#icsa

So as we all know, KOSA is dumb. The bill is so ridiculously vague it's honestly impressive, and it will ultimately do much more HARM than good. Another reason (other than being able to exploit it) for it's vaugness is that it's just.. doing TOO MUCH.

KOSA is trying to fix a GIGANTIC issue with multiple facets with one single bill. It just can't work like that.

On Twitter, I found this thread that has more SPECIFIC information about the Invest in Child Safety Act, you can read that here.

The poster is looking into it more, and as time goes on, hopefully a list of several alternative bills that replace KOSA *as a whole* can be compiled.

‘The Cult Pseudo Identity and the Phases of Recovery and Growth’ presented by Gillie Jenkinson

ICSA is pleased to introduce our new monthly series for our mental health community. Each month will feature a different clinician discussing some aspect of clinical work. Each presentation will serve as a stimulus for questions and a discussion of clinical issues, which will occur during the following hour.

International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) They have a lot of good information and resources. They have been around for many years, and supported numerous people.

In October, the Pennsylvania Psychologist had a special section on religion and psychology. All the articles were very positive. ICSA’s president, Dr. Steve K. D. Eichel submitted a letter, which was published. We share that letter with readers.

I congratulate PPA for publishing thoughtful articles on the interface of psychology and religion in the September issue of the Pennsylvania Psychologist.

However, I believe it’s important to be reminded that, when interfacing with religious or spiritual issues, we find both the “good/light” and the “bad/dark.” So I was surprised that none of the articles mentioned, let alone dealt with, one of the “dark” sides of religion: destructive religious cults.

Religious cults have not “gone away,” as many often think. They continue to create psychological, familial, physical, and financial havoc in many followers and families. Those of us who have been actively treating former cultists for decades continue to deal with adults newly “recruited” into these groups, but we are seeing more and more ex-followers who were born and raised in cults.

These Second Generation Adults (SGAs) and Multi-Generation Adults are raised in groups that can severely damage normal psychological development in children. Cults demand blind allegiance, limit exposure to information (often while repeatedly conveying misinformation), limit members’ social connections, punish independent thinking and behavior, all too often engage in and enable sexual and physical abuse, and then engage in “gaslighting” when members — especially children — witness that abuse. With little or no awareness of how destructive some “religions” can be, psychologists can miss the opportunity to help clients interpret and process these experiences. We may not know the right questions to ask, we may not know enough about a specific group’s psychosocial dynamics, or how to handle the former member’s shame and guilt. Many SGA/MGAs suffer from severe attachment disorders that disrupt relationships, and sexual shame and dysfunction are quite common. After leaving their groups, SGAs/MGAs are often shunned by family members who remain inside, which raises issues too numerous to recount here. Based on hundreds of anecdotal reports from clinicians over the years, former members can sound so out of touch with conventional reality that they are sometimes misdiagnosed with psychotic disorders or, because of their black/white thinking, as having borderline personality traits/disorder. In fact, most suffer from chronic and complicated PTSD that typically includes strong dissociative tendencies. Clinicians who employ trauma-focused methods like hypnosis or EMDR can make matters worse, as many cults engage in consciousness-altering practices as part of their thought reform program. Attempting to explain the “good” aspects of religion, or encouraging former members to explore “mainstream” religions, can also make matters worse.

There are excellent resources for psychologists who will inevitably wind up treating former members of cults. The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), of which I am President, is probably your best bet. ICSA has published two books with clinicians in mind, and the ICSA website contains thousands of articles on a broad range of groups and cult-related topics. I encourage all psychologists to become at least nominally familiar with the “dark side” of religions.

Yours truly,

Steve K. D. Eichel, Ph.D., ABPP

President, International Cultic Studies Association

November 2019

https://www.icsahome.com/

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Minions and Master

Moon: “… you must know the knack of holding and possessing the listeners’ hearts. If there appears a crack in the man’s personality, you wedge in a chisel, and split the person apart.”

Moonie coffin time

Developing Healthy Boundaries

VIDEO: Why do people join cults?  – Janja Lalich

The Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power

Saying Good-bye to the Guru – Steve K. D. Eichel

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How totalism works The brainwashing methods of isolation, engulfment and fear can lead anyone to a cult. I should know – I was in one. by Alexandra Stein ____________________________________

Yoo Ah In Gets Nominated For Best Actor in the 2019 International Cinephile Society Awards, BURNING Leads Nominations

Here comes another good news for us all, again!

Following his Best Actor nomination in The 13th Asian Film Awards, Yoo Ah In got nominated for best actor again in The 16th ICS Awards (International Cinephile Society Awards) for his performance in Lee Chang Dong’s critically acclaimed film BURNING. In addition, together with another foreign language film Zama, BURNING dominated this year’s ICS…

Addict, Idol and Cult Member: Reflections on the loss of Self 

The following post recently came from an International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) email. ICSA’s annual conference has been an incredible resource for those who have left the church, and their first series for second-generation adults and multi-generational adults (those who had parents raised in the cult, or multi-generational participation in the cult) went really well, with some videos posted online, including on HWDYKYM.

Announcing New Presentations in the S/MGA Recovery Series!

Free ICSA Webinar Series | OPEN TO ALL!

VIDEO ABOUT THE UPCOMING SERIES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgOlo_Ovg3g Sign me up!

We are excited to announce these new presentations in 2022!

This series is specifically for second and multi-generational adult former cult members, however, this is the first program for S/MGAs that is open to all. In the past, ICSA workshops for this population have been limited to those who were themselves born or raised in cults. But we see the increasing need for those outside of this population to learn about the unique recovery issues relevant to S/MGAs.

2022 Presentation Schedule:

Sunday, March 6th, 2022, 1:00 - 2:15 pm EST: Overcoming Barriers to Healthy Sexuality for S/MGAs, Presented by Doni Whitsett and Katharina Meredith

•    In Part 1 of this series we discussed some general sexual issues of S/MGAs. In Part 2 we will address more specific issues with which this populations often struggles. The life of a cult child is highly controlled and their personality shaped to conform to the expectations of the leadership. These expectations carry severe consequences when not adhered to. While some groups suppress erotic development others foster indiscriminate sexual activity creating an atmosphere that is inappropriately sexually charged and overstimulating. Anxiety surrounding sexuality may result in the sexual self becoming alienated. A critical/judgmental and shaming voice is often the result when a former member throws off the constricting cult norms and seeks to explore their own sexual potential. Learning to quiet this demoralizing voice will be addressed in our talk. We begin with the over-arching issue of the “push-pull” of intimacy, the desire to be close and the fear of that closeness. Early childhood experiences of betrayal of trust influence this ambivalent pattern and the person continues to suffer in the present. Based in attachment theory we will discuss ways to change these patterns into healthy relationships. Additionally, we will discuss certain sexual phenomena which may be of concern or interest for former members, namely fantasies, and the erotic practice of BDSM. We will also address some specific sexual difficulties in the various phases of sexual response (i.e. desire, arousal and orgasmic phases) and offer suggestions for overcoming them.

Sunday, March 13th, 2022, 1:00 - 2:15 pm EST: After the Cult: Exploring Healthy Relationships for LGBQA+ Individuals, Presented by Cyndi Matthews and Ashlen Hilliard

•    Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and asexual (LGBQA+) individuals who were born or raised in cults may have dealt with a litany of constructs regarding what a healthy relationship looks like and how they were to live their lives while in their respective cults. These constructs could include mandates such as "Only heterosexual relationships are allowed," "Sex is only for marriage," "Sex is only for procreation," "Masturbation will turn you gay," and "Wives, submit to your husbands including whenever they want sex," along with a myriad of other constructs and beliefs. They may have been punished/rewarded by leaders/members requiring reparative therapy, public and private confessions, doctrinal lessons, marrying a person of the other gender, etc. This discussion will focus on how these constructs and mandates may have led to unhealthy expectations and outcomes in current and past relationships. Presenters will also discuss how healing can occur by re-evaluating and redefining what constitutes a healthy relationship, and ways LGBQA+ can re-imagine, explore, and reconstruct their present and future relationships. Sunday, March 20th, 2022, 1:00 - 2:15 pm EST: The Impact of Yesterday on Today, Presented by Lorna Goldberg and Ck Rardin

•    To a large extent, the cult environment has shaped many of the beliefs and character traits of S/MGAs. After they leave the cult, they may bring these beliefs and character traits with them. S/MGAs can discover that attitudes shaped within the cult might be impeding their present life. For example, in the cult, they were expected to reach perfection. This belief causes them to struggle with internalized pressure to be perfect after they leave. When S/MGAs fail at perfection, they typically might feel depressed or filled with shame. S/MGAs also might experience symptoms of C-PTSD, such as hypervigilant or hypovigilent (dissociative) behavior. Additionally, S/MGAs typically struggle with complicated emotions about their parents in the cult, and they might be uncertain about how to deal with their feelings after they leave the cult. Finally, the presenters will explore how post-cult relationships and therapy might aid former cult members.

Sunday, March 27th, 2022, 1:00 - 2:15 pm EST: Destigmatizing Medical Care Post-Cult, Presented by Eva Mackey and Ck Rardin

Those who have exited cults are likely to have many psychological barriers to accessing the medical care they need. Individuals raised in cults may have never received appropriate medical care and may have many misconceptions about illness, doctors and medicine. This talk will explore how two second generation adult (SGA) former cult members overcame those barriers. You will hear from one SGA who become his own medical advocate and was able to form healing, therapeutic relationships with his medical team and doctors. The other speaker is an SGA who went to medical school after exiting the cult and has been a practicing family physician for 20 years. She will explore the issue from both perspectives and will specifically address stigmas attached to mental illness and psychiatric medicines.

