Feb 12, 2017

Leaving and Recovering from Cultic Groups and Relationships: A Seminar and Workshop for Families and Former Members

Saturday, 9:00 a.m. April 1, 2017 to Sunday 1:45 p.m. April 2, 2017

Center for Inquiry, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90027


This event, which is open to everybody but is especially aimed at families and former members of high-demand groups, will include much discussion on topics such as the following: 
  • Overview of joining, leaving, and recovery 
  • Why people leave groups and why they stay
  • Coping with triggers
  • Recovery needs of former members and people born or raised in cults
  • Personal accounts from former members of groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, TM, Ramtha, Hare Krishna, and others
  • Issues families confront
  • Assessing your situation
  • Building relationships


This event has been made possible by donations to ICSA and the willingness of facilitators to volunteer their time. Without the dedication of these people, registration fees would be much higher than they are. If you are unemployed, on disability, or otherwise limited financially and need help with the registration fee, please contact us at 
mail@icsamail.com or (239)-514-3081. 

REGISTER ASAP - space is limited

Fees

The fee for the seminar and workshop (Saturday and Sunday) is $75 per person. One-day attendance is $50. Because of the cooperation of the Center for Inquiry (CFI), CFI members enjoy a $25 reduction in fee. 
Registrants receive a free ICSA Web membership or have their existing membership extended, as is appropriate.
Register online or print and mail the form in the online flyer.

Facilitators



Rachel Bernstein, MS, LMFT

Rachel Bernstein, MS, LMFT,
 has been working with former cult members for 25 years. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Educator, who lives in Los Angeles, CA. Rachel ran the Maynard Bernstein Resource Center on cults, named after her father. She was the Clinician at the former Cult Clinic in Los Angeles, as well as the Cult Hotline and Clinic in Manhattan. She now treats former cult members and the families and friends of those in cults in her private practice. Rachel has published many articles, made media appearances, consulted on shows and movies about cults, and has been interviewed for podcasts and YouTube videos. RachelBernsteinTherapy.com, rbpsychology@gmail.com.


 Joseph F. Kelly

Joseph F. Kelly
, a graduate of Temple University, has been a thought reform consultant since 1988. He spent 14 years in two different eastern meditation groups. He has lectured extensively on cult-related topics, and is a co-author of Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants, published in ICSA’s Cultic Studies Journal. For many years, Mr. Kelly has also co-facilitated ICSA pre-conference workshops for ex-members. Recently, he helped to initiate ICSA’s monthly meeting in Philadelphia. joekelly411@gmail.com. Websites: intervention101.com; cultmediation.com; cultrecovery101.comhttp://www.CultNEWS101.com.



Nori Muster, MS


Nori Muster, MS
, is the author of Betrayal of the Spirit: My Life Behind the Headlines of the Hare Krishna Movement (University of Illinois Press, 1997), Cult Survivors Handbook: Seven Paths to an Authentic Life (2000), and Child of the Cult (2010). She was an ISKCON member from 1978 – 1988, then earned her master's degree at Western Oregon University in 1992 doing art therapy with juvenile sex offenders. She is currently an adjunct professor at Mesa Community College, in Mesa, Arizona.




Patrick Ryan
Patrick Ryan, a graduate of Maharishi International University, has been a cult intervention specialist since 1984. He is the co-founder of TM-EX, the organization of ex-members of Transcendental Meditation. He established ICSA's online resource (1995-2013) and has presented 50 programs about hypnosis, inner-experience, trance-induction techniques, communicating with cult members, conversion, cult intervention, exit counseling, intervention assessment, mediation, religious conflict resolution, and other subjects. He has led or co-led ICSA workshops for educators, families, former members, and mental health professionals. pryan19147@gmail.com. Websites: intervention101.com; cultmediation.com; cultrecovery101.comhttp://www.CultNEWS101.com.

Doni Whitsett, PhD, LCSW

Doni Whitsett, PhD, LCSW
, is a Clinical Professor of Social Work at the University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Dr. Whitsett teaches various courses in practice, behavior, and mental health. She has been working with cult-involved clients and their families for 20 years and gives lectures to students and professionals in this area. She has presented at national and international conferences. Her publications include The Psychobiology of Trauma and Child Maltreatment (Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 3, 2006), A Self Psychological Approach to the Cult Phenomenon (Journal of Social Work, 1992), Cults and Families (Families in Society, Vol. 84, No. 4, 2003), and Why Cults are Harmful: Neurobiological speculations on inter-personal trauma. ICSA Today, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2014.

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