what treatment cult

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What is a psychotherapy cult?

Several psychotherapy cults are described to illustrate the coordinated programs of exploitative influence and behavior control that characterize these groups.

What is a cult and how does it work?

Cult leaders convince their victims that a group, their families, and/or the government is out to get them, but that the cult can provide safety. Once a cult member comes to the conclusion that their families and country cannot keep them safe, they begin to worship and put all of their faith in their cult leader.

How do you get out of a cult?

Take one step at a time. Here are five to get you started from people who left cults themselves: 1) Make a plan. If you need somewhere safe to go, reach out to a family member or friend outside the group. Say you need help. Ask them to come get you or find the best way to get to them.

Should I talk to a mental health professional about cult experiences?

Whether you grew up in a cult or you recently got out of one, you may want to talk to a mental health professional about the complex feelings you may have. Whether you were exposed to traumatic events or you are confused about your identity, there are many reasons why talking to someone might help you.

What are the five stages of treatment?

Motivation for Recovery: Moving Through the 5 Stages of ChangeStage One: Precontemplation.Stage Two: Contemplation.Stage Three: Preparation.Stage Four: Action.Stage Five: Maintenance/Recovery.Addiction recovery that's built to last.

Does Synanon still exist?

Synanon disbanded in 1991 due to members being convicted of criminal activities (including attempted murder) and retroactive loss of its tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) due to financial misdeeds, destruction of evidence, and terrorism.

What is the concept of Synanon?

n. a residential drug treatment program that utilized confrontation and peer pressure to encourage its members to deal with their addiction.

What is the group cult?

0:241:35:51The Group - A Documentary - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipA family desperate for help for a teenager using drugs and they turn to an organization promisingMoreA family desperate for help for a teenager using drugs and they turn to an organization promising love and caring but instead they find a program based on hatred.

Who started Synanon?

Charles Dederich Sr.Charles Dederich Sr., 83, founder of the Synanon drug rehabilitation group that turned into a cultlike religion implicated in a failed murder plot, died here Feb. 28. He had heart and lung ailments. He began Synanon in Santa Monica, Calif., in the late 1950s.

Has Christopher bathum been sentenced?

LOS ANGELES – ON July 14, 2020, Christopher Bathum, 58, the founder of a Los Angeles drug and alcohol treatment facility was sentenced to 20 years in prison for running a $175 million fraudulent healthcare billing scheme.

What is the concept of Synanon 1958?

(ˈsɪnəˌnɒn ) noun. a method of psychotherapy for treating drug addicts, originally practised in the drug rehabilitation centres of the Synanon organization, founded in 1958 in Santa Monica, California.

Who was the founder of Synanon 1958?

Charles E. DederichCharles E. Dederich, a reformed alcoholic who founded Synanon, the drug rehabilitation program that won widespread acclaim and amassed great wealth before it became associated with violence, died on Friday in Kaweah Delta Hospital in Visalia, Calif.

Which term refers to a client's projecting past emotional feelings and or attitudes onto the counselor?

This term refers to a client's projecting past emotional feelings and/or attitudes onto the counselor" transference.

What makes it a cult?

A cult is a group or movement held together by a shared commitment to a charismatic leader or ideology. It has a belief system that has the answers to all of life's questions and offers a special solution to be gained only by following the leader's rules.

What is an example of a cult?

People who follow a creepy pseudo-religious leader who makes them believe that their salvation lies in giving him money are an example of a cult. When a particular famous killer on death row has a strong following, this is an example of a cult following. The Rocky Horror Picture show is an example of a cult film.

How do I know if I'm in a cult?

People who contradict the group are viewed as persecutors and are often given labels like “anti,” “apostate,” or “suppressive person.” Members are discouraged from consuming any material that is critical of the group. If you can't think of a legitimate reason for leaving your group, you're probably in a cult.

What is a cult?

