An intellectual look inside the insidious dynamic of cultic relationships where leaders achieve unconditional love, control over people's minds, bodies, and individual ethics.
Director: Carla Barraez
Producers: Tropic of Cancer Films, arla Barraez
Cast: Patrick Ryan Dr. Stephen Kent Dr. Kate Balestrieri
"As the knowledge base of cults, manipulation, and control has expanded, so too has the awareness that intervention is often more complex than at first it might appear. Many cult interventionists have become aware that, in addition to the manipulative and coercive tactics utilized by high control groups, there is often a mental health component that needs to be understood and addressed in order for the intervention to succeed. Our approach begins with an in-depth assessment of the family system to evaluate whether intervention is appropriate at a particular time, what part of family dynamics might be contributing to the situation, and who in the family could be helpful during intervention. For all of these reasons we have found it valuable to collaborate with a mental health professional for a more comprehensive understanding of the overall picture. This talk will explore the development of our family-centered, non-confrontational, respectful approach to understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one’s cult involvement. Vignettes from our cases will be presented to illustrate how this collaboration has enhanced our effectiveness as cult interventionists."
Deprogramming to the Intervention 101 Approach: The Evolution of Cult Intervention
"As the knowledge base of cults, manipulation, and control has expanded, so too has the awareness that intervention is often more complex than at first it might appear. Many cult interventionists have become aware that, in addition to the manipulative and coercive tactics utilized by high control groups, there is often a mental health component that needs to be understood and addressed in order for the intervention to succeed. Our approach begins with an in-depth assessment of the family system to evaluate whether intervention is appropriate at a particular time, what part of family dynamics might be contributing to the situation, and who in the family could be helpful during intervention. For all of these reasons we have found it valuable to collaborate with a mental health professional for a more comprehensive understanding of the overall picture. This talk will explore the development of our family-centered, non-confrontational, respectful approach to understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one’s cult involvement. Vignettes from our cases will be presented to illustrate how this collaboration has enhanced our effectiveness as cult interventionists."
Want to learn how to levitate? Cult Interventionists and Founders of Cult News 101, Patrick Ryan and Joe Kelly, talk about their work with ICSA (the International Cultic Studies Association), how levitation played into their experiences with Transcendental Meditation, early cult deprogramming and why it was problematic, how most people leave cults of their own volition, and why exploring someone's beliefs are better than attacking them.
The case that horrified the country; a dad moved into his daughter's dorm at Sarah Lawrence College. For about 10 years, Lawrence Ray violated, extorted and sex trafficked her friends and others. See the disturbing recordings and hear from the survivors.
For over forty years, 60 Minutes have been telling Australians the world’s greatest stories. Tales that changed history, our nation and our lives. Reporters Liz Hayes, Tom Steinfort, Tara Brown, Liam Bartlett and Sarah Abo look past the headlines because there is always a bigger picture. Sundays are for 60 Minutes.
Pat Ryan and Joe Kelly have worked helping people exit and recover from cults for many years. In this week's video, they join Jon to talk about the nature of authoritarian control, the nostalgia some people hold for the early days of their involvement, and how no two experiences are ever the same.
"A cult involvement is often a situation to manage, not a problem to solve."
From the Foreword: This book, which was written to explain these forms, is built on the knowledge and experience gained from years of working with families in workshops and in private consultations. This is not a “fun” book. Nor is it a book that aims to validate feelings of anger, hurt, helplessness, and fear, although it does that to some extent. This book is a handbook, a tool designed to help you achieve a goal, namely, to help a loved one. As with all tools, the book requires effort to learn how to use it. It is not something that you merely read. It is something that you use, something that you wrestle with, that you come back to again and again.
If you are willing to give the requisite time and mental exertion that this book demands, I am confident that you will find it to be extremely helpful. It may not solve your problem, for, as Mrs. Bardin states in the Introduction, a cult involvement is often a situation to manage, not a problem to solve. The book will, however, make you confident that you are doing all that you realistically can to manage, if not solve, the problem that has caused you so much distress.
About the Author: Livia Bardin, MSW, is a clinical social worker who has been engaged with cult victims and their families for more than fifteen years. She is particularly interested in the interface between high-demand groups and cults and mainstream society. Her research in this area has been published in the Cultic Studies Review and the Journal of Public Child Welfare. Now retired, Ms. Bardin has provided training on cult-related issues for mental health professionals in the Washington area and elsewhere, She is the author of Coping with Cult Involvement: A Handbook for Families and Friends of cult members. In 2014 Ms. Bardin received ICSA's Margaret T. Singer Award.
