Chuck Spezzano promotes himself in Germany as having a PhD in Clinical Psychology. In USA and Canada he says he has a PhD in Counseling Psychology. None of this is true. What he does have is a PhD in "Professional Psychology". From a school that was not accredited by the APA at the time. http://psychologyofvision.blogspot.com/2015/09/charles-lee-spezzano-ph-d-in_28.html Chuck Spe
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

The Spezzanos work to silence their critics, including with legal threats. The Spezzanos want critics to stop saying that they use stage hypnotism, and that they use a type of affinity fraud to infiltrate First Nations communities in Canada. Documents about the group can be found here http://psychologyofvision.blogspot.com/ These include copies of posts from past Spezzano websites that are now
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Just realized you are probably talking about the Gratitude Training. Rick Ross' book will help a lot, especially the section on LGAT/ Large Group Awareness Trainings
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I'm not familiar with this group, who is the leader? Sorry you are going through this with your friend. I recommend Rick Ross's book highly http://www.amazon.com/Cults-Inside-Out-How-People/dp/149731660X - it directly addresses what friends and family can do.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

In my own limited experience, LGATs usually don't involve much physical contact, if at all. Psychology of Vision is striking in how much hands on the trainers are. One video of an event even shows Lency Spezzano and trainers rubbing a woman's legs and chest, all while blocking her view and ability to move. Lency and Chuck also do their "joining" routine, which means invasive c
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

corboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Self-Help Author Imprisoned For Sweat Lodge Deaths > Is Making a Comeback > > > James Arthur Ray spent two years in prison > after a sweat lodge ceremony in 2009 left three > people dead. His experiences behind bars now forms > the bulk of his new self-help program > > Bloomberg Ne
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Definitely this book http://www.amazon.com/Cults-Inside-Out-How-People/dp/149731660X Cults Inside Out: How People Get In and Can Get Out by Rick Ross can help immensely. A big part in my recovery is ongoing education, learning how to examine the underpinnings of a group/charismatic leader. When I was floating in the New Age world I did not know how to critically examine miraculous claims, I di
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

The thread here http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=3420.0 contains lots of info, including from survivors and from people who knew him before he became a cult leader. Investigative report on Erick Gonzalez (and also on Chuck Spezzano/Psychology of Vision LGAT that also is badly impacting that area in Canada) http://aptn.ca/news/2013/11/09/couple-questions-alternative-healing-group
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Recruiting looks to be mostly in USA and Canada. In Canada he uses a form of affinity fraud, having First Nations people recruit each other. In USA he recruits youth and older folks by portraying himself as a mayan shaman. He has photos of himself taken with villagers and actual leaders so as to appear legit and approved. Many of the photos on his sites and Facebook pages are posted without pe
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Their liability waiver: QuoteTHIS IS A LIABILITY WAIVER- PLEASE READ CAREFULLY I hereby apply to participate as Member of the Self-Transformational Journey to Guatemala organized by Mayan Shamanism and/or TJU-EPU, and taking place November 16- Dec 5, 2009. Mayan Shamanism and/or TJU-EPU acts only in the capacity of tour sponsor and while exercising every possible precaution is not responsi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Another good thing to know about this group is that they also have elements of a religious cult. The leaders are worshiped by their followers. The leaders claim that they can channel miraculous blessings.
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

This is an excellent book. I've skimmed through first in excitement to find passages relevant to the groups I am researching, and now am going back through more slowly. I wish I could afford to buy a large quantity of these books and give away freely. I very much appreciate the methodical, organized style of this book. Really, this book is a gift to us all. A gift of Rick Ross's
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

A good video to watch to get a sense of what Lency Spezzano does is: Lency Spezzano "Greater Intimacy with God" Download https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btxyxm1BHhY Keep in mind while watching that Lency claims she is not using hypnosis. Her "it's your birthday!" intro is her standard intro to the script induction she uses with everyone for whatever this is. Her tar
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

QuoteChances are, that if someone has funds to own and maintain house property in Hawaii and can pay the bills for a pleasant standard of life, such persons are well funded and NOT hurting for money. Lency Spezzano comes from family wealth, she inherited money, they own a house and also a condo there. Their LGAT and related seminars are costly. Advancing up the ladder means putting out tho
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Chuck Spezzano initially became popular in Taiwan and other Asian countries. He then made major inroads in Canada,especially in First Nation communities. Because survivors are speaking out, because national Canadian news has done a report, Canada may be fading in terms of Chuck's bank balance contributions. He has lost two of his top Canadian trainers, the two youngest of the group. Now h
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Erick Gonzalez does not give people time to acclimate, to deal with time zone lag. The trip to his Guatemala place involves an armed guard and bribes, even then the whole experience is very tense, sometimes people have thought they might have to run for their lives. So once he gets foreign tourists (they are basically drug tourists, though they believe this all is spiritual) in Guatemala, he
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

corboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > According to a post on New Age Frauds and Plastic > Shamans website, > this, allegedly, is the waiver form > > > 0.45 I can vouch for the person who posted the waiver, they are a survivor. Even with the RCMP warning, Erick and his people continue to run dangerous drugs, I'm not sure how
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Erick holds some of his events in a run down, unsafe place in Guatemala. People are given drugs, told that the drugs are "sacred", and many wake up after time in comas. Survivors say they are dealing with long time damage from these events. People are made to do debilitating "spiritual practices". They have to kneel for hours, sometimes all night, to do fire vigils. The
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Canadian police RCMP issued a warning about this group back in 2012. The group continues to behave in all the ways the RCMP warns about. Erick Gonzalez and his wife Heddi Neale act as destructive cult leaders. Erick is king, he does not tolerate questions, he tells followers to fear outside influences (including supposed supernatural ones). Followers become paranoid and anyone who leaves
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

QuoteLaura Duthiel describes her therapy sessions with Psychology of Vision, an unlicensed service operating on the British Columbia island of Haida Gwaii under the direction of Lency and Chuck Spezzano, as a horrible experience. She says she witnessed people crying and throwing up, and that Your personal boundaries, they are breaking that down... Like an addiction, you gotta go. And just
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Here is one of countless examples of how followers are encouraged to worship the Spezzanos http://www.chuckandlencyspezzano.com/Seminars/MasteryFeedback.htm This piece is also written about here http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=4179.msg37960#msg37960 This is written by someone who at this point has spent quite a bit of money and time achieving this level of "training".
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

As far as I know, they did not cultivate therapists. We were supposed to look to the leaders for family therapy type help. Married couples with problems would join the group, then be advised by the Kamps as to family dynamics, usually the Kamps would then split the couples up and redistribute them into other relationships. Trina claims she channels a centuries old medical doctor Dr. Duran, he
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The Kamps have preyed on people for decades. I wonder if they will pass on this lucrative scam to someone else, or if it will die with them. Some of the people still with them I knew in the mid 80s, that is a long time to be involved with this destructive group. Steven and Trina went after people who were vulnerable and in times of life transition. Single mothers, married people who were
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Chuck Spezzano states in his bio http://www.chuckandlencyspezzano.com/ChuckSpezzano.htm that he attended Lifespring, he doesn't go into detail about how involved he was. The Spezzanos make their followers their children and then work them over abusively. Chuck plays the role of the genial, insightful father who ultimately is detached and all about the money - Lency plays the role of the
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Lency and Chuck Spezzano were both born in the lower 48 states USA. They eventually settled in Hawaii, which is where they are now based, and where they do some trainings. Otherwise they hit Asian countries, UK and Germany, and Canada. For some reason they do not offer trainings in the lower 48 states USA anymore. They behave like classic "Ugly Americans". They sell their large group
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I'm very concerned about the psychiatric casualties that result from Psychology of Vision events. The Spezzanos recently did a 10 day event in British Columbia, and at least one participant is not doing well. The B.C. crisis line is 1-800-784-2433, they also have online chat available http://crisiscentre.bc.ca/get-help/ I encourage anyone feeling distressed after a POV event to contact
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

http://the-truth-about-chuck-and-lency-spezzano.com/ This web site is an attempt at reputation management by Lency Spezzano. The testimonials read almost like loyalty oaths. As a high demand group this group follows a common pattern: the followers are rallied and expected to declare loyalty, and any criticism is described as vicious emotional attacks by immature people who just don't unde
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Chuck Spezzano claims he was enlightened at Oneness University in 2007. Through Psychology of Vision he, his wife Lency Spezzano, and their trainers, all teach Oneness practices, including claims that they do Oneness Blessings. Oneness University had been compared to a locked down facility, it has guards and barbed wire http://griftershotel.blogspot.com/2013/11/oneness-university-locked-down-f
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Some people end up with uncontrollable shaking http://griftershotel.blogspot.com/2013/10/uncontrollable-shaking.html QuoteLency has often spoken publicly about being called a cult leader, her reply is that people just don't understand, that POV is all about healing, and any who criticize are just trying to attack their healing work. "It doesn't matter what complaint you have
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

A survivor reports that the basic structure of POV trainings is: Break down people's boundaries Have them reveal personal hardships and info Make them emote and purge Rebond them to POV
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"