Cults – what they are, how we can stop them and how we can reduce harm
The course will also offer insight into preventative actions that can be taken to promote healthy relationships.
By Greenwood Events
When and where
Date and time:
Fri, 21 April 2023, 10:00 – 16:00 BST
Location: Edinburgh Training and Conference Venue 16 Saint Mary's Street Edinburgh EH1 1SU United Kingdom
About this event:
6 hours
This event is in-person and online.
'An amazing panel that worked so well together. I learned so much about High Control Groups from their vast and different knowledge.'
Despite millions of people worldwide being affected by cults – joining them, being raised in them, and leaving or attempting to leave them – the oftentimes harmful and traumatic effects are still poorly understood within the psychotherapeutic and allied health and social care professions (‘Religious Trauma Syndrome’ – Winell, 2011). Given recent worldwide developments that point to the potential harm caused by cults, such as the Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in England and Wales and similar inquiries in countries including Australia, the Netherlands, and Germany, it is important that professionals have deeper knowledge about the lived experience of cult members and the social environment which they inhabit(ed).
This course focuses on:
how we can identify these cults or extremist groups,
how we can better understand the spectrum of control and the effect that has on individuals and families,
what we can do to minimise the harm they cause, and
how we can support people’s recovery from coercive control.
The course will also offer insight into preventative actions that can be taken to promote healthy relationships and reduce risk factors relating to recruitment into cults and coercive relationships.
While various forms and sizes of cults and high control groups and relationships exist, spanning from one-to-one coercive relationships to religious and secular groups, the focus of this course lies predominantly on understanding religious cults, as this falls within the specific expertise of the speakers. Other types of groups will also be considered, due to the similar nature of how these groups operate and their shared potential for harm.
The course will include personal accounts from cult survivors and a Q&A session, where attendees can ask questions directly to survivors and academic experts. Please note that some discussions may be upsetting or triggering for people, particularly for those with personal experiences.
SEE BELOW – all attendees can receive a free copy of Lisa Kohn’s memoir, to the moon and back: a childhood under the influence, which shares her story of being raised in – and leaving – the Unification Church.
Who is this workshop aimed at?
This is an introductory course and does not rely on any previous knowledge. Anyone with an interest in the topic is invited to attend.
Presenters Profiles
Julia Gutgsell (BSc, MSc) Julia Gutgsell holds an MSc in Criminology from the Free University of Brussels, as well as 10 years of professional experience in the health and social care sector. Her dissertation on the impact of shunning in high control groups and relationships was awarded with the Jeanine Seghers prize in 2017, a prize rewarded to original and innovative research. Julia has most recently been involved in co-authoring a research paper for a core participant group of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses for The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (England and Wales). Her main interest lies in understanding how former high control group members recover and (re)claim personal autonomy post-exit. A selection of Julia’s research and recordings of previous speaking engagements are freely accessible online (https://vub.academia.edu/JuliaGutgsell)
Lisa Kohn was a member of the Unification Church (the Moonies), from the age of ten until her early adulthood. The ‘Moonies’ mostly recently drew attention due to the assassination of the former Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, because of his involvement with the group. Lisa's memoir, to the moon and back: a childhood under the influence, which was published in September 2018, details her experience in the Church as well as her difficulties in leaving the Church. Both with her memoir and with her work as a keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and executive coach (www.chatsworthconsulting.com), Lisa works to bring to others the tools, mind-shifts, and practices she’s found that have helped her heal, as well as the hope and forgiveness she’s been blessed to let into her life. NOTE: If you are an Early Bird delegate, you will have a choice between a free autographed paperback of Lisa’s memoir, to the moon and back: a childhood under the influence, or an electronic copy. Delegates who make their booking after the Early Bird period will only be entitled to receive a free electronic copy.
Paula Greenlees is a PhD researcher in psychology at The University of Edinburgh. She uses Discursive Psychology to look at language in high control settings. She is interested in language use in relation to identity and explores how it shapes the social world for individuals within these types of groups. She also looks at how group members construct their talk to build positive identity when in interactions with the public.
In relation to her research interests, Paula recently assisted a core participant group of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses with document preparation for The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (England and Wales).
Verity Carter was born in Scotland into the cult known as The Children of God (currently The Family International). Verity travelled extensively within the cult, grew up segregated from society, and suffered abuse on all levels until she escaped at 15 years old in 1995. Since 2018 Verity has been involved in two successful court cases against adults from the Children of God cult and has partaken in many media projects, including multiple podcasts, featuring in the docuseries, “Children of the Cult” and the BBC reel, “what are cults and why do people join them?” Links to the media projects Verity has been involved in are publicly available online and via her Facebook page. Verity is an activist for justice and is working with other survivors to try and get more cases to court and to promote awareness of the dangers that children especially are exposed to within high demand environments.
Cost:
Early Bird Standard Price £105 / Student Price £85
After 21 March 2023 Standard Price £125 / Student £105
Included in the cost is a free copy of Lisa's memoir, to the moon and back: a childhood under the influence. If you are an Early Bird delegates, you will have a choice between an autographed paperback pr electronic version of the book. Delegates who make their booking after the the Early Bird period will only be entitled to receive a free electronic version of the book.
Ticket prices are slightly higher because we have a panel of 4 experts attending, including Lisa Kohn from the USA.
Please note that a delegate space is not guaranteed until payment is received.
Handouts and CPD certificate are included in the price.
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