New VideosJon Atack, Family & Friends: My life in Scientology with Håkan Järvå
This video features a conversation between Jon Atack, an author and expert on coercive control, and Håkan Järvå, a former Scientologist turned psychologist. They discuss their shared backgrounds in Scientology, their subsequent departures, and their ongoing efforts to understand and help others navigate the psychological traps of high-demand groups and thought reform.
Key Discussion Points
Shared Experiences & Departure: Both men were in Scientology around the same time and left around 1983.
Järvå recounts his time in the "Rehabilitation Project Force" (RPF), which he compares to Chinese-model brainwashing due to its physical and psychological nature.
The Difficulty of Explaining Scientology: A significant portion of the conversation centers on the challenge of describing Scientology to outsiders without falling into the "language trap" of its specialized, loaded terminology.
Järvå discusses the struggle of writing his autobiography and conveying these concepts to his co-writer.
Narcissism & "Weaponized Empaths": The two discuss the traits of high-ranking executives in such organizations. Atack introduces the concept of "weaponized empaths"—individuals who possess empathy but are convinced to commit harmful acts under the guise of the "greater good" for their group.
Practical Help & Radicalization: Much of their talk centers on the practical, consultative work they now do, focusing on helping individuals, particularly youth, who are being drawn into extremist or radicalized groups.
They emphasize the need to move past theory and diagnostic labels to practical interventions, such as building healthy relationships and fostering critical thinking.
Critique of Media & Information: They address the polarized state of modern media and the prevalence of misinformation. Atack underscores the importance of teaching critical thinking, identifying propaganda, and verifying the credentials and facts behind sources.
The conversation serves as a reflection on their parallel lives and their shared commitment to exposing the mechanisms of psychological entrapment, while providing tools for recovery and resistance to authoritarian control.
Research & AcademicDr. Joel Hollier from the University of Sydney is seeking mental health practitioners to take part in a research study exploring how clinicians understand and respond to clients who have experienced religious harm or religious‑related distress. The project aims to better understand how practitioners conceptualize religious harm, assess it, select or adapt therapeutic approaches, and navigate the challenges that arise in this area of practice. Please take a moment to read the following information to help you decide if you would like to take part in this study.
1. Who is doing this research project?
Dr. Joel Hollier is conducting this project from the University of Sydney:
The study is funded by an Australian Research Council grant for a project exploring mental health across Australia (IL230100154)
2. What is this project about?
This project explores how mental health practitioners understand and respond to clients who have experienced religious harm or distress. Despite increasing recognition of religious trauma as a mental health concern, little is known about how practitioners conceptualize it, conduct assessments, or adapt therapeutic approaches. Findings will inform the development of practitioner-informed guidance and highlight training and resource needs.
3. Who can take part in this research project?
Mental health practitioners who:
have at least one year’s experience supporting clients affected by religious harm or religious‑related distress
are over 18
can participate in an English-language interview
Practitioners from psychology, counseling, social work, psychotherapy, mental health nursing, and peer practice are all welcome.
4. What would I do in the research project?
If you choose to participate, you will be invited to a semi‑structured interview lasting approximately 60 to 90 minutes. The interview will take place online via Zoom at a time that suits you. You will be asked about your experiences working with clients affected by religious harm, how you approach assessment and formulation, what therapeutic strategies or adaptations you use, and what challenges you have encountered in this kind of work. With your permission, the interview will be audio‑recorded and transcribed to ensure your views are captured accurately. You may also choose to review your transcript after the interview; if you do, you will have 2 weeks to request changes or removals.
To learn more or register your interest, head here: https://sydney.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6qUKlkznYocuzEq, or email Dr. Joel Hollier at joel.hollier@sydney.edu.au.
This project has been approved by the University of Sydney's Human Research Ethics Committee (2026/HE000071).
Events
ICSA International Conference 2026
Date: Wed, 1 Jul
Time: 09:00 – 18:00, PDT
Location: Room 1 (313)
Hilton Bayfront, San Diego, USA
Session summary
An interactive full-day workshop for families and professionals exploring practical, ethical, and trauma-informed approaches to supporting loved ones involved in cultic groups while improving communication, reducing conflict, and building mutual understanding across differing worldviews.
Full Abstract
This all-day workshop is designed for both professionals and families, regardless of their loved one’s level of involvement in a cultic group. It is intended for parents of long-term members, families of individuals who have recently joined a group, and those who have encountered challenges during intervention efforts.
