web site: www.csj.org
E-mail: aff@affcultinfoserve.com
P.O. Box 2265
Bonita Springs, FL 34133
Phone: 239-514-3081
fax: 732-352-6818 

Bookstore: www.cultinfobooks.com - Subscribe to our Cultic Studies Review to keep abreast of developments in this field. 

International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) Annual Conference; June 14-15, 2002, Orlando, FL - go to www.cultinfobooks.com and click on "Conference" button for details. (Includes information on preconference workshops for former group members and for family members.) 

Weekend workshop for former group members - Estes Park, Colorado - July 12-14, 2002 - Go to www.cultinfobooks.com and click on "Conference" button for details.

Founded in 1979, International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is a nonprofit research center and educational organization, whose mission is "to study psychological manipulation and cultic groups, to educate the public and professionals, and to assist those who have been adversely affected by a cult experience." International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) maintains an Internet site, sells information packages on a variety of cultic organizations, and publishes Cult Studies Journal, The Cult Observer, and Young People and Cults.

Janja Lalich

Researcher, Author, Cult Expert, Former Member of a Political Cult

Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology
California State University, Chico
Chico, CA 95929-0445
Tel: 530-898-5542
Fax: 530-898-4571
email: jlalich@csuchico.edu

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." See:
< http://www.csj.org/infoserv_profile/lalich_janja.htm> 
 < http://www.csj.org/rg/rgbooks/rgbk_womenunderinfl.htm> 
< http://www.rickross.com/reference/heavensgate/gate25.html> 
< http://www.anandainfo.com/untitled1.html>  < http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN%3D0787902667/104-7484833-1575943>  < http://www.hunterhouse.com/authorshow.asp?bid=85> 
 < http://www.cultobserver.com/guestcolumn/coguest135.htm> 
 < http://www.omnimag.com/archives/chats/ls050197.html>

CAN memorial web pages

CAN was a renowned nonprofit cult information and assistance network, with prominent and experienced board members and staff, who received a multitude of calls each day from people seeking cult-related information and assistance. CAN was sued over 40 times by an extremely wealthy cult, Scientology, until finally collapsing in bankruptcy. The organization was subsequently auctioned to the highest bidder, which turned out to be Scientology. Scientology now runs a very different CAN.

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 
Counseling for former cult members 
Counseling for families and friends of cult members 
Family Support Group led by a licensed clinician 
Community Education and Consultation 

email: info@cultclinic.org
web site: http://www.cultclinic.org/
location: 120 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019
telephone: (212) 632-4640

web site: http://www.cultinformation.org.uk/home.html
location: BCM Cults
London WCIN 3XX England
telephone: 0870 777 3800
fax: 01689 830 860
contact: Ian Haworth

CIC is an educational charity providing advice and information for victims of cults, their families and friends, researchers and the media. CIC was founded in 1987 and became a registered Charity (No. 1012914) in 1992. It was the first educational organisation focusing critical concern on the harmful methods of the cults to be granted charitable status in the United Kingdom.
CIC is concerned about the use of deceptive and manipulative methods used by cults to recruit and indoctrinate unsuspecting members of society.
CIC believes that these cult methods present a threat to the well-being of the individual and the family.
Consequently CIC sees the need for gathering and disseminating accurate information on cultism and aims to meet that need.

The Dialog Center originated in 1973 with the aim of 1]counseling casualties from neo-religions; 2] spreading factual information on neo-religions; and 3] by participating in pubic debate on these issues. The Dialog Center promotes religions criticism – the right and duty of religious bodies to engage in sound, mutual critique of each other’s systems. The basis for the DC’s work is classical Christianity, together with academic studies. Over the years, the work of the DC has branched out in several directions, such as participating in inter-religious dialogue with classical religions such as Buddhism, help to travelers in
Asia, and more. The Dialog Center has been instrumental in creating one of the few major research libraries concerning neo-religions, at nearby Aarhus University.

A youth movement called International Dialog (ID) assists young people in their search for identity, not least in journeys abroad and in inter-cultural and inter-religious dialog.

Co-directors, Escape, Counselors, Ex-members

Richard and Bonnie Woods
Escape, Abbey House, Clarendon Rd, Redhill
Surrey, England, RH1 1QZ
email: info@escapeuk.org  
Telephone: (44) 1342-316129
Website: http://www.escapeuk.org/ 

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.

email: 
web site: http://www.fair-cult-concern.co.uk/
location: BCM Box 3535
PO Box 12
London, WC1N 3XX
Telephone: + 44 (0) 1642 898412
Fax: + 44 (0) 1642 643707

FAIR was founded in 1976 in response to requests for help and information from distressed relatives and friends of young adults who had joined various extremist cults. 

Since then the number of cults and fringe groups operating in the U.K. has risen to hundreds. 

