Research & Academic
A letter from Janja Lalich.
Hello,
I’m writing to encourage all survivors of cults, coercion, and/or extremist groups to please participate in this study. This survey research was formulated by Dr. Natalie Fabert, a professor of psychology at Arizona State University. Dr. Fabert is also a much-appreciated member of the Board of Directors of my nonprofit, the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion, and is Director of our Continuing Education programs. Many of us know from hearsay, as well as our own experience, that it is very difficult (nearly impossible) to find a therapist who understands the personal and psychological aftereffects of coercive experiences (especially cults). How many times have I heard some version of this: “I explained to her (the therapist) that I had been in the group for 40 years, lost all my money, worked for the leader’s business for free, broke contact with my family and friends, and even recruited my children into the cult. When I was finished, the therapist looked at me and said, ‘Well, why didn’t you leave?’” This kind of uneducated and hurtful reply is exactly why we need this research: to provide hard evidence of the need for training.
The results of this study will provide us with the type of solid research data that we need to show why it is so crucial that helping professionals get the type of training and education that will provide them with the skills to better serve their clients who may be struggling with the aftereffects of cults or some form of coercive control.
So, please, consider completing this survey. It would mean a lot to me, to all of us at the Lalich Center, and to all survivors searching for the care and support they need.
Regards to all,
Janja Lalich, PhD
Professor Emerita of Sociology
Founder & CEO
Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion
Study link: Experiences and Perspectives on Mental Health Support Among Survivors of High-Control Environments
International NewsNew DocuseriesBikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator
The closing minutes of Eve Orner’s Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator succinctly sum up the motivations of the Netflix documentary that catalogs the litany of sexual abuse allegations against Bikram Chowdhury. It includes a montage of archival footage that features the 75-year-old yoga guru going about life with the nonchalance of someone – as a character puts it in the documentary – who considers himself “above the law”. There’s a 2017 video where Chowdhury – then in Thailand – is seen yelling at the man attempting to serve him a legal notice. He swears indiscriminately and claims that legal notices are like “toilet paper” for him. It’s followed by another video announcement from the same year – this time Chowdhury is in India, his mood remains comparatively chirpy, as he talks about the new venue for his teacher training class. The picture that comes on screen next is a group photo of that class in Mexico in 2018. In a matter of seconds, there’s a similar photo: It’s from Chowdhury’s recent teacher training class in Spain that took place this May. It’s the implications that make these shots even more chilling: More than half these classes are filled with women and in both these photos, the yoga guru flashes a triumphant smile. It’s almost as if Chowdhury’s history as a sexual predator – allegations against him surfaced way back in 2014 with as many as five women suing him for harassment – has been ineffective in causing any dent in his reputation. Back then, the Los Angeles District Attorney chose not to pursue any criminal charges against him, despite women coming on record, allowing the yoga guru to flee the country and start over. And today, yoga studios around the world continue sending women to a known sexual predator. Essentially, Chowdhury – the founder of Bikram Yoga, a 90-minute hot yoga routine of 26 postures and two breathing exercises – is yet to face his comeuppance. And the clear directive of Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator is to be a searing call-to-action that guarantees that he eventually does.
Preston Blog: Kirkham Grammar School bought out by international owners promising new investment
476-year-old independent school in Lancashire has been acquired by the international education group Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Sanstha (MMYS). The takeover, facilitated by the advisory firm Kroll, follows a period of financial difficulty for the school driven by inflationary pressures, rising operating costs, and the upcoming introduction of VAT on private school fees.
Times: I spent 84 hours in total darkness (by choice)
The article from The Times, titled "I spent 84 hours in total darkness (by choice)," explores the intense and growing wellness trend of "darkness retreats."
The piece follows Eilidh Dorgan, a mother of two who voluntarily checked into a specialized darkness hotel for an 84-hour stay. Initially, Dorgan expected the extreme sensory-deprivation experience to be a peaceful escape from the relentless stressors of modern parenting—a quiet, distraction-free environment where she could simply relax and catch up on much-needed sleep.
However, the reality of the retreat proved to be profoundly different and far more disturbing. Deprived of all external visual stimuli, natural light, clocks, and digital devices, participants are forced into total isolation with their own minds. Without the usual distractions of daily life to anchor them, the brain often reacts in unexpected ways. The sudden sensory void quickly brings buried anxieties, relentlessly racing thoughts, and intense psychological discomfort to the surface.
To contextualize the experience, the article features insights from Dr. David Luke, a psychology professor who explains the profound effects prolonged darkness has on human consciousness. He notes that removing all external sensory input can trigger altered states of consciousness, extreme emotional confrontation, and even visual hallucinations.
Ultimately, the piece serves as a fascinating look into the extremes of modern wellness culture. It highlights that while darkness retreats offer a unique, deeply introspective path to self-discovery, they are far from a relaxing getaway, acting instead as a grueling psychological endurance test.
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.
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