A cult is most often referred to as an organized group or solitary person whose purpose is to dominate other cult members through psychological manipulation and pressure strategies. 1 . Some individuals who join cults remain lifelong members. Others break free and share how it felt to be “brainwashed by a charismatic leader.”.

Why do people stay in cults?

The other major theory about why individuals remain in cults is mostly sociological. 1 . Cult leaders often promise to reward members in some way. They may tell them they’re going to move up the ranks within the cult or they may convince them that something really good is going to happen to their special group.

How to tell if a cult is a cult?

According to the Cult Education Institute, there are specific warning signs to look out for when considering whether a group might be a cult: 2  1 Absolute authoritarianism without accountability 2 No tolerance for criticism or questions 3 No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget 4 Unreasonable fears about the outside world that often involve evil conspiracies and persecutions 5 Former followers are always wrong for leaving and there is never a legitimate reason for anyone else to leave 6 Former members often report being abused 7 There are records, books, articles or programs that document the abuses of the leader or group 8 Followers feel they are never able to be “good enough” 9 The leader is considered right at all times 10 The leader is the exclusive means of knowing “truth” or giving validation

Why is it so hard to study cults?

It’s nearly impossible to study active cult members due to their unwillingness to let others into their closed societies . Quite often, they are suspicious of outsiders. Consequently, cults are usually examined from the perspective of former members.

Why are former followers wrong?

Former followers are always wrong for leaving and there is never a legitimate reason for anyone else to leave. Former members often report being abused. There are records, books, articles or programs that document the abuses of the leader or group. Followers feel they are never able to be “good enough”.

Do people know they are in a cult?

They Don't Know They're Joining a Cult. Most individuals don’t recognize the group they’re joining is considered a cult. Individuals who are attracted to groups that are considered cults may have certain vulnerabilities that make them more likely to join, such as anxiety or substance abuse problems. 1 .

Do cults have a leader?

One thing most people can agree on is that cults have a leader. And the leader (or group of people who serve as leaders) are responsible for the rules that guide the members. According to the Cult Education Institute, there are specific warning signs to look out for when considering whether a group might be a cult: 2 .

What is a cult?

Cults. Cults are close-knit and often secretive organizations that may recruit members through false premises, such as the promise of religious salvation. Although not all cults are religious, most subscribe to a particular belief system unique to their organization and do not permit members to deviate from their strictures.

Why do people join cults?

People who join cults often do so from a basic desire to belong to something, to feel protected and secure, and to live a life that has meaning . Cults that are based on tenets of Christianity can fulfill this longing in some people, as the promise of eternal salvation is the primary draw for many adults who join cults.

How do cults affect society?

Cults also can have a negative effect on society, as some cults have been shown to evade taxes, violate immigration laws, participate in fraud, and deny the children of cult members an appropriate education.

Why are cults considered destructive?

Because cults require absolute commitment to their leader and discourage questioning of the belief system set forth, often using manipulative, exploitative, or abusive tactics to prevent and punish dissent , they are generally considered to be destructive and controlling by outsiders.

What is the most likely cult to be recruited?

Those who are most likely to be recruited by a cult tend to come from an economically sound background, be educated and idealistic, and exhibit above-average intelligence . Cults tend to be led by a charismatic and compelling leader who demands loyalty.

What do cults do when recruiting new members?

When recruiting new members, cults often discern a need in a person and promise to satisfy it, whether the need is religious fulfillment, political activism, self-actualization, or simply a sense of belonging.

What happens after you leave a cult?

After leaving a cult, a person may feel guilt, anxiety, or depression; fear large groups; have emotional outbursts; and experience insomnia, amnesia, or sexual dysfunction. Children who were raised in a cult may find it difficult to integrate into society, and those who were sexually abused may become hypersexualized.

What does it mean to work full time while in treatment?

A program that requires that you work a full-time job for them while in treatment means that your actual treatment opportunities will be limited: Instead of attending classes, engaging in group activities and meeting with therapists, you’ll be worrying about covering room and board. While in treatment, your only job should be healing.