FAIR is a voluntary body, composed of parents, ex-cultists, doctors, clergy and other concerned persons. It is not committed to any specific religious or political stance and does not approach the problem of cult involvement from an academic or doctrinal angle, but sees it in the Human Rights and Social Concern context. 

email: ex-cult@ex-cult.org
web site: www.ex-cult.org/
location: P.O. Box 7565
Arlington, VA 22207
telephone: (202) 728-7580
Fax: (703) 841-2385

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.

http://triples.math.mcgill.ca/infocult

location: 5655, avenue du Parc, bureau 208
Montreal, Quebec H2V 4H2, Canada
telephone: (514) 274-2333
Contact: Michael Kropveld

Info Cult is an information and resource center which provides counseling, consulting, referrals and preventive preventative education on the subject of cults. Info Cult studies trends in the phenomenon of cults as a whole and also provides information on a wide range of specific groups, including many European cults.

P.O. Box 2180
Flagler Beach, FL 32136

www.refocus.org

reFocus, or the recovering Former Cultists Support Network, is an excellent Internet resource of cult-help and recovery information and suppport, providing "recovery resources for folks hurt by their involvement with abusive and controlling organizations and relationships." reFOCUS gives a list of local support locations, including sites in: San Franciso and Sacramento, CA; Denver, CO; St. Petersburg, FL; Boston, MA; Minneapolis, MN; Bozeman, MT; Englewood, Midland Park, and South Orange, NJ; New York, NY; Hebron, OH; and Philadelphia, PA. reFOCUS also provides former member contacts, support organizations, and more.

email: intruder@webaccess.net
web site: lamar.colostate.edu/~ucm/rmrc1.htm

629 S Howes Street
Fort Collins, CO 80521

tel: (970) 490-2032
contact: Hal Mansfield, MA, Director

In recent years there has been a dramatic growth in the number of people involved in destructive cults and hate groups. There are several reasons for this including economic unrest, changes in value systems in our society, and more people looking for the "truth".
The Center provides information on destructive cults and hate groups as well as providing services including counseling, legal referrals, an extensive library, conducting workshops, and much more. We are part of United Campus Ministry at Colorado State University and Interfaith of Fort Collins.We define a destructive cult as an organization that inhibits individual freedom of thought through the use of violence, deception and mind control. We don't define what is a destructive cult by a particular belief system or theology, but rather how an organization operates. The director of the center is Hal Mansfield. Most of Hal's experience comes from investigating the cult phenomenon since 1978 and founding the center in 1981. Hal also holds college degrees including a B.S. in Physical Sciences with a teaching concentration along with a Master's degree in counseling. If you are in need of assistance, we invite you to call or write us. We want to hear from you.

The Resource Center for Freedom of Mind is dedicated to respect for human rights, spirituality, and consumer awareness. They endeavor to be a safe place one can turn to for news, information, counseling and other vital resources. They believe that only you have the right to control your mind..

Cult Expert, Exit Counselor, Media Consultant, Expert Witness, Lecturer

email: info@rickross.com
web site: < http://www.rickross.com>

Rick Ross
113 Pavonia Ave. #323
Jersey City, NJ 07310

Phone (201) 434-9234
Fax (201) 435-7108

Video: In the Name of Love: Abusive Controlling Relationships 

Rick Ross is the founder and Executive Director of the Rick A. Ross Institute. He is an internationally known expert regarding destructive cults, controversial groups and movements. Since 1982 he has been studying, researching and responding to the problems often posed by such groups or movements and has personally assisted thousands of families in an effort to help the victims of destructive cults, groups and movements. Ross has been qualified and accepted as an expert witness and testified in court cases across the United States. He has also frequently assisted local and national law enforcement and government agencies. Ross' commentary has been quoted within publications such as /Time/, /Newsweek/, /The/ /Chicago Tribune/, /The Boston Globe/ and /The Washington Post/. His appearances on national television have included a wide range of venues from news programs such as the "Today" show, "CNN World News," "Dateline," "Nightline" and "48 Hours" to popular interview shows such as "Oprah," "Donahue," "Extra" and "Inside Edition." Ross has lectured at such prestigious institutions as Dickinson College, the University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon University, Baylor University, and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

location: Gemeentepark 1
2930 Brasschaat, Belgium
telephone: 03/ 653 14 60
fax: 03/ 653 34 41

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).

web site: www.watchman.org
location: Birmingham, AL
telephone: (205) 871-2858
Contact: Craig Branch, regional director and vice president

Watchman Fellowship is a Christian organization, whose mission is "to both reach out to those lost in the darkness of the cults and equip Christians to engage in this vital ministry.... [by] educating the community, equipping the church, evangelizing the cults." Watchman works from a Christian perspective with both religious and secular communities in the areas of cult education, prevention, and intervention as well as research, analysis, and counseling of former cult members and families of cult members.

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.