New Online Cult Recovery Support Group

[jmknapp53@gmail.com]

I'm not sure this post is appropriate to this forum or not. But I do know many former cult members frequent this and other skeptic fora. So here goes....

I am a licensed psychotherapist who has worked with over 2,000 current and former cult members since 1995. I've specifically worked with many current and former church members.

I conduct online support groups for people who have been spiritually abused by churches and similar groups. I conduct one group for people who entered their groups as adults. Another group is designed specifically for people who were "born-in" or are adult children of cult members.

I designed the groups for people who left their group, but still face challenges functioning in life. Difficulties might include: career/education, relationships, finances, health, depression, grief, shame, re-establishing spirituality -- pretty much any challenge caused by your time in your cult. (You might be interested in reading a list of post-cult symptoms at KnappFamilyCounseling.com/cultsymptoms.html .)

Some benefits people report from cult support groups:

* Great chance to share experience in a safe, moderated space -- ask questions and get answers
* Confidential, safe, and secure
* Support from people who experienced what you did -- and don't think you're crazy
* Work with a therapist who understands -- I spent 20+ years in my own cult
* A place to share and learn solutions that have worked for others
* Inexpensive access to professional therapeutic help (as little as $10/session)
* For many people, group may be faster, more powerful than individual counseling -- and less scary
* Downloaded transcripts let you re-read and consider insights at your own leisure
* Learn crucial info on cult recovery

People who were "born-in" have unique needs and generally feel they get more out of working with peers who were also raised in a cult.

The groups are open to anyone who is recovering from cult abuse by any group. The groups are limited to a maximum of 8 members, on a first-come, first-served basis.

To learn more -- or if you have any questions at all -- please write me at jmknapp53@gmail.com.

Look forward to recovering with you! :D

About Me:
I am a 23+ year former member of Transcendental Meditation in recovery from my cult for 13+ years.

I've been a cult activist since 1995 and have worked with over 2,000 current and former members of eastern meditation groups, new age groups, multi-level marketing groups, christian/bible-based groups, and many, many more.

I became a mental health professional in 2005 as a licensed psychotherapist (LMSW). You can read more about my practice at KnappFamilyCounseling.com/ .

These days almost 2/3 of my work is with bible-based groups. It just seems to be the need of the times.

[Safe-Keeper]

Very interesting. This is something that's sorely needed, I guess.

[jmknapp53@gmail.com]

Very interesting. This is something that's sorely needed, I guess.

Unfortunately, yes. Most people, by number, leave cults under their own steam. They may read a self-help book or material on the Internet and do just fine.

Most former cult members don't require professional help. But thousands do.

In my perfect world, I'd be out of business.

J.

[Earthborn]

I'm not sure this post is appropriate to this forum or not.As your post is basically a commercial advertisement; no. Read rule 3 of your membership agreement.

[jmknapp53@gmail.com]

Hi, Earthborn,

I read the agreement when I signed up. I don't remember objections to services related to the forum mission. But I might have misunderstood. I'm having trouble finding a copy of the agreement. Can you point me toward one to review?

Thanks!

J.

[Earthborn]

I'm having trouble finding a copy of the agreement. Can you point me toward one to review?Sure (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=25744).

I don't remember objections to services related to the forum mission.I'd say rule 3 is pretty clear. No commercial advertisements. It doesn't say commercial advertisements "related to the forum mission" are exempt. You could ask the moderators whether there can be an exception in your case and whether they think your services are "related to the forum mission".

[triadboy]

Well...this thread turned into some kind of ongoing legal action - I'm outta here.

[paximperium]

I think you're providing a great service but I'd suggest you take it up with the moderators so that we clear up this issue. We don't want this forum to be filled with ads even if it does fir our goals.

Hopefully we can have a further discussion about cults and rehabilitation once this is clear. Welcome.

[jmknapp53@gmail.com]

Hi, guys,

I haven't been able to load the forum all day until just now. I will indeed write the moderators. I'd be happy to delete the thread and start a non-commercial one. Anyone know how to delete threads?

J.