Presenter Bios:

Doni Whitsett, PhD, LCSW, LMFT, is a Fulbright scholar and Clinical Professor Emerita at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work where she taught courses focused on neurobiology, trauma, mental health, and sexuality. As a trauma-focused psychotherapist in private practice she has been working with cult-involved clients and their families for over 25 years. She is also AASECT certified as a sex therapist. Her specialties of cultic studies and sexuality often overlap due to the exploitation of human sexuality by high demand abusive groups. Dr. Whitsett has presented to professional audiences both nationally and internationally in Australia, Canada, France, Poland, and Spain. Her research activities include women’s sexuality in China, sexual dysfunction in the military, and sexual issues of S/MGAs. Her latest publications include chapters on: “A modern psychodynamic approach with first-generation former cult members” and “Global violence of women in cults.”

Katharina Meredith is currently working towards a Ph.D. in Community Psychology, studying the psychology of extremism and terrorism. Her research interests include inter-group and intra-group violence, right-wing extremism, online extremist propaganda and radicalization, group processes, exit, and identity. She is a published author with a focus on outreach and education, and the executive director of Stronger After. From age 10 to age 20, she grew up in a small New Age cult, where she was separated from her parents, cut off from the outside world, taken to three different countries, and asked to build a time machine. The time machine never worked. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, two children, two cats, her therapy pug, and a fish. Her hobbies include eating, traveling, foraging for mushrooms, and reading fantasy novels.

Cyndi Matthews, PhD, LPC-S, NCC, is an experienced Counseling Clinician (15+ yrs.) working in Private Practice and as an Associate Professor in the  Counseling (CMHC) program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Dallas). She has earned a Ph.D. in Counseling and Counselor Education, a Masters in Counseling, and a Masters in Business - Organizational Behavior. Her passion for social justice and advocacy is exemplified in her counseling practice and research, both of which focus on effective counseling interventions for marginalized populations, such as cult survivors, domestic violence survivors, and LGBTQ+ populations. Based on her scholarship and clinical expertise she has researched and developed theory for counseling with second and multi-generation adult cult survivors.

Ashlen Hilliard (she/her), MSc, is the Director of Events for the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA). Her MSc research focused on the relationship between reproductive coercion, psychologically abusive environments, and the extent of group identity in a sample of those who have left cultic groups. Before ICSA, she worked as a case manager in Salt Lake City, Utah helping individuals leaving polygamist groups out west.  Ashlen relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2020 and is a co-organizer for the local Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education (SAFE) Meetups for survivors of cultic and spiritual abuse.  She has presented at multiple ICSA conferences on a variety of topics and has been interviewed on podcasts and media programs. She published an article in ICSA Today 10.2 / 2019 on, “The Genesis, Text, and Implications of Utah House Bill 214: Office for Victims of Crime Amendments.” Ashlen enjoys living in Portland, Oregon with her partner Ryan, their blind dog Hamilton, and their cat Ferguson.

Lorna Goldberg, LCSW, PsyA, Board Member and Past President of ICSA, is a clinical social worker and psychoanalyst in private practice and Director at the Institute of Psychoanalytic Studies. In 1976, she and her husband, William Goldberg, began facilitating a support group for former cult members that continues to meet monthly in their home in Englewood, New Jersey. She has cochaired ICSA’s Mental Health Committee, published numerous articles in professional journals about her therapeutic work with former cult members, and contributed chapters to several important texts on psychotherapy and cults. Most recently Lorna coedited (along with William Goldberg, Rosanne Henry, and Michael Langone) Cult Recovery: A Clinician’s Guide to Working With Former Members and Families (2017). Lorna and Bill are founding facilitators of the CT Workshop for Those Born or Raised in Cultic Groups.

Ck Rardin, facilitator, ICSA CT Workshop for Those Born or Raised in Cultic Groups, was born in California. His parents raised him in a cultic Catholic group and when he reached adolescence, they signed over their parental rights to the group. Ck was then sent to the cult’s headquarters in Itaquera, Sao Paulo, Brazil. He stayed in the group till age 26 when he gathered the courage and strength to leave the organization on his own. After leaving he became a certified EMT, then was certified and joined the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP ), with which he maintains his certification. He now runs his own IT consulting firm in upstate New York and spends much of his time involved in recovery from his experience, working to expose these groups (for example, assisting in research for MTV’s production of The Cult Question) as well as helping others in their recovery.