The Scotsman QuoteControversial autism guru offers Scots a £7,000 'cure' Published on 06/09/2008 19:36 AN AMERICAN medical guru who charges thousands of pounds to "cure" autistic children is heading to Scotland amid a storm of controversy. Raun Kaufman insists he "fully recovered" from the condition and can show others how to do the same. But me
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

One persons comment from a venue discussing therapies for treatment of stuttering. This was a discussion of Hollins Clinic. (No endorsement by Ross Institute is implied. This is just quotation of someone else's comment from this venue here" Therapy Programs Hollins Communications Research Institute (HCRI) July 23, 2011 Reviewer: L Ry Jns (initializedd for privacy by C
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Someone who did intensive programs there (spent thousands, TENS of thousands) did more than "sample the fruit"; no offence, but you "drank the coolaid". Blessings to all children and familes. I've "been" there and know many others who have. The Kaufmans only let you know about the "happy" endings.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Another thread on Option Insitute in LGATs section
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

barbararose: OK. You are a supporter of the Option Institute and its programs. You have come to this message board specifically to defend Options and express your support. Got it.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

One parent's comment written in 2000. QuoteTHE OPTIONS INSTITUTE ("SONRISE" METHOD): Barry Neil Kaufman's books, Son-Rise (Warner Books, 1976) and Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues (H.J. Kramer, 1995), documentaries of the grueling process he and his wife, Samahria Lyte Kaufman, underwent to help their severely autistic son, Raun. Kaufman literally locked himself in a
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I don't know who the other people posting are, but I was a borderline sub-clinical manic depressive person, again subclinical rage-o-holic, and other things. I felt bad and functioned below my abilities most of my life. I still struggle and am on the road to functioning better and making my life go somewhere as the result of the thinking they teach. Whether they created it or not, their te
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Retting, You state that some people who left Option Institute did have psychotic breaks. Is there more specific information available in the public domain? Are these people that you knew? I would like to know what you base your statement on. I am not a fan of the Option Institute - if anything the opposite. But I want to make sure I have valid information about the destructiveness of OI
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

To all who have replied a BIG THANKS (Anticult/corboy/walter1963).....I feel there is so much to learn and so little time :-)...I wish I knew about this site before I took a weekend and then week long seminar at The Option Institute years ago...I , luckily, did not spend "too much money" and did not have a nervous breakdown/psychotic episode but I could see how they can get addictive...
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

First I would like to say a BIG THANKS to all who have posted in this thread in response to my opening post....A sincere thank you to help me overcome this attraction/interest in LGATs... Stoic: I have not had the best luck with professional therapists....Many just discuss the past (childhood and too much analysis)....Also, the one that I did connect with and benefit the most from actually tau
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

"People who are dissociated live in great peace. But this is only because they have blocked their negative feelings. The enlightened person resolves his negatives feelings, and thus his peace is not false." People who left OI (Option Institute) after many years did have psychotic breaks. Perhaps you can only pretend to be happy for so long. Option Institute/Kaufman Family were on
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi to all....WHAT (if anything) has helped those of you attracted to LGATS?....I have taken a weekend and week long seminar at the Option Institute (about 10 years ago) and am now considereing going to Landmark Education.....I did not stop myself from going to OI so I am vulnerable....I did not have a bad experience at OI at all.....It was quite pleasant but the courses are too expensive and they
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi everyone.....I would like to share my own personal history and then get some feedback from those who were able to end involvement in LGATS....I have always been curious about healing tools/modalities due to dealing with periods of depression, anxiety, and the ending of relationships.....The first "out of the ordinary" school I was exposed to was Scientology....I was brought to the Sc
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

