Joe, Thank you for your comments. I think my biggest complaint about my Landmark Forum was that the people who called me incessantly were playing doctor. I was being treated by a quack, who turned out to be very much involved with Landmark. I've already posted some of what occured with this person. I've recently found out how lucky I am to be alive. He decided my medical probl
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

This is an except of the Health Freedom Act that was passed in California on 9/23/02. A similar bill will be introduced in NJ hopefully within the next few months. Hopefully for Californians, this will keep quacks from setting up shop in their state if there is the risk they can be held accountable for their therapies. Having practitioners define in writing how they treat mind-body issues is
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

James, If you haven't found info on kundalini, here is a good website It's difficult to determine what exactly your wife is doing over there. Kundalini is a yoga practice\lifestyle, not really a religion. She could be involved with a group that is using kundalini as some kind of doctrine and therefore becoming cult-like. Or it could simply be she thinks she found the answer
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

It's been a year since my Forum and I still think about some of the "technology" of Landmark. Perhaps the Forum would be good for business, but then, for the same reasons, I think not. For instance, their idea of commitment. Maybe I got this all wrong at Landmark, but I don't think so. The leaders talked about finding what you are committed to, and whatever doesn't
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

It's all derivative - even mainstream psychology (study of soul) - in religious and spiritual practice. This ND attempted to practice cognitive-behavioral therapy - as does Landmark Education - but did not know what he was doing. He was arrogant, sociopathic, manipulative, and very likely a polysubstance abuser. My point is that practitioners who are offering therapies, whether &quo
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

The naturopaths I know are not cheap. Most spend more than the usual 15 minute standard medical office visit, but in my state, insurance does not cover naturopathy. A visit can run anywhere from $65 to $130\hour. Mine was $80\hr. I use ND, but this info applies to any kind of healer, guru or counselor. Consumers need to ask questions they might not think of asking. If I go to another ND
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

What may seem like generosity, kindness, empathy and caring could very well be manipulative, exploitative and dangerous. 1. Criticizing mainstream medicine, psychotherapy and western culture as not getting it, missing the real causes of disease, yet never really exploring diet, excercise, relationships, medical history, psychological history, family history, etc. 2. Changing therapy meth
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

Please refer to the Large Group Awareness Training thread regarding my experience with a naturopathic physician, Corboy's responses, and also read $375lighter's thread (his Leader's manual). Posting on a naturopathy message board about my experience led to corresponding with a current student at a "respected" naturopathic college in Washington. He was not surprised
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

Empowering women to fight against clergy abuse is difficult when it's been imbued in the collective psyche that women are inferior in so many ways, and that suffering is good and part of God's plan. This, together with sociopathic, charismatic church leaders manipulating their victims in an especially cruel way - spiritually - makes it essential that these cases be handled outside the
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

Diatribe? No! Perhaps this can be put in with the other articles on the Rick Ross web site. It is so well written, so truthful, so exactly what I was experiencing but couldn't believe they could mean what they were saying. Now, imagine a therapist doing the same thing, yet throwing in a little "real psychotherapy", a little real scientific proof. A Landmark fanatic - his
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

I think clergy should be treated as laymen and therefore held accountable for their crimes, which are especially cruel. Those holding back info within the church, if it is revealed that this indeed has happened, should be charged with conspiracy. The second best way to handle these scandals, if they are not going to come forward, is to get them in the wallet. Having been exploited in a non-cl
Forum: Clergy and Therapy Abuse

Hi Mikazo, I replied in the other thread. Is it a hoax? That leads me to believe you don't know this woman that well. Could be she didn't have arthritis. More in other thread. Hope
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi Mikazo, How well and how long have you known her. It's difficult to give an opinion on what happened as no one knows what goes on inside someone elses psyche and body. She may have had an emotional problem manifesting itself as a physical condition, joint inflammation, which is what arthritis is. She must have really wonderful insight to be alleviated in one weekend of something s
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Thanks again. I did trust my gut on going to the media. The first person said "You can be a hero for exposing these quacks" and my gut said back off. The second person wanted the ND's name and when I said no, they ended the conversation. Thanks for the reassurance that it wasn't me just not understanding quantum physics - he probably would have come up with another subj
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

"This man ... exploits people in a very big way and then lies about them. Something that is a common experience in the CFM. " This is common of sociopaths and narcisists, not just this guy. Good web site on this is Hope
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

I think brainwashing is real and is not only being used in spiritual organizations but in alternative medicine. I fell for it and after 8 months of therapy post Landmark Forum AND care by a naturopath, I am still afraid to go to a medical doctor for what is necessary pharmaceutical treatment. I still think I can get better by changing my thoughts. I have to keep referring to my written list
Forum: Coercive Persuasion and Undue Influence

Is Landmark about quantum quackery? I keep reading up on quantum physics and alt. med. to try and understand what I was not understanding and found the following article at This article discusses the connection of quantum physics with eastern philosophy and alt. med. and I see what a huge con game was played on me and probably many others. Science is not my bag (but I've started to tak
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi Corboy, Yes, the book is expensive, but I have birthday money - that sounds like a 10-year-old talking :) Amazon had it for $30. I really appreciate all your input. It's so comforting to find someone who seems to know what the heck happened to me. I'm getting a new vocabulary! I've talked with a person at the Coalition for Natural Health who has encouraged me to conta
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Corboy - I am RUNNING out of the house to get that book. Your except that you kindly provided describes exactly what was going on. He did traditional psychotherapy so it SEEMED like he knew what he was doing the first 4-6 sessions. However, the 2nd session, he mentioned Landmark, almost as an aside. Around week 8, he slipped in that I would benefit greatly from hypnosis. Two close frien
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Corboy, It's especially murky when it comes to "holistic medicine." While I know my doctor had classes in ethics, there are many folks out there professing to be spiritual guides, gurus, healers, energy healers, bodyworkers, etc. and God only knows what their training has been. You know there are no CE courses for them. Another huge problem is they are all, under the guise of
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi Corboy, At this point, nothing creeps me out, and I'm trying to read everything I can, so thank you very, very much for the recommendations. I need to clarify something. The doctor I saw was a naturopathic physician, with premed training and a doctoral degree from a naturopathic university. He was not altogether truthful about the content of his training, now is his university a
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi Corboy, You are absolutely correct about Landmark not being suitable for those who have suffered abuse, and that is abuse of any kind - verbal, emotional, physical. According to my therapist, about the only suitable candidate would be a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder, as LF would give them reason to step back and look at themselves, but even then, if it's something that
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Corboy, You make some very good points. As far as screening, Landmark does have an "informed consent", so to speak, for people intent on taking the Forum. It's more to cover Landmark's butt, but it also could come off as looking as if Landmark people care. There is no information given as to why Landmark Forum might be so stressful, yet they want to know if you are wel
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Something about having IRS officers learn a new language, such as, stop running a racket and pay what we think you owe, is creepy. Having to pay them with my tax dollars to send them to LF should be illegal. - Hope
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

My former doctor, a naturopatic physician, should get an award for covert manipulation. Not only did he have the advantage of having me tell him what my strengths and weaknesses were, he had "science", a doctoral degree to back him up on things I questioned. My reason for seeing him was cramps and PMS. He eventually diagnosed me with post traumatic stress disorder as I had been raped
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships