Families and friends of a cult-involved person tend to ask the second question. Former group members and others interested in cults tend to ask the former question. However, since the answer to the latter question requires an understanding of the answer to the former question, we will first explain why…
Coming Out of the Cults
Excerpted from “Coming Out of the Cults,” Psychology Today, January, 1979 Margaret Thaler Singer, Ph.D. Most ex-cult members we have seen struggle at one time or another with some or all of the following difficulties and problems. Not all have all of these problems, nor do most have them in…
An Open Letter to Clergy Regarding Helping Former Members of Abusive Churches or Cults
ICSA Today, Vol. 03, No. 02. Carol Giambalvo ICSA Director of Recovery Programs, ICSA Board of Directors As both the Director of Recovery Programs for the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and a cofounder of reFOCUS, a support and referral network for former members of closed, intense organizations or relationships,…
Special Event: Sharing Experiences to Assist Others
Throughout the day there will be specific discussion sessions where there will be opportunity given (if you wish) to share parts of your story, to assist others in similar situations such as former members who are more recently out of their groups, and those with loved ones, such as adult…
Writing Workshop: Coming to Terms with Your Story: A Pre-Conference Writing Workshop for Post-Cultic Recovery
Facilitator: Karen PressleyWednesday, July 4, 2012 (10:00 am – 5:00 pm)After leaving a high-demand group, how do you come to terms with the people, events, and countless details of the memories that shaped that time of your life? Outside of counseling or talks with caring friends and family members, exploring…