If families have a lot of money to spend (and they'll need it with OI) perhaps it is a different experience. but if a family is poor, OI will take every penny they have (happily!) and if that family doesn't cure their child, it's their fault because everything is a choice and of course if you fail, then you obviously made the wrong choice. Like it's a poor person's faul
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'm going to reject Luca's invitation to use more measured language. There are so few places, on the net or in IRL, that really push back against exploitative groups. It's important to be forceful and clear. corboy is absolutely right, Luca, and the fact the you feel insulted does not make him wrong. The experience of the person who pays money to Option for a one week course
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Having recently attended a 1-week course there, I felt I should add to this discussion. While us parents with autistic children certainly face a very significant challenge, I don't think "corboy" should assume that we all lose all control over our mental faculties. Indeed, it's more than a little bit insulting. We looked at many available treatment options with an open but
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

It's definitely a lot of bunko - anyone been to one of these courses at this place? From the website it seems like a bunch of ropes-course stuff, but who knows how serious and LGAT-ish they get... It's a cult. People who have lived and worked there have been extremely damaged by it, and for the most part don't talk about it (and sometimes go on to other cults, and/or start thei
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

People who have autistic children are DESPERATE. And the careful and cautious language used by responsible physicians and scientists, a language of probabilties and statistics, offers little comfort to those who are desperate. When parents are desperate, they dont want to hear about probability, they want to hear promises, hope, encouragement. Adult critical thinking is gravely disabled whe
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Well they claim to be healing autistic children. That's a fairly strong claim. From their website: "Over the last 25 years our team of dedicated professionals have worked with more than 22,000 parents and professionals from around the world teaching them a system of treatment and education." Are these "professionals" trained and licensed mental health professiona
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I'd like to start a discussion about the Option Institute in Sheffield Mass. It's definitely a cult.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi, Has anyone had positive or negative experiences with the Inner Bonding workshops?.......The Dr. Margaret Paul seems to have written some books and does the weekend, 3 day, and 5 day workshops.......It sounds like good healing techniques BUT after doing research here I am not so sure........One of the facilitators is Rythea Lee Kaufman who I believe is the daughter of Bears Kaufman who runs
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Option Institute and Fellowship in Sheffield Mass. was the cult that I was involved with. When other people write about their experiences of OI and sound just like me, it helps me to know that I'm not the crazy one. The people still there are the ones with the problem. I had two good therapists who specialized in cults and also an exit counselor. I was a mess when I left but havi
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I just got VERY triggered simply from reading one of the Work facilitators'/coaches' web pages. With a BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION, Dawn Rockwell claims she can work with the following issues, one of which I've bolded because it's what triggered me (unfortunately I've had direct dealings with the topic in my life)... "Enlightening lives of individuals h
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Awareness Page Taking a stand for speaking the possibility of making a difference for the informed consumer. Why I have created this page This page is created to help build awareness of the various types of self awareness programs that are out in the marketplace. This page is by no means a condemnation of these things. However, I take a stand that people should make conscious infor
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The Awareness Page Taking a stand for speaking the possibility of making a difference for the informed consumer. Why I have created this page This page is created to help build awareness of the various types of self awareness programs that are out in the marketplace. This page is by no means a condemnation of these things. However, I take a stand that people should make conscious infor
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The Awareness Page Taking a stand for speaking the possibility of making a difference for the informed consumer. Why I have created this page This page is created to help build awareness of the various types of self awareness programs that are out in the marketplace. This page is by no means a condemnation of these things. However, I take a stand that people should make conscious infor
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The Awareness Page Taking a stand for speaking the possibility of making a difference for the informed consumer. Why I have created this page This page is created to help build awareness of the various types of self awareness programs that are out in the marketplace. This page is by no means a condemnation of these things. However, I take a stand that people should make conscious infor
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

A quick google shows this may not be such a good group. Statements from former members They were also on the "Cult list" of the old CAN.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I would stay away from Option. I know people who worked there while training in their approach and they became very disaffected, ended up leaving.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

i'm trying to get information about the personal growth programs in the Option Institute. If anyone had participated in these programs I would like to know about your experience.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families