Participants will benefit from the combined expertise of intervention specialists, mental health professionals, and researchers, who will share practical insights and perspectives throughout the session. The workshop will be interactive and discussion-based, encouraging active participation.
Topics may include:
Assessing a family’s unique situation
Why individuals join and leave groups
Understanding psychological manipulation and abuse
The importance of accurate, objective, and up-to-date information
Ethical considerations
Assessing the level of group involvement
Effective communication strategies with loved ones
Developing healthier coping mechanisms
Navigating mental health challenges
The neurobiology of trauma
Epistemology and belief formation
Problem-solving techniques
Formulating constructive support strategies
The workshop will also explore how families and group members can better understand each other’s perspectives regarding the conflicts that divide them. Participants will examine strategies to improve communication, reduce conflict, negotiate mutual behavioral changes to decrease tension, and identify common ground while respecting differences to preserve important relationships.
Facilitators:
Rachel Bernstein LMFT, MSEd (Presenting) bernsteinlmft@gmail.com
IndoctriNation Podcast, Encino, CA, USA
Natalie Fabert, Ph.D., L.P. (Presenting) natalie.fabert.phd@gmail.com
Institution Arizona State University, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Erin Falconer, PhD, MSc, LMSW drerinfalconer@pm.me
Refuge Psychotherapy, LCSW, PLLC, New York, NY, USA
Joseph Kelly BA (Presenting) joekelly411@gmail.com
Cult Mediation/Intervention 101, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Patrick Ryan BA
Cult Mediation/Intervention 101, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Doni Whitsett, PhD, LCSW, MFT (Presenting) whitsett@usc.edu
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Da Free JohnDa Free John is one of the many names used by the American spiritual teacher born Franklin Albert Jones (1939–2008), who founded the new religious movement eventually known as Adidam.
Jones was a charismatic and highly controversial figure in the late 20th-century alternative spirituality landscape. Over his lifetime, he changed his name frequently to reflect what he described as evolving stages of his spiritual realization.
Evolution of Names
Before and after using "Da Free John," Jones adopted several different titles, including:
Bubba Free John (1970s): "Bubba" represents a friendly, brotherly figure.
Da Free John (1970s–1980s): Shifting toward a more traditional guru persona ("Da" meaning "giver").
Avabhasa (1990s)
Adi Da Samraj (Late 1990s until he died in 2008)
Core Teachings and Philosophy
Jones’s early teachings focused on a radical critique of traditional seeking. He argued that spiritual seekers are caught in a trap of "self-contraction"—constantly trying to achieve a future state of enlightenment, which inherently prevents them from recognizing that reality is already inherently free and divine.
His primary philosophy centered on:
The Way of the Heart: A path based on devotion to him as a living avatar.
Divine Distraction: Engaging in spiritual practices that turn attention away from the ego and toward the divine reality he claimed to embody.
Radical Understanding: Direct, immediate insight into the nature of consciousness without relying on progressive spiritual steps or techniques.
Controversies and Criticism
While initially praised by some prominent figures in the Western spiritual and psychological communities (such as Ken Wilber and Alan Watts) for his incisive, sophisticated texts on non-duality, his movement soon attracted severe criticism.
Authoritarian Dynamics: Critics and former members described the group as a high-demand, insular organization that practiced extreme psychological control over its adherents.
Exploitation: In the mid-1980s, lawsuits and public allegations emerged from former followers detailing emotional abuse, financial exploitation, and manipulative sexual practices orchestrated by Jones within his inner circle.
Isolation: Jones spent much of his later life in relative isolationion on the island of Naitauba in Fiji, commanding total devotion from a deeply committed, but significantly smaller, group of followers.
Legacy
Today, the community of Adidam continues to preserve and publish his voluminous writings, maintaining his sanctuary in Fiji and a handful of spiritual centers globally. Outside of his formal followers, he is widely studied by sociologists, researchers, and religious historians as a prominent example of a charismatic leader whose movement exhibited classic authoritarian and abusive dynamics.
AI Research Disclosure: To bring you the most relevant stories, parts of this newsletter utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools to search the web, source articles, and assist with content curation. This content is for informational purposes only; we recommend verifying critical facts independently.
News, Education, Intervention, Recovery
Intervention101.com helps families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.
CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families in making the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.
CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources about: cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations, and related topics.
The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan, Joseph Kelly, or Ashlen Hilliard endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.
Please forward articles you think we should add to cultintervention@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Ashlen Hilliard (ashlen.hilliard.wordpress@gmail.com)
Joe Kelly (joekelly411@gmail.com)
Patrick Ryan (pryan19147@gmail.com)
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