Colleen Russell; Sunday, June 26, 2022; 3:00 PM-3:50 PM
"I've had individual therapy, but after attending my first workshop I realize that what I need now is learning from the group of former members." "By having compassion for others in the workshop, hearing their stories, I'm gaining compassion for myself." "I wasn't aware until listening to others in the workshop and reading the educational material you provide, how many relationships I've been involved in that have been coercive.” "It's a relief in these workshops that we're not passively listening to an 'expert'."
The purpose of these workshops/support sessions is to help participants gain insight about what happened to them, learn how others have responded to similar situations, and find new ways of coping in healthier relationships and situations. This includes expressing themselves with others who understand, gaining mutual support and acknowledgement, learning how to navigate through symptoms effectively, and deepening awareness of coercive control and influence. It is not a therapy group. Participation is limited to 10 - 15 each two hour session, via Zoom, with “regulars” attending and getting to know each other.
I will explain how the workshop helps survivors with their recovery and growth, topics they have wanted to explore, examples of resources, and what I've learned from working with this population that is continually forming my approach.
In disconfirming inaccurate, self-limiting beliefs from thought reform and abusive families and relationships, one benefits from attitudes and environments that counter the oppressive demands of coercive groups and relationships. The workshop is one way to assist in this regard.
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Colleen Russell, LMFT (Psychotherapist and Educational Consultant)
For thirty years, I have maintained a general private psychotherapy practice in Marin County, San Francisco Bay Area with an area of expertise in cult, high demand group and coercive control education and recovery; trauma; loss, including mother loss. All of my work with individuals, couples, families, groups, and workshops is currently online. For the last twenty years I've developed and facilitated on-going groups and workshops (face-to-face and online) for cult and high demand group survivors, including those born and raised, and family members of those currently involved. I am also a former member of two cults: one, from 15 - 16 years of age; the other from 19 - 27 years of age. My presentations and journal articles include: "Freedom From Coercive Control in Groups and Relationships", ICSA, Manchester, England (2019); "Behave, Believe, Become: Recovering from High Demand Groups or Cults," Marin California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, (2015); . "High Demand Groups and Abusive Relationships: Healing From Trauma and Pursuing Healthy Goals," Central Oregon Clinicians Network, (2012); "From Cults to Group for Former Members: Opportunities for Healing and Change", Northern California Group Psychotherapy Institute *(2010); "Cults and Creativity"; "Disconfirming Inaccurate, Self-Limiting Beliefs Internalized From Thought Reform," ICSA, (2008). Published Journal Articles include:: "Touched: Disconfirming Pathogenic Beliefs of Thought Reform", Cultic Studies Review Journal (2010); Published chapter: "Open the Curtains and Let in the Light", chapter in Celebrating the Wounded Healing Psychotherapist (2017), Edited by Sharon Farber. Related Training and Experience: Training as a Domestic Violence Advocate, and on staff as a Team Program Developer and Group Facilitator for survivors of domestic violence and abuse (2012 - 2016); Primary therapist at Wellspring Retreat for survivors of high demand groups & relationships. Website: www.colleenrussellmft.com; Email: crussell@colleenrussellmft.com
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