Can a treatment center violate an individual's rights?

No treatment center program should ever violate an individual – physically, mentally, sexually, or emotionally. Instead, credible programs get to the underlying issues through therapy, and use modalities like Dialectical Behavioral Therapy ( DBT) skills or adventure therapy to treat the addiction.

Is Vertava Health a Christian rehab?

One of our guest bloggers, Rebecca, attended what she thought to be a Christian rehab. With very little research and a lot of desperation, Rebecca ended up in a community that was far from a place of hope and healing – and instead a place of manipulation, abuse and trauma. This is her story.

What was the name of the drug that Bathum gave his patients?

In February 2018 Bathum was convicted of rape and 30 other counts of sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and giving his patients crystal meth and heroin . He faces another trial for 46 counts of insurance fraud.

When were addicts considered incurable?

These questions have lingered since the beginnings of modern addiction treatment. Well into the 1950s, addicts were considered hopelessly incurable. If they were treated at all, it was by doctors in hospitals. More often than not, they were sent to jail. Synanon changed all that.

What was the name of the session that Dederich gave to people who kicked heroin?

Dederich loved it. The sessions became known as “synanons, ” a portmanteau of “symposium” (or perhaps “seminar”) and “anonymous.”. Dederich, who provided couches for people to crash on as they kicked heroin, would come to believe that addicts weren’t full-fledged adults and shouldn’t be treated as adults.

Who wrote the book "The failure to define and enforce clear ethical standards governing our business practices has long rendered the addiction

Or as recovery historian William White wrote in 1998, “The failure to define and enforce clear ethical standards governing our business practices has long rendered the addiction treatment field a predator’s paradise.”.

What is Synanon's slogan?

Synanon adopted the slogan “The People Business, ” and what a business it was. By the end of 1976, it had assets worth $22 million, with $8 million in annual revenue coming largely from its specialty advertising division as well as a mortgage business one member had donated and cash contributions from squares.

What is a cult in psychotherapy?

Several psychotherapy cults are described to illustrate the coordinated programs of exploitative influence and behavior control that characterize these groups. The term “cult” is often associated with a process that has been given a variety of labels, including “thought reform” (Lifton, 1961), “coercive persuasion” (Schein, 1956, 1961), ...

What is cult relationship?

Singer (1986) stated that cultic relationships refer to those relationships in which a person intentionally induces others to become totally or nearly totally dependent on him or her for almost all major life decisions, and inculcates in these followers a belief that he or she has some special talent, gift, or knowledge. (p. 270)

Why do cults disintegrate?

Because cults tend to be leader-centered, exploitatively manipulative, and often harmful, they come into conflict with and are threatened by the more rational, open, and benevolent systems of members’ families and society at large. Some cults eventually disintegrate as a consequence of this tension.

What are the differences between cults and purely authoritarian groups?

Cults also differ from purely authoritarian groups, e.g., military organizations and some types of sects and communes. The latter, though rigid and controlling, lack a double agenda and are not extremely manipulative and leader-centered.

What are the elements of a cult?

Cults, then, are likely to exhibit three elements to varying degrees: members’ excessively zealous, unquestioning commitment to the identity and leadership of the group; the induction of dependency through the use of manipulative and exploitative techniques of persuasion and control; and.

What are the characteristics of a cult?

Cults, then, are likely to exhibit three elements to varying degrees: 1 members’ excessively zealous, unquestioning commitment to the identity and leadership of the group; 2 the induction of dependency through the use of manipulative and exploitative techniques of persuasion and control; and 3 the tendency to harm members, their families, and/or society.

Who was the second group of psychotherapists?

