It's called a god complex, and over a 7 year period I watched it turn Maureen from a helpful person to an arrogant mean person. Her chair turned into a throne, and it was disturbing watching how people treated it. She and the other therapist violated the core AA principles daily by violating non-choices members anonymity at the 6:30 AM meeting. Anyone who truly cherishes their sobriety and A
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

QuoteCountry GirlMaureen and Beth, and the rest of the staff at Choices SAVED MY LIFE!! I do relate, and have experienced some of what was said however, everyone has a part. Bottom Line, I will have 10 years sober in May, I am happily married with 3 beautiful kids! My father said it was the best 50 grand he ever spent, because he got grandchildren out of the deal! I spent a year at choices. The
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Choices isn't tough love, it's an abusive cult. I understand tough love, and I believe that almost all addicts need it to break through the power of addiction. But community humiliation, threats on your personal safety, taking life-sustaining medications away from you (they are not medical doctors), and stealing your personal items including your mail is not tough love. It's crimin
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Good luck talking to Beth about it; you will be told you are in addiction and have the whole thing turned back on you. What I can tell you is that I had my mail stolen from me for about 6 months. My room mates were taking it and forwarding it to someone else. When it happened to show up in my room after moving from one choices house to the other, all bundled up in a rubber band, it had all been o
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I would say that Choices has a decent success rate for alcoholics, lower rate of success for moderate drug users, a but a poor success rate for food addicts, and a horrible success rate for sex addicts and hard drug users. It is not because the later addicts are incapable of recovery, but Choices makes the environment intolerable for relapse. If a client has a slip, or even gets close, the abuse
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Maureen was worshiped as if some kind of god. She enters and leaves just as you state, and her special chair was treated like some kind of alter. One night before group I sat in her chair. People in the room completely flipped out over me sitting in her chair. It was very disturbing. It's easy to look back and see how they lure you in. migrate you into the community, and finally put you i
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Wow, what a great forum. I too am a former Choices Zombie, and yes, it is a cult. For 7 years I let that place completely rule my life. I can relate to just about every single persons story in this forum, and know a few of you who have revealed your name; I am so glad you made it out. I came to Choices to get help with Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, and Sex Addition, and I am all of those (recove
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups