68 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 8, 2017
experience (Cozolino, 2010 van der Kolk,
1996)” (Siegel, 2002, as cited in Whitsett, 2014,
p. 5). And again, to cite Siegel, “If an event is
not encoded in words, it cannot be retrieved in
words, so that therapist must be careful not to
blame the client for being resistant, that is, not
talking” (Siegel, as cited in Whitsett, 2014, p. 5).
In another example, Rosen (2014) recounted the
case of a client, Mary, who “would be unable to
engage in talk therapy for the remainder of the
hour because she ‘couldn’t think straight’” (p.
23). Because of the extensive periods of
hyperarousal and hypoarousal within the cult,
former cult members, in particular, struggle with
finding words.
Affect Regulation
Whitsett (2014) has stressed how important it is
for clients to be able to express their feelings in
a safe space. The implication of this is that
therapists must feel confident that they
themselves are capable of maintaining their own
state of calmness, in case the client picks up on
this and “goes back into her shell” (p. 5). At the
same time, it also implies that therapists must
have the skills of assisting their clients to remain
calm otherwise, there is a risk of the clients
becoming disorganized.
Bearing Witness
Another aspect of the initial phase of recovery,
in which the client is moving toward a place of
safety, is the importance of the therapist bearing
witness. As Whitsett (2014) has warned, “the
therapist must