Cult expert Pat Ryan was just 16 when he became involved with Transcendental Meditation. Soon afterwards, he enrolled at the accredited Maharishi International University, and while there he took the top-secret levitation, or Sidhis, course. Pat talks with Jon about his experience with TM and his work as an intervention counselor.
International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) May 5, 2020
Robert E. Schecter, PhD, interviewed three exit counselors on October 27, 2018 as part of a series of interviews designed to illuminate ICSA’s history. David Clark, Joseph Kelly, and Patrick Ryan discuss their personal cultic experiences, how they became involved in the field, the nature of their work, and their views on ICSA and its future.
Building Bridges; Leaving and Recovering from Cultic Groups and Relationships: (Patrick Ryan and Joseph Kelly) ICSA Workshop Day 1 -- Saturday, February 8th -- Recovery Issues After Leaving an Abusive Church. Workshops aimed towards addressing the specific needs of former Jehovah's Witnesses and others recovering from spiritual abuse. A variety of topics will be covered to help former members identify psychological challenges that may arise when they leave the faith.
"MIND FIXERS: The History of Mass Therapy With its Roots in Mind Dynamics Institute, Misuse of Zen Insights, and Hyping the Positive Thinking of New Thought Religion." (Joseph Kelly, Joseph Szimhart, Patrick Ryan)
International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) Virtual Summer Conference
July 11, 2020
The title for this presentation, “MIND FIXERS: The History of Mass Therapy With its Roots in Mind Dynamics Institute, Misuse of Zen Insights, and Hyping the Positive Thinking of New Thought Religion,” covers a vast arena for specialized workshops that range from one day to several weeks. Borrowing techniques from encounter group formats, military boot camp training, and the mindfulness movements, these specialized groups operate as unregulated mass therapy businesses and are not licensed as mental health professions. The stated purpose of these “large group awareness training” is to increase self-realization and success in life. The outcomes, however, are problematic with some critics claiming that a form of “brainwashing” is taking place that emphasizes promotion of the workshops while any real-life gains are highly questionable. Some participants report psychological and social harm. The speakers will guide a discussion to address the criticisms.
Talk Beliefs February 2, 2020 "At age 17, Patrick Ryan joined the Transcendental Meditation ('TM') movement, following the teachings of master Maharishi. He rose through the ranks, promoting and teaching TM - which included highly-secretive courses on how to levitate and become invisible.
Patrick became disillusioned with his life in TM when he began to see inconsistencies and lies within the sect. Now he speaks out and helps others who have been inside - or who are still inside - cults. MARK from Talk Beliefs continues his interview with Patrick, hearing the fascinating and often highly-bizarre tale of exiting the group and beginning a new life. WATCH PART ONE: Why I Joined the Transcendental Meditation Movement ~ ex TM teacher PATRICK RYAN: http://bit.ly/395Uiop PATRICK RYAN is the founder and former head of TM-EX, the organization of ex-members of Transcendental Meditation. He established ICSA’s online resource (1995-2013), was the editor of AFF News, a news publication for former cult members (1995-1998),is co-author of “Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants,” and writes for the CULTS101 newsletter." LINKS FOR PATRICK RYAN:
"At age 17, Patrick Ryan joined the Transcendental Meditation ('TM') movement, following the teachings of master Maharishi. He rose through the ranks, promoting and teaching TM - which included highly-secretive courses on how to levitate and become invisible."
"Patrick became disillusioned with his life in TM when he began to see inconsistencies and lies within the sect. Now he speaks out and helps others who have been inside - or who are still inside - cults.
MARK from Talk Beliefs speaks with Patrick from his home in Philadelphia, hearing how a skeptical High School newspaper reporter became entranced with mystical teachings that promised him he could fly...
PATRICK RYAN is the founder and former head of TM-EX, the organization of ex-members of Transcendental Meditation. He established ICSA’s online resource (1995-2013), was the editor of AFF News, a news publication for former cult members (1995-1998), is co-author of “Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants,” and writes for the Cult News 101 newsletter."
Look for the conclusion of Patrick's amazing story: Why I Left the Transcendental Meditation Movement https://youtu.be/9VXldA-3A3Q
Assessing a family’s unique situation; understanding why people join and leave groups; considering the nature of psychological manipulation and abuse; being accurate, objective, and up-to-date; looking at ethical issues; learning how to assess you situation; formulating a helping strategy; learning how to communicate more efficiently with your loved one; learning new ways of coping.
Joseph Kelly and Patrick Ryan International Cultic Studies Association
Topics discussed include: Assessing a family’s unique situation; understanding why people join and leave groups; considering the nature of psychological manipulation and abuse; being accurate, objective, and up-to-date; looking at ethical issues; learning how to assess you situation; formulating a helping strategy; learning how to communicate more efficiently with your loved one; learning new ways of coping.
