go to the discussion board at www.factnet.org They have a subsection for persons to post information or request information about cult activity in businesses/corporations. See if anyone else has listed the group you're concerned about.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

To become as little children... Yes, that 'kindergarten' atmosphere is very distinctive. If you're considering studying on a committed basis with some guru or teacher, I think it is very important to see what kind of emotional 'vibe' is given off when they meet with students as a group. Now, this is complex. There can be a 'honeymoon' phase in wh
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Our Vulnerability in Relation to Pseudoprofessionals and Cults 1) We are already under stress when we are looking for help. Often we will not have the know-how or energy to apply critical thinking. One person on this thread reports suffering ill health from a serious illness at the time she met her pseudoprofessional. When I crossed paths with my guy, I was in the grip of a study block and was
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Yes. You've identified something important. A closed atmosphere of social/intellectual inbreeding can develop in which (my term) 'pseudo-professional' therapists hang out with each other, refer patients to each other, socialize nearly exclusively with each other. A very lucrative 'in-house' referral network can develop in which therapists bounce each other's cl
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

this is a very important point. I dont think the erring professional could lose his or her license. But they'd very likely be warned by whatever organization they're answerable to,and something might go in thier record. This can be a useful way to alert the regulatory agencies to what appears to be an unexamined bias in the profession. If you write a letter, point out that the th
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

...not in any professional sense. Thats why I needed to get help FROM a professional (grin) Thank you for mentioning this subtype of migraine headache. Just as we are discovering that many people experienced painless heart attacks, its very interesting that one can experience a painless migraine and have disruptions in the quality of conscious awareness. And (sigh) not all physicians would eve
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

A psychotherapist is NEVER supposed to work on his or her problems while with clients. It is worrisome how many non-therapists are unaware of the guidelines that therapists are supposed to follow. A few weeks ago on Craigslist.org in the psychology forum, a person was in great distress. Her therapist had socialized with her, borrowed her car (!!), then suddenly terminated her from therapy--wi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

The article by Temerlin and Temerlin on psychotherapy cults as iatrogenic (that is, healer induced) perversion mentions that these relationships are often quite long lived. The Temerlins note that often the counselee/disciples are pulled in to rescuing and parenting their guru-therapist --the therapist comes across as simultaneously powerful, yet vulnerable. Many of us as children found ours
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

'There are, however, official psychiatric conditions called disassociative disorders - and while I can see day dreaming on the mild end of disassociation and personality splitting or fugue/amnesia on the other end - I wonder at what point along the continuum do the symptoms become an official disorder needing attention/treatment?' That point is probably different for each of us. A th
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

'Bounded Choices' by Janja Lalitch She found that persons who were in high demand, coercive situations remained quite rational, but were doing their thinking in a context in which the menu of choices became more narrow over time--'bounded choice' You think you're exercising freedom of choice, but in a situation where there are fewer and few items on the choice makin
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

of various stressors from our modern, hectic environment. IF you find you want to stay in the moment and not dissociate, there is not a lot of cultural support. You have to make very intentional efforts to do so and be very alert about the quality of your environment. Thats what is sad. Lots of us decide we want to explore meditation, we look for a group or community that will offer informa
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

This list is by no means exhaustive. For further information go to a medical library and discuss your search topics with the librarian. Cultic therapists get used to safe social settings in which they are not challenged, and can speak from a position of unchallenged dominance. Their world shrinks. A person who was formerly a credentialled professional and who is drifting in a cultic dir
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

There is material about Alex Horn available here. You're right to be concerned about your fiance. I advise consulting 'Juniper' 'needshelp' and others who are on this thread in relation to AH. Alex Horn has been married to Sharon Gans and may, according to some reports, still be involved with her. There is a vast amount of material about her group in the RR.com
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

read the material on the website and reflections on the message board and then apply that material to what you've observed about Dr. Dyer. For additional reading, go to 'Crazy Therapies' by Margaret Singer and also the chapters on New Age therapies (Ch 7) and self-help therapies (Chapter 14) and commercializing mental health issues (Chapter 15) in 'Science and Pseudoscien
Forum: Celebrities associated with "cult-like" groups

sound like warmed-over encounter group stuff. Started at places like Esalen, then propagated far and wide, in a variety of names. Among tribal peoples, sexuality is usually treated with the utmost respect, often hedged in with many precautions and taboos. (And this is for practical reasons.. Tribal peoples live close to nature and Mother Nature doesnt forgive errors. In such conditions, livin
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Another cause of mineral deficiencies There is a substance in grain bran and seed hulls called either 'phytate' or 'phytic acid'. It binds to calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium, making these minerals unavailable to the body. Fermentation, either through exposure to yeast or yogurt (lactofermentation) will neutralize phytic acid. Tannins in coffee, tea and chocolate int
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

