8 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 10, 2019
feel safer to explore (Malchiodi, 2015). Sandtray
offers a method of utilizing alternate states of
consciousness that blends absorption with
conscious engagement in ways similar to active
imagination (Boik &Goodwin, 2000).
Depending on the approach of the practitioner,
sandtray therapy can involve an exploration of
family and social roles or patterns, a method of
safely reexperiencing the trauma and resolving
it, a means of seeking meaning around the
trauma, or a method of interacting with parts of
the self or internalized representations of others
(Eberts &Homeyer, 2015 Graham, 2016
Webber &Mascari, 2008). Because of the use of
figures and symbolism, sandtray is particularly
useful at helping clients create meaning around
their experiences.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Like EMDR, mindfulness is currently in vogue
as a means of therapy and boasts impressive
evidence as to its effectiveness (Baer, 2015 Doll
et al., 2016 Porges, 2017 Singleton et al., 2014
van der Kolk, 2014). Mindfulness can be used to
treat anxiety and depression and also trauma
(Baer, 2015 Desmond, 2016 Doll et al., 2016
Rothschild, 2000). It can also be effective at
helping individuals learn new ways to relate
interpersonally with others or to develop self-
compassion toward themselves (Baer, 2015
Desmond, 2016). Like EMDR, mindfulness
seems to have neurophysiological effects on
brain structures affected by trauma (Doll et al.,
2016 Porges, 2017 Singleton et al., 2014).
Porges (2017) has highlighted how mindful
breathing can stimulate the neurophysiological
state associated with safety, healing, and growth,
thus successfully combatting the
neurophysiological states associated with
mobilization or freezing. Neuroimaging studies
show that mindfulness can help calm
hyperactivity in the amygdala and increase
prefrontal-cortex control, thus increasing
emotional regulation (Doll et al., 2016).
However, although mindfulness may be
effective with some survivors, mindfulness as a
therapeutic intervention comes with a warning.
There is a tendency for clinicians to view
meditation as if it were a panacea, despite the
fact that it is not appropriate for everyone and
can create severe negative reactions in some
(Rosen, 2014 Rothschild, 2000 Singer, 2003).
This attitude may be particularly problematic
with cult survivors since meditation has been
heavily coopted by destructive groups as a
means of control, disconnection, and
dissociation (Lalich &McLaren, 2018 Rosen,
2014 Singer, 2003). For example, one of the
therapeutic goals of mindfulness is often to help
clients relax and engage the senses as a means of
mitigating anxiety and dissociation. For the
many cult survivors who have trauma related to
meditation practices, however, mindfulness that
resembles meditation can exacerbate rather than
help symptoms of anxiety or dissociation
(Rosen, 2014 Singer, 2003). In such cases,
finding other ways of accomplishing that goal
may be needed. Rothschild (2000) outlined
several ways that clients can disperse anxiety
and tension if mindfulness exercises create
negative reactions. Exercising, progressive
tensing, or body training, for instance, may be
more relaxing for many survivors than sitting
meditations. Yoga can also be an avenue
through which a survivor can access the benefits
of mindful breathing without the traditional
meditative sitting (Porges, 2017).
Survivors who exit meditation-based cults
may still be able to use meditation
techniques as part of healing, with it perhaps
offering an opportunity for them to reclaim
the same techniques from a different
standpoint. Whereas in the cult survivors
may have had meditation used to disconnect
them from their emotional responses,
particularly anger or doubt (Hassan, 1990
Lalich &McLaren, 2018 Singer, 2003),
they may still be able to use this technique
as a means of connecting with alienated
emotions and learning acceptance and self-
compassion within their healing process
(Desmond, 2016). With that being said, the
ultimate decision of whether to engage with
and reclaim mindfulness practices (or any
practice formerly used within a cult) should
reside with the individual.
feel safer to explore (Malchiodi, 2015). Sandtray
offers a method of utilizing alternate states of
consciousness that blends absorption with
conscious engagement in ways similar to active
imagination (Boik &Goodwin, 2000).
Depending on the approach of the practitioner,
sandtray therapy can involve an exploration of
family and social roles or patterns, a method of
safely reexperiencing the trauma and resolving
it, a means of seeking meaning around the
trauma, or a method of interacting with parts of
the self or internalized representations of others
(Eberts &Homeyer, 2015 Graham, 2016
Webber &Mascari, 2008). Because of the use of
figures and symbolism, sandtray is particularly
useful at helping clients create meaning around
their experiences.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Like EMDR, mindfulness is currently in vogue
as a means of therapy and boasts impressive
evidence as to its effectiveness (Baer, 2015 Doll
et al., 2016 Porges, 2017 Singleton et al., 2014
van der Kolk, 2014). Mindfulness can be used to
treat anxiety and depression and also trauma
(Baer, 2015 Desmond, 2016 Doll et al., 2016
Rothschild, 2000). It can also be effective at
helping individuals learn new ways to relate
interpersonally with others or to develop self-
compassion toward themselves (Baer, 2015
Desmond, 2016). Like EMDR, mindfulness
seems to have neurophysiological effects on
brain structures affected by trauma (Doll et al.,
2016 Porges, 2017 Singleton et al., 2014).
Porges (2017) has highlighted how mindful
breathing can stimulate the neurophysiological
state associated with safety, healing, and growth,
thus successfully combatting the
neurophysiological states associated with
mobilization or freezing. Neuroimaging studies
show that mindfulness can help calm
hyperactivity in the amygdala and increase
prefrontal-cortex control, thus increasing
emotional regulation (Doll et al., 2016).
However, although mindfulness may be
effective with some survivors, mindfulness as a
therapeutic intervention comes with a warning.
There is a tendency for clinicians to view
meditation as if it were a panacea, despite the
fact that it is not appropriate for everyone and
can create severe negative reactions in some
(Rosen, 2014 Rothschild, 2000 Singer, 2003).
This attitude may be particularly problematic
with cult survivors since meditation has been
heavily coopted by destructive groups as a
means of control, disconnection, and
dissociation (Lalich &McLaren, 2018 Rosen,
2014 Singer, 2003). For example, one of the
therapeutic goals of mindfulness is often to help
clients relax and engage the senses as a means of
mitigating anxiety and dissociation. For the
many cult survivors who have trauma related to
meditation practices, however, mindfulness that
resembles meditation can exacerbate rather than
help symptoms of anxiety or dissociation
(Rosen, 2014 Singer, 2003). In such cases,
finding other ways of accomplishing that goal
may be needed. Rothschild (2000) outlined
several ways that clients can disperse anxiety
and tension if mindfulness exercises create
negative reactions. Exercising, progressive
tensing, or body training, for instance, may be
more relaxing for many survivors than sitting
meditations. Yoga can also be an avenue
through which a survivor can access the benefits
of mindful breathing without the traditional
meditative sitting (Porges, 2017).
Survivors who exit meditation-based cults
may still be able to use meditation
techniques as part of healing, with it perhaps
offering an opportunity for them to reclaim
the same techniques from a different
standpoint. Whereas in the cult survivors
may have had meditation used to disconnect
them from their emotional responses,
particularly anger or doubt (Hassan, 1990
Lalich &McLaren, 2018 Singer, 2003),
they may still be able to use this technique
as a means of connecting with alienated
emotions and learning acceptance and self-
compassion within their healing process
(Desmond, 2016). With that being said, the
ultimate decision of whether to engage with
and reclaim mindfulness practices (or any
practice formerly used within a cult) should
reside with the individual.