The second group was begun by a parolee described as a middle-class, fortyish man who had learned confrontational attack therapy while in a drug rehabilitation program to which he had been remanded in lieu of prison time. His history reveals a character-disordered man, who upon leaving his drug rehabilitation program, saw the economic advantages of providing “therapy” to troubled, employed adults in a state that has no legal requirements about who can proclaim themselves to be psychotherapists. Using his assured, smooth, aggressive, and controlling ways, he “set up shop.” Initially, he attracted a few clients by initiating cafe and restaurant conversations, later instructing them to recruit their friends and families. Later, he enlisted the cooperation of a psychiatrist and psychologist. They were to “screen” and “study” certain of his clients, apparently to create an aura of “science and credibility.” Legal documents (not cited here in order to protect the anonymity of peripheral parties) suggested that no one he sent for screening was ever screened out or referred to more appropriate medical or psychological treatment and the research withered into a mere folder of random notes, drawings, and invoices for services.

How to avoid suspicion in a group?

They may try to talk you out of it, block you, or report your plan to others. Keep your doubts and intentions a secret. Try to go about your business as usual to avoid suspicion. 4) Reach out to others who have left. Talking with others who have left your group can help encourage and validate your decision to leave.

Is it okay to leave a cult?

Maybe the group is all you've ever known. If starting over sounds overwhelming, it's okay. Take one step at a time. Here are five to get you started from people who left cults themselves:

Do people join cults?

People don’t join cults. They get involved in groups they are led to believe represent these high ideals.". Let's set aside the task of defining what a cult is and instead focus on recognizing how cultic groups operate.

Does Encourage help cult survivors?

EnCourage Survivors of Cults and Abuse ~ Therapy can be expensive. EnCourage exists to help ex-cult members get professional counseling by subsidizing the cost of therapy for those who cannot pay. They are UK-based and require that the counselors are Approved Service Providers (ASP).

How do cults maintain power?

Cults maintain their power by promoting an “us vs. them” mentality. Cults prove powerful because they are able to successfully isolate members from their former, non-cult lives. One of the ways cult leaders achieve this is to convince their followers that they are superior to those not in the cult.

Why do people join cults?

Many people join cults because they believe they’re being offered solid, absolute answers for questions such as good vs. evil, religion, the meaning of life, politics, etc. Many cult leaders promote messages that are simple and seem to make sense, the exact opposite of what we’re often provided with in typical, everyday life.

How do cult leaders control their members?

To do all this a cult leader must be a master at mind control. Ways in which leaders gain control over cult members vary, but some popular methods include:#N#Public Humiliation: New cult members may be “love bombed” shortly after their arrival, but once they are established members, cult leaders often maintain emotional control through various exercises meant to publicly humiliate a member. One such method involves someone sitting in a chair surrounded by other members, at which time they are required to admit their recent failures, base thoughts, shortcomings, etc.#N#Self Incrimination: A favorite tactic of the infamous cult leader Jim Jones, self incrimination requires cult members to provide their leader with written statements detailing their individual fears and mistakes. The cult leader can then use these statements to shame individual members publicly.#N#Brainwashing:: Cult leaders are known to repeat various lies and distortions until members find it difficult to distinguish between reality and cult life.#N#Paranoia: To maintain a false sense of comfort, cults often rely on paranoia tactics. Cult leaders convince their victims that a group, their families, and/or the government is out to get them, but that the cult can provide safety. Once a cult member comes to the conclusion that their families and country cannot keep them safe, they begin to worship and put all of their faith in their cult leader. Jim Jones was especially skilled at this mind-control trick. He would encourage members to spy on each other, and consistently spoke through loudspeakers at all hours of the day so that cult members would hear his voice whether awake or asleep.

Why does Singer say that cults are only religious?

Singer theorizes that this is partly because some people are more willing to see the perceived benefits than they are the potential dangers. She also mentions that many people assume cults are only religious, though in truth, cults can also be political groups, lifestyle groups, or business groups.

What is Jim Jones' tactic?

Self Incrimination: A favorite tactic of the infamous cult leader Jim Jones, self incrimination requires cult members to provide their leader with written statements detailing their individual fears and mistakes. The cult leader can then use these statements to shame individual members publicly.

