Ashley McLean

Ashley McLean is a former member of NXIVM and a recent graduate of the MSc Psychology of Coercive Control program in the UK.

When Ashley left NXIVM, she felt she had no one to turn to for support, and was embarrassed and ashamed. When she did seek help, the therapists she found didn’t believe her story. These actions contributed to PTSD symptoms and chronic anxiety. No one should have to face criticism after leaving a high demand group.

Ashley actively advocates to bring clarity and training that helps people recognize tactics of this kind of abuse. Coercive control can be found in high demand groups such as spiritual groups, gangs, forced labour trafficking etc. 

Her current focus of study is examining NXIVM’s educational and marketing material to reveal how language operationalizes the manipulation and reveal how pseudo psychological techniques may have contributed to a ‘constructed reality’ on which the modules and classes were based and the effects of the social structure within the NXIVM community.

Ashley’s research interests include the recovery processes of former members and the psychological malpractice engaged in by pseudo-therapeutic groups. She is currently looking to pursue a PhD to explore her research interests.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome In The NXIVM Cult

" ... With the right ‘ingredients’ in place it is more common then you think for individuals to accept claims on blind faith especially when it comes from media influence, or celebrity endorsements enticing the public with their combination of success and unchallenged ideas based on their status (Singer, M. T., & Lalich, J, 1996). It is also important to consider research on influence (Cialdini, 2007), gender dynamics within coercive control (Stark, 2007) and how conformity can interact with moral decision-making (Payel and Cummins, 2012) as this is just the beginning of understanding the frame works of how high demand groups like NXIVM can exist undetected for a long time.

I found myself in this situation when I was working on set with an intelligent, motivated and positive group of women. I was in a vulnerable position having just finished my film degree and was eagerly trying to break my way into the production side of the film industry. The opportunity to work with Allison Mack and one of her co stars on a small production felt like a good opportunity. It wasn’t until I realized they couldn’t pay me. Instead the offered me a weekend workshop that was called Jness. Most of the crew would be there too. I didn’t have a lot of female friends and the industry on my day to day basis was fairly male dominated."  

Continue reading:  Overcoming Imposter Syndrome In The NXIVM Cult