signed up to go to the sessions starting next Wednsday. When he came back, he, like many other people have described their friends/family members to be after the course, was really excited about it and wanted me to concider going, saying that he "wanted me to have the opportunity" and that he would to pay for me to go. So I went to the information meeting with him, and signed up thinking OK hey, what the heck, he really wants me to go and I get to stay in a nice hotel for a few days away from home, maybe meet some new people/friends but after thinking about it a bit more, and hearing a few different things, I'm getting a bit nervous....
The only information I could track down about it that wasn't just praise and testimonials were these 3 threads
Choices Thread 1
Choices Thread 2
Choices Thread 3

A couple of posts inparticular were a bit worrying..

Quote

They use a lot of peer pressure and subtle intimidation to try and get you to conform. If you argue or question they have you leave the room with escorts. You can't leave the room unless a coach goes with you even to the bathroom. You are not supposed to watch tv, only limited phone callls and no telling anyone about the program while you are there or for so many days after. Your room mates are chosen for you and no one is allowed in your room. They give you a name while you are there and you are pressured into quitting smoking, drinking and everything. No caffiene while there etc. It is really bizarre and we left before the 5 days as it was pretty bad. One coach in a group thing said to my daughter that he saw her as pond scum! and that is supposed to help you grow???

Quote

I know my sister was hypnotized. What she descibes is guided imagery. The no smoking, no caffeine all of it , the stupid games they played, the role palying. She recalls sitting in a dim room and told to close their eyes and go back to their childhood......

Others have said that the people they knew who went came back as completely different people- some good, some bad.

I still plan to go next week but I just wonder, if there is some weird stuff going on, how do I go to the seminar with a clear head, and stay that way..? Like when I went to the information meeting, they had a point where past attendees could share, and a couple different people said that they really didn't want to go at first, and were very skeptical the first couple days, but by the end they didn't want to leave. So I'm sort of in a catch-22, because if the seminar is legit, I want to be able to go and enjoy it/benefit from it, but if it's not, I don't want to get sucked in....

Another thing that worries me is the secrecy of it.... People have said that the process that they go through there is kept secret so that people who are going to attend don't get freaked out by it and decide not to go. Isn't that itself an alarm? So you can't communicate with anyone about the course while you are in it, and when it's finished you can't tell anyone the process you go through, only tell them it's the best decision you've ever made, it changed your life, and tell them they need to do it too...? How does that not set off an alarm?

Hi AreinaRyu,

The only advice I would give you, is trust your inner voice and instinct, you are looking for info on a cult site. What does that tell you? To many people today ignore what used to be a life saving part of them. Its the true part of yourself.

How much money is this seminar? And ask yourself this. How often does your Dad give that amount of money to you for something? Is it out of character behavior? Does he offer you money to go on a holidays, could accept the money & do that instead? Or is it conditional to attend Choices?

Things to think about