I've been struggling with depression and seeing a therapist for about 15 years now.Back in November I was having yet another difficult time in life and decided I needed to do more to help myself....so I started Googling and signing up for everything I could find. My Mom had sent me a link to the Options Institute, said she had a childhood friend who worked there, and I thought it seemed
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

lechat: Seems like you are trolling this thread as an apologist for the Opinion Institute. Can you think of anything Option Institute did or has done that is wrong? What could Option Institute improve upon in your opinion? In what ways has the leadership and/or the institute failed?
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Another thread discussion of Option Institute here: And here is a book that reviews current treatment modalities for children diagnosed as autistic. Options Insitute is one of the therapies listed. Download and then do a Control F to find references to Options Institute.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

batyalevy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > The most unsettling thing that I experienced > during my time with this family was something with > a former employee of the Institute––I forget the > exact name of the procedure, but it was a > back-and-forth "dialogue" (word in quotes for a > reason, which I will explain) designe
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

OI is a destructive cult. Investigate and learn more about cults. Read negative "Glass Door" reviews for OI. Many people leave OI mentally and financially broken. Brain washing and mind control is far more complex than restricting bathroom use. Physical, mental and verbal abuse does occur at OI. If 50 women speak out against Bill Cosby to bring justice, how many have to speak out agains
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I worked for a Son-Rise family for almost two years. There are definitely cultish elements about the philosophy, for sure. The language is an argot unique to them and is extremely controlled; if you are deemed to have said something "negative" or pessimistic you will be reprimanded, and made to feel that the autistic child will pick up on your negativity and be dragged down as a resul
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

You may not like Bears or how they run their business, and maybe what they teach there is not your cup of tea, which is your prerogative, of course, but nothing written in that review is indicative of it being a cult. Treating employees horribly or a boss having a big ego are not criteria by which to label something a cult. Are you alleging that they coerce people into staying there? Are you all
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

A review of Options Institute back in 2014 by a former worker and the reply from OI Other reviews follow. Readers can form their own conclusions. Quote May 13, 2014 I worked at The Option Institute full-time Pros Beautiful location. International atmosphere with clients from all over the world. Some good food. Some nice, liberal, open-minded staff. Some of the teachings of t
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It is now my belief that whoever is posting these bizarre claims is trolling. Most of the allegations made here are false. This is not based on my personal opinion, but facts. The only situation in which I could imagine someone volunteering at Option choosing to stop contacting a loved one is if there was serious abuse happening at home. And if she has a documented psychiatric condition, it’s not
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

“The worst place on earth ” Feb. 23, 2015 Current Employee - Volunteer in Sheffield, MA I have been working at The Option Institute Pros Encouraging colleagues to get some confidence and self respect enough to leave and enjoy real world employment Cons Management systematically breaks down your free will and optimism under the guise of helpful critique.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Quote Jan 29, 2014 1 person found this helpful “Working at the Option Institute has helped me grow so much professionally and personally. ” Current Employee - Sales Team in Sheffield, MA I have been working at The Option Institute full-time for more than 8 years Pros Caring staff, great learning environment, able to make a difference in people's lifes. Cons
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The "staff" at the Option Institute have no training other than that from the Kaufman family. They are NOT professionals. The Kaufmans are selling a product which they made up so that they could make money. They have NO interest in helping children or families. All the top "teachers" at the Option Institute are Kaufman family members. No one there has any credentials/training
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Found a great site called "Glassdoor" which has recent comments from ex employees/members of Option Institute Cult in Sheffield Mass.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Option Institute and Fellowship in Sheffield Mass. Owned and operated by the Kaufman family. Destructive cult which ruins the lives of individuals and families. After leaving this cult I had to educate myself about cults and mind control. Very important for us to tell our stories and warn others. Many ex members of cults afraid to admit they were duped and manipulated. Extremely common to go from
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Option Institute is a destructive cult. Many specific reviews by ex employees on "glassdoor" website.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I'm truly sorry that your wife is there. If you threaten/suggest to O.I. (Option Institute) any type of legal action, I believe they will quickly "invite" your wife to leave; they hate "bad press". If your wife has any money at all, they will soon find a way to have her "donate" it to them. they also hate being called a "cult". typical cult beh
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Your stepping forward to describe what happened to you and your spouse will be valuable for others.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Thanks for the response, unfortunately my spouse who had been suffering from depression for the past couple of years ( and other health issues) found this place and believed it could help heal her mind and body as part of the volunteer program. On the 12th day communication stopped and it took me 3 days to get a response, I now was the root of all the 'only ifs' and that they has encour
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I believe they are an extremely destructive cult. I would not recommend that your friend/family member get involved. There is more information about OI if you "search" Steve Hassan's website "Freedom of Mind". They are a nasty bunch.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I understand you would like to start a discussion about The Option Institute, I dont have personal experience but know somone who does and would like to know more about their employment and volunteer program. H
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteTheir motto is `Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues.' And they shouldn't promise miracles ... People are insane over it and really believe in it, and if you criticize it they say you don't understand. It's kind of a cult thing." (quoted from below) Since the causes of autism are still unknown, says Barbara Shipper, a social worker at the Galilee's Mifneh center
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

From the discussion above QuoteI don't think that is what is being said at all. I think he is saying that parents should proceed with caution and recognize they are in a very vulnerable position. I certainly don't think anyone is saying you shouldn't try to help your children. Here is something else posted on that site about the rights of parents: Quote: These rights
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

To add to the difficulty, any suggestion that parents of autistic children are vulnerable is often met with resentment. An interesting discussion here.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The above was for context. Voices from the trenches. Now, back to the topic.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

"Surely there is room for negotiation when it comes to the cost of ABA therapy. Lisa (autism guide)" Quoted below A discussion on another venue about costs. How Much Money is Enough to Cover Costs of Autism Treatment QuoteHow Much Money Is Enough to Cover Costs of Autism Treatment? From Lisa Jo Rudy, About.com GuideJuly 6, 2008 We are told, over and over again, t
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

A treatment program has to consider the needs of all family members. What happens to brothers and sisters of the child who carries the diagnosis? If a home therapy program is expensive, no clear goals, and demanding of parents' attention, will siblings be lost in the shuffle? Will families become so desperate that they take mortages they cannot realistically pay? When parents ar
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

People who have lived/worked/visited a cult don't like to confess that they been ripped off, lied to, taken advantage of. After you spend TEN THOUSAND or MORE dollars at OI (Option Institute) you aren't likely to want to "advertise" it; "oh yes, I was in a cult". Who wants to admit that? Similar to a rape/abuse victim, you feel shame. "How stupid of me to hav
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

This is a caution, not an endorsement. And it is a summary of the article. One needs to obtain full script of the article. And by cognitive dissonance, it would be excruitatingly painful for a family to spend thousands of dollars (or pounds) and then dare imagine that family disruption is more than can be justified by the expenditure. It is painful in the extreme to spend that kind of money an
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Full citation The Son-Rise Program intervention for autism: an investigation into family experiences K R Williams Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK J Intellect Disabil Res 47:291-9. 2003
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The Son-Rise Program intervention for autism: an investigation into family experiences. K R Williams Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"