A psychotherapist is NEVER supposed to work on his or her problems while with clients. It is shocking how many lay people are unaware of the ethical standards that therapists are supposed to follow. A few weeks ago on Craigslist.org in the psychology forum, a person was in great distress. Her therapist had socialized with her, borrowed her car (!!), then suddenly terminated her from therapy--
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

This statement by a council of Native American Elders sums up the problem. You could try and contact some of the people listed here and see if they know this man and what his standing is. Someone posted here describing her involvement in two dysfunctional groups whose leaders claimed to be shamans. You might PM 'cozyquiltz' and see if she crossed paths with the person you're
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Groups of this type can be be quite durable. Some have lasted for decades. In some cases, ambitious disciples of cultic therapists may start their own franchises, borrowing techniques from their mentors. Founders of derivative groups may go indepedent after the mentor has died, retired, or unable to continue supervising groups. It is possible that other disciples may feel they have learned
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

but its been around for years. My hunch is that any book, no matter how good it is, can be used for dysfunctional purposes. The Bible has empowered saints and also empowered Jim Jones. Its the intentions of the persons using a book, their emotional needs, how they create groups and the kinds of people they prefer to recruit to a group - and how they teach a group to respond to dissent--it
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Groups of the kind you are describing can be quite durable. Some can go on for decades. The key is for the leader to be prudent, avoid nasty publicity and do very selective recruitment among persons who are affluent and discreet--and who dont concern themselves with boundary ethics to the degree that they should. In such cases, a charismatic leader who often keeps a low profile, and is surrou
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

there is an old but very good book by Aldous Huxley called 'The Devils of Loudon'. (Later turned into a movie) Huxley wrote a history of a case of social hysteria in a 17th Century French town that was exploited for political purposes. A priest in the town had made many enemies over the years, foolishly refused to leave, and in the end, a convent of nuns was persuaded to accuse the m
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

talk to an exit counselor. That will greatly facilitate your recovery. The counselor can advise you on resources, self care, how to pace yourself, and how to select people who are likely to be supportive. Rick Ross can refer you to someone in your area. It will be very important to understand exactly what kind of cult you've been in, because recovery issues differ--some are born into cult
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

We have found and posted two articles from the psychological/psychiatric literature on the dynamics of psychotherapy cults. Persons who wish to evaluate the health of their Fourth Way group, or who want to keep their group in a good place may find the articles a helpful resource. The articles can also be accessed, respectively, at [66.102.7.104]
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

We have found and posted two articles from the psychological/psychiatric literature on the dynamics of psychotherapy cults. Persons who wish to evaluate the health of their groups, (whether Fourth Way or some other tradition) or who want to keep their group in a good place may find the articles a helpful resource. (Note, some links had to be cut in half to keep the page readable and within ma
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

This article is an electronic version of an article originally published in Cultic Studies Journal, 1986, Volume 3, Number 2, pages 234-242 . Please keep in mind that the pagination of this electronic reprint differs from that of the bound volume. This fact could affect how you enter bibliographic information in papers that you may write. Some Hazards of the Therapeutic Relationship* Ja
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

[66.102.7.104] misc/Factnet/BOLAND92.CSJ+hazards+temerlin&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 (*Note--copy and past the URL to your browser. We had to prune the active URL to shrink the margins of the posts so that the posts could easily be read within the format of the program--moderator) Psychotherapy Cults: An Ethical Analysis Kim Boland,Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Or
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

you are responsible for their safety. Unhealthy groups refuse to see that toddlers, school aged children and teenagers, each have different psychological needs and refuse to see that each age group has varying needs for age-appropriate discipline, priviliges and chores. Leaders of such groups are often childish themselves, and conceal this behind a face of charm and adult sophistication. D
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

for a psychotherapist to put loyalty to his or her religion or human potential group above the welfare of clients. A therapist has to be capable of remaining objective in relation to belief systems and human potential groups. If you're a therapist, you're like the designated driver at a party. Your job is to stay sober and awake so you can safetly drive vulnerable people home. Therap
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

**Is the leader of the group considered infallible or perfect? (Dont just rely on verbal answers to questions. Observe how the leader and the group actually behave) **Does the group or leader have pretensions to do psychotherapy? If so, I advise avoiding this whole situation--the risks are too high. Psychotherapy rapidly goes bad when used as a 24 hour lifestyle, because the psychotherapist o
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families