[Mashuna]

Hi, guys,

I haven't been able to load the forum all day until just now. I will indeed write the moderators. I'd be happy to delete the thread and start a non-commercial one. Anyone know how to delete threads?

J.

You can't delete threads yourself. If you drop a PM to the mods, they can decide on the most appropriate action.

Welcome, by the way. :)

[Moochie]

I think the issue is sufficiently important that the administrators of the forum need to be involved. As Earthborn said, it's basically a commercial advertisement. Since ads for the site, and I presume the forum, are under consideration, perhaps the author of the OP might be able to place ads legitimately at some point, and pay accordingly.


M.

[jmknapp53@gmail.com]

I wrote the moderators yesterday, requesting they delete the thread if they find it inappropriate. I haven't heard anything back yet.

Naturally, my apologies for any offense I caused. Once this is cleared up, I'll try posting a non-commercial thread on working with former cult members.

J.

[paximperium]

I wrote the moderators yesterday, requesting they delete the thread if they find it inappropriate. I haven't heard anything back yet.

Naturally, my apologies for any offense I caused. Once this is cleared up, I'll try posting a non-commercial thread on working with former cult members.

J.
Sounds great since it would be interesting to hear more about this.

[Lisa Simpson]

While this does seem like something of an advertisement, I am willing to leave it as it seems an important topic. One condition though. Do not in any way advertise your business anymore. Of course, you are perfectly welcome to discuss anything else related to cults.

[jmknapp53@gmail.com]

While this does seem like something of an advertisement, I am willing to leave it as it seems an important topic. One condition though. Do not in any way advertise your business anymore. Of course, you are perfectly welcome to discuss anything else related to cults.

No problem, Lisa, and thanks for your understanding. I'm thinking of posting a substantive thread about cults. I need to think about the most appropriate topic for a skeptical forum.

Again, my apologies to the forum readers and administrators for breaking the rules.

J.

[paximperium]

No problem, Lisa, and thanks for your understanding. I'm thinking of posting a substantive thread about cults. I need to think about the most appropriate topic for a skeptical forum.

Again, my apologies to the forum readers and administrators for breaking the rules.

J.

Looking forward to it.

[applecorped]

TM is a cult?

[quarky]

TM is a cult?

me too, surprised by that.

[Kevin_Lowe]

TM is a cult?

Whether an outfit is a cult or not is a value judgement.

People who are concerned about mind-controlling cults have a sort of checklist of pathological behaviours exhibited by genuinely nasty religious groups like the Moonies, Children of God, Heaven's Gate, Falun Gung and TM, including mindless hero-worship of their leader, lying to recruits about the cult to get them to join, exploitation of members and so on at length. They consider an outfit a cult if it ticks enough of their boxes, and Tm ticks several important ones.

I used to be very interested in cults as a phenomenon but I eventually drifted away from it because it was too damn depressing. They're mental viruses causing incredible amounts of human misery and I have no idea how we can make the damned things die.

[Earthborn]

TM is a cult?All depends on how exactly one choses to define (http://www.religioustolerance.org/cultintro.htm) the word 'cult', hey? It is a 'New Religious Movement' and one that puts somewhat high demands on its members.

[applecorped]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendental_Meditation

Cult issues

In 1987, the Cult Awareness Network (CAN) held a press conference and demonstration in Washington, D.C., saying that the Transcendental Meditation technique “seeks to strip individuals of their ability to think and choose freely.” Steve Hassan, author of several books on cults, and at one time a CAN deprogrammer, said in the same press conference that those who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique display cult-like behaviors. These cult-like tendencies were described in Michael A. Persinger's book, TM and Cult Mania, published in 1980.


David Orme-Johnson, former faculty member at Maharishi University of Management (at which all students and faculty practice the Transcendental Meditation technique daily) who has researched the Transcendental Meditation technique and the paranormal Maharishi Effect, cites studies by Schecter, Alexander, and Pelletier showing greater autonomy, innovative thought, and increases in creativity, general intelligence and moral reasoning in those who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique. According to Orme–Johnson cult followers are said to allegedly operate on blind faith and adherence to arbitrary rules and authority, while these studies would indicate the ability of those who practice the Transcendental Meditation technique to make mature, independent, principle-based judgments.

