80 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 9, 2018
left their cult. Langone points out that ICSA is
concerned with cults or groups in which the
“relationship seems to enforce an exploitive
compliance through subterfuge” (p. xviii). In
other words, cults are defined as abusive and
exploitive groups that can deeply damage and
traumatize their members.
Authors explore, within these chapters divided
into the five broad contexts, the counseling
implications of a cult’s exploitive requirement
for compliance, and the potential outcome of
abuse and trauma, along with possible
counseling interventions and case studies. The
chapters are written from very different
therapeutic perspectives. Authors discuss how
they would work with individuals according to
their respective theories or particular
interventions. Each section of the book is
prefaced with a cult expert’s take on the topic.
The five sections and general contexts include
the following:
1. Helping Families and Loved Ones
2. Helping Former Members—Individual
Psychotherapy
3. Support Groups
4. Recovery Workshops, Intensive Programs,
and Residential Treatment
5. Special Issues and Research
Drawing on their background and experience,
some authors write strictly as clinicians, others
write as researchers, while others write from a
framework of being both a clinician and a
researcher.
The authors who write from a clinical point of
view present their chapters based on extensive
experiences they have had in counseling former
cult members. One example includes William
Goldberg in the section “Helping Families and
Loved Ones,” who focuses on counseling with
family members who currently have loved ones
in a cult. In the section “Support Groups,”
William and Lorna Goldberg, talk about
utilizing support groups as a form of, or as an
adjunct to, therapy based on their therapeutic
experiences.
Other authors discuss how they make use of a
model from another field. In the second section,
whose focus is individual psychotherapy, for
example, Pat Knapp applies a faith-based model
to cult-recovery counseling. Madeline Tobias
offers her perspectives on the application of
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for former
members of high-demand groups. She provides a
case study throughout her chapter, and
demonstrates how she utilizes CPT as a means
of working through the case. Likewise, Rosanne
Henry discusses case vignettes through the lens
of attachment theory and mentalization. Leoni
Furnari shares case scenarios to discuss the use
of Eye-Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy with both first-
and second-generation former cult members.
Likewise, Shelly Rosen does a very credible job
of discussing trauma theory and looking at
former cult involvement through a trauma lens.
Also, in an extremely well-researched chapter,
Rod and Linda Dubrow-Marshall discuss
theories and practices of self-care for both
therapists and former cult members.
Other authors come at the respective issues from
a clinician/researcher point of view. Two of my
favorite chapters were from Doni Whitsett and
Steve Eichel, included in the Individual
Psychotherapy section. They propose their own
theories based on the experiences they have had
with their clients. Doni Whitsett proposes a
double-helix model in working with former cult
members, whereby one strand of the DNA
represents building upon the present life of the
client, while the second strand is interwoven
with strand one, and represents working through
the past trauma from the cult. Steve Eichel
likewise describes his own Brief Intermittent
Developmental Theory (BIDT) model and how
he would make use of it in relation to two
different clients, one a first-generation cult
survivor, and another born and raised in a cult.
In the Support Group and Recovery Workshop
sections, other authors discuss their past
successes and history of working with former
cult members through cult-recovery workshops,
psychoeducation, treatment facilities, exit
counseling, outpatient counseling, and so on.
Almost all chapters throughout the first four
sections include case studies and scenarios and
present how the authors either have used or
left their cult. Langone points out that ICSA is
concerned with cults or groups in which the
“relationship seems to enforce an exploitive
compliance through subterfuge” (p. xviii). In
other words, cults are defined as abusive and
exploitive groups that can deeply damage and
traumatize their members.
Authors explore, within these chapters divided
into the five broad contexts, the counseling
implications of a cult’s exploitive requirement
for compliance, and the potential outcome of
abuse and trauma, along with possible
counseling interventions and case studies. The
chapters are written from very different
therapeutic perspectives. Authors discuss how
they would work with individuals according to
their respective theories or particular
interventions. Each section of the book is
prefaced with a cult expert’s take on the topic.
The five sections and general contexts include
the following:
1. Helping Families and Loved Ones
2. Helping Former Members—Individual
Psychotherapy
3. Support Groups
4. Recovery Workshops, Intensive Programs,
and Residential Treatment
5. Special Issues and Research
Drawing on their background and experience,
some authors write strictly as clinicians, others
write as researchers, while others write from a
framework of being both a clinician and a
researcher.
The authors who write from a clinical point of
view present their chapters based on extensive
experiences they have had in counseling former
cult members. One example includes William
Goldberg in the section “Helping Families and
Loved Ones,” who focuses on counseling with
family members who currently have loved ones
in a cult. In the section “Support Groups,”
William and Lorna Goldberg, talk about
utilizing support groups as a form of, or as an
adjunct to, therapy based on their therapeutic
experiences.
Other authors discuss how they make use of a
model from another field. In the second section,
whose focus is individual psychotherapy, for
example, Pat Knapp applies a faith-based model
to cult-recovery counseling. Madeline Tobias
offers her perspectives on the application of
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for former
members of high-demand groups. She provides a
case study throughout her chapter, and
demonstrates how she utilizes CPT as a means
of working through the case. Likewise, Rosanne
Henry discusses case vignettes through the lens
of attachment theory and mentalization. Leoni
Furnari shares case scenarios to discuss the use
of Eye-Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy with both first-
and second-generation former cult members.
Likewise, Shelly Rosen does a very credible job
of discussing trauma theory and looking at
former cult involvement through a trauma lens.
Also, in an extremely well-researched chapter,
Rod and Linda Dubrow-Marshall discuss
theories and practices of self-care for both
therapists and former cult members.
Other authors come at the respective issues from
a clinician/researcher point of view. Two of my
favorite chapters were from Doni Whitsett and
Steve Eichel, included in the Individual
Psychotherapy section. They propose their own
theories based on the experiences they have had
with their clients. Doni Whitsett proposes a
double-helix model in working with former cult
members, whereby one strand of the DNA
represents building upon the present life of the
client, while the second strand is interwoven
with strand one, and represents working through
the past trauma from the cult. Steve Eichel
likewise describes his own Brief Intermittent
Developmental Theory (BIDT) model and how
he would make use of it in relation to two
different clients, one a first-generation cult
survivor, and another born and raised in a cult.
In the Support Group and Recovery Workshop
sections, other authors discuss their past
successes and history of working with former
cult members through cult-recovery workshops,
psychoeducation, treatment facilities, exit
counseling, outpatient counseling, and so on.
Almost all chapters throughout the first four
sections include case studies and scenarios and
present how the authors either have used or