How do cult leaders convince their victims?

Cult leaders convince their victims that a group, their families, and/or the government is out to get them, but that the cult can provide safety. Once a cult member comes to the conclusion that their families and country cannot keep them safe, they begin to worship and put all of their faith in their cult leader.

What are the promises of cult leaders?

Jon-Patrik Pedersen, a psychologist at CalTech, has pointed out that cult leaders often make promises that are totally unattainable , but also offered by no other group in society. Such things might include financial security, total health, constant peace of mind, and eternal life — the things every human desires at the deepest level.

California

Rachel Bernstein is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, as well as an educator. She has been working with former cult members and their loved ones since 1991. She has a private practice in a suburb of Los Angeles and also runs a weekly Former Cult Member Support group in her office.

Colorado

Leona Furnari, MSW, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in Boulder, CO, specializing in recovery from trauma, including recovery from abusive groups, spiritual abuse and harmful relationships. Ms.

Connecticut

Vanessa N. Weber, MSW, LCSW has worked with victims of cults and their families, since 1980. She was one of the original founders of reFocus and the original Cult Awareness Network, NY/NJ chapter. She has a BA in Religion from Barnard College, studied at Union Theological Seminary, and received her MSW at Yeshiva University.

Delaware

Steve K. D. Eichel, PhD, ABPP, ICSA President, is Past-President of the American Academy of Counseling Psychology and the Greater Philadelphia Society of Clinical Hypnosis.

Florida

Carol Giambalvo’s interest in cults and thought reform began in 1978 when her step-daughter began exhibiting a drastic personality change following becoming a devotee in ISKCON. She began researching cults and thought reform and lectured in local high schools, churches and civic organizations.

Indiana

Peter Malinoski, PhD, has been a clinical psychologist in private practice since 2001. In 1999, he received the John G. Clark Award for Distinguished Scholarship and Cultic Studies from the International Cultic Studies Association, and he has been involved in research with former cult members since 1993.

Maryland

Mary Moore is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker currently practicing in Maryland. She participated in Divine Light Mission, later renamed Elan Vital and The Prem Rawat Foundation, from 1973 to 2001, having been recruited in her first year of college.

What is ritual abuse?

According to psychologist Louis Cozolino of Pepperdine University, ritual abuse is characterized by a number of perpetrators of both sexes and the presence of many victims. The abuse is often carried out in contexts where children are in groups, and within families or groups of families.

What percentage of counselors agree with ritual abuse?

And in an Australian study of workers at the Center against Sexual Assault(CASA) including psychiatrists, psychologists, and other clinicians, 70 percent of all counselors agreed with a single definition of ritual abuse and 85 percent agreed that ritual abuse was an indication of genuine trauma.

Do Casa workers believe in ritual abuse?

CASA workers were much more likely to believe their client’s ritual abuse and marginally more likely to identify ritual abuse cases than other therapists. Cozolino references a vast amount of corroborating evidence for the existence of ritual abuse, such as police reports and therapeutic case studies.

Is it necessary to have a support group for ex-cult members?

It may seem counterintuitive to treat ex-cult members as a group because their abuse took place in a group setting. However certain precautions may be taken to make treatment effective.

Do ritual abuse survivors have PTSD?

Researcher Patricia Precin of the New York Institute of Technology, alongside Cozolino, report that many ritual abuse survivors suffer from PTSD. Clinicians also see a high frequency of Dissociative IdentityDisorder (DID) among such adolescent and adult patients.

Understanding Cults

What Constitutes A Cult?

How Are Cults Harmful?

Deprogramming and Exit Counseling

• Many cults urge their members to cut ties with family members and other loved ones who are “outside” the cult, and these family members may turn to strategies such as exit counseling or deprogramming in an attempt to break the cult’s influence on the cult member. Deprogramming involves kidnapping the cult member and forcing the individual to underg...

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