Lawsuits

Kropinski v. WPEC
In a civil suit against the World Plan Executive Council filed in 1985,[59] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendental_Meditation#cite_note-58) Robert Kropinski claimed fraud, psychological, physical, and emotional harm as a result of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs. The district court dismissed Kropinski's claims concerning intentional tort and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and referred the claims of fraud and negligent infliction of physical and psychological injuries to a jury trial. The jury awarded Robert Kropinski $137,890 in the fraud and negligence claims. The appellate court overturned the award and dismissed Kropinski's claim alleging psychological damage. The claim of fraud and the claim of a physical injury related to his practice of the TM-Sidhi program were remanded to the lower court for retrial, and the parties then settled these remaining claims out of court.
Butler/Killian vs. MUM
Two lawsuits were filed as a result of a stabbing at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa on March 1, 2004 The families of the murdered student and a student who was assaulted earlier in the day have sued MUM and the Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation. Their separate suits, filed on February 24, 2006, allege that the twice-daily practice of Transcendental Meditation, which the university requires of all students, can be dangerous for people with psychiatric problems. They also charge the university with failing to call the police or take action to protect students from a mentally ill student.

Issue of cost

The fee for learning the Transcendental Meditation technique in the USA is $2,000 per person.
In response to what they feel is a high course fee to learn the Transcendental Meditation technique, some former teachers offer TM instruction independently. while other former teachers have published what they claim to be the mantras used in the practice and how these mantras are assigned.
According to the official web site, the Transcendental Meditation technique can only be learned from an authorized teacher.

[Moochie]

Whether an outfit is a cult or not is a value judgement.

People who are concerned about mind-controlling cults have a sort of checklist of pathological behaviours exhibited by genuinely nasty religious groups like the Moonies, Children of God, Heaven's Gate, Falun Gung and TM, including mindless hero-worship of their leader, lying to recruits about the cult to get them to join, exploitation of members and so on at length. They consider an outfit a cult if it ticks enough of their boxes, and Tm ticks several important ones.

I used to be very interested in cults as a phenomenon but I eventually drifted away from it because it was too damn depressing. They're mental viruses causing incredible amounts of human misery and I have no idea how we can make the damned things die.

Good post, KL.

As to how to deal with cults, I figure the best way is to starve them out. That means offering people who are dicing with joining a cult some version of whatever it is they are looking for, but in a far saner and more rational way. Doing so requires time and commitment -- the two things everyone seems to be short of.


M.

[paximperium]

Good post, KL.

As to how to deal with cults, I figure the best way is to starve them out. That means offering people who are dicing with joining a cult some version of whatever it is they are looking for, but in a far saner and more rational way. Doing so requires time and commitment -- the two things everyone seems to be short of.


M.

I disagree. I believe the best way to handle cults is to expose them.

Cult thrive on secrecy and mystery. If you attempt to ignore or "starve" them, they tend to hunker down and their remaining members become more extremist. They may even attempt to recruit using different techniques under this shadow of secrecy. Scientology has successfully repackage themselves under this secrecy.

Expose, them. Inform the public about what they are and their complete and utter stupidity will be exposed...then education will be effective.

[Moochie]

I disagree. I believe the best way to handle cults is to expose them.

Cult thrive on secrecy and mystery. If you attempt to ignore or "starve" them, they tend to hunker down and their remaining members become more extremist. They may even attempt to recruit using different techniques under this shadow of secrecy. Scientology has successfully repackage themselves under this secrecy.

Expose, them. Inform the public about what they are and their complete and utter stupidity will be exposed...then education will be effective.


Certainly agree. What I was suggesting wasn't to the exclusion of any other methods. It's just that existing and prospective members need somewhere to go and I think simply pulling the rug out from under might be cruel. The OP refers to an online support group, which is perhaps too reactive a measure, although helpful. I'd like to see something more proactive, so exposure, as you say, would certainly be of benefit there.


M.