Former Cult Members and Support Groups
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David Clark Cult Expert, Exit Counselor, Former Members location: Swarthmore, PA David Clark is a former member of a Bible-based/occult group in southern California, is a court-certified cult expert, and has been an exit counselor for more than twenty years. |
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Cult Hotline & Clinic
The Cult Hotline & Clinic was founded in 1980 to serve families and friends of cult members, former cult members, and to educate community groups most at risk of interaction with cults. A nonprofit, non-sectarian counseling and education organization working with people of all religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. The Cult Hotline & Clinic is a program of the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services, one of the nation's largest and most respected nonprofit mental health and social service agencies. JBFCS serves over 65,000 New Yorkers annually from all religious, ethnic, and economic backgrounds through a comprehensive range of 185 community-based programs, residential facilities, and day-treatment centers. Based in New York City, the Cult Clinic primarily works with people and community groups in the Greater New York Meto Area; however through the Cult Hotline phone support, and with our extensive network of professionals, we are able to assist people in need across the United States. The Cult Hotline & Clinic receives funding from the UJA-Federation of New York and was co-founded by the JCRC Task Force on Missionaries and Cults. Consultation for families and friends email: info@cultclinic.org |
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Escape
Richard and Bonnie Woods Ex-members of Scientology, the Woods are seeking to explain the truth regarding involvement with the group and to make their 8-year experience known. Media services and pamphlets are also available. Escape provides counseling and support group assistance to help people with psychotherapeutic cults, particularly Scientology. |
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Ex-Cult Archive
email: ex-cult@ex-cult.org Transcendental Meditation Ex-Members Support Group (TM-EX) was founded by former Maharishi International University (MIU) faculty, students, TM teachers, sidhas, meditators, and caring relatives of members of the TM movement. TM-EX is a support network to help former and current members of the TM movement in making the transition to life outside the TM movement. TM-EX is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization. |
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Carol Giambalvo
Cult Expert, Exit Counselor, Author, Lecturer - Thought Reform Consultant - AFF Project Outreach Coordinator, Director of Recovery - President, reFOCUS email: carol2180@aol.com 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. The more information she gathered on the indoctrination processes and thought reform used in cults, the more concerns arose about her involvement in est and The Hunger Project. In 1983, she and her husband, Noel, left their associations with est, The Hunger Project and Sterling Institute and began a personal search for information to aid their recovery process. Since 1984, Carol has done exit counseling C and writing in the field, as well as serving as director with several organization’s boards, organizing and conducting recovery workshops and working with hundreds of people who have walked away from destructive cults. Carol is married to Noel Giambalvo and currently resides in Florida. She is the parent of two adult children, the grandparent of two; and the step-parent of three, with seven grandchildren.
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Assistant Professor Janja Lalich has a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems and a Master's Degree in Human Development. She is currently teaching full-time at California State University, Chico, but also serves as a resource to families, members, and former members; professionals such as laywers, educators, psychologists and social workers; and to the media. She most recently appeared on "Meet the Press," and has lectured at universities and other forums across the country. A former member of a political cult, she has focused her research on cultic political movements as well as other types of extremist groups, and has an overall interest in charismatic commitment and control. She is also co-author with Margaret Singer of Cults in Our Midst and Crazy Therapies (both published by Jossey-Bass), and with Madeleine Tobias of Captive Hearts, Captive Minds: Freedom and Recovery from Cults and Abusive Relationships (Hunter House Publishers). She was Guest Editor of a special issue of the Cultic Studies Journal, entitled "Women Under the Influence: A Study of Women's Lives in Totalist Groups." |
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MeadowHaven
18 Crooked Lane MeadowHaven is located off of I-495 south of Boston heading toward Cape Cod. MeadowHaven exists to provide a refuge for former members of high control, destructive groups to rest, heal, and grow. By understanding their experience in an abusive environment and acquiring the skills necessary for life outside the group, MeadowHaven helps former members recover their ability to be thriving contributors to society. Healing is fostered in the context of healthy community, relationships with other former members with similar experiences, and a supportive staff who understand the processes of thought reform and mind control. We invite you to learn more about MeadowHaven by browsing through our website. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions. The Staff MeadowHaven's Board of Directors MeadowHaven's Board of Reference |
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reFOCUS Network
P.O. Box 2180
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Religious Movement Resource Center
email: intruder@webaccess.net The Religious Movement Resource Center has a great deal of general cult information and data on specific cults, including white supremacy and hate groups. The center provides workshops, counseling, support networks, expert advice, and media services. Pamphlets are provided upon request; a newsletter is available for $20/year; and the center has an extensive library where books, videos, and audio tapes may be accessed. Director Hal Mansfield began investigating the cult phenomenon in 1978, founded the center in 1981, and has participated in international studies and major media presentations. |
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Colleen Russell, LMFT Colleen Russell, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, has over 20 years of clinical experience and training in general psychotherapy and areas of emphasis at agencies in San Francisco and Marin, and in private practice. She has worked with a broad range of clients, and specializes in cult awareness and recovery, authoritarian relationships, post-traumatic stress, and "motherless women". She also has experience in working with schizophrenia and bi-polar conditions, families of divorce, relationship issues, addictions, meaning of life issues, and transitions. She is also a former member of Eckankar. She received a M.A. in Clinical Psychology and a B.A. in Psychology with honors from San Francisco State University. She's available for phone consultations or in-office sessions and in addition to individual sessions she facilitates an Ex-Cult Support group held bi-monthly.
On-going Ex-Cult Support Group: Colleen Russell |
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Joe Szimhart
Cult Expert, Exit Counselor, Media Consultant
email: jszimhart@dejazzd.com Joe Szimhart is a cult information specialist and thought reform consultant whose work includes education, research, and non-coercive intervention regarding controversial, high-demand groups, psychotherapies, and relationships that use thought reform techniques. He has personally helped many hundreds of people impacted by a wide spectrum of cult activity. Since 1983 he has appeared on dozens of TV and radio programs worldwide and has been consulted by the media regularly, including 20/20, A Current Affair, and others. |
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V.V.P.G. vzw
location: Gemeentepark 1 V.V.P.G., located in Belgium, is dedicated to providing cult-related information and assistance to the public. They provide free counseling and expert advice and lend library materials for free (audios and videos for FF100; photocopies are provided at FF2 each). Services are available in French, Dutch, German, and English. V.V.P.G. was founded in 1976 as a self-help group, and in 1984 became a nonprofit organization employing a sociologist and a psychologist part-time. Since 1991, the group has been financially supported by the Belgian government and is currently a member of FECRIS (European Federation of Centers for Research and Information on Cultism). |
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Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center
email:info@wellspringretreat.org Wellspring is a residential treatment facility for persons traumataized through abusive relationships and cultic organizations, the only such facility in the world. Wellspring has been a place of recovery for hundreds of survivors and ex-members of abusive groups and relationships. |
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Hanna and Jerry Whitfield Exit Counselors, Former Members location: 119 SE 43rd Lane Hana and Jerry Whitfield are exit counselors and thought reform consultants specializing in Scientology and Dianetics. They have done extensive research and education on the subjects of thought reform, mind control, manipulation, trance, hypnosis, and civil and human rights abuses. They adhere to the "Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants" as published in Cultic Studies Journal (American Family Foundation, vol. 13, no. 1, 1996) and as found on this web page: http://members.aol.com/carol2180/ethical.htm. Jerry was a member of Scientology for 10 years; Hana was a member for 20 years. Accounts of Hana’s Scientology experience are covered in the following books: Captive Hearts, Captive Minds by Madeline Tobias and Janja Lalich; L. Ron Hubbard: Messiah or Madman? By Bent Corydon; and Barefaced Messiah by Russell Miller. |
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Resource Center for Freedom of Mind
web site: www.freedomofmind.com
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This page is in honor of Dr. Margaret Singer a leading authority on cults and mind control and in memorial of Noah Lottick who died in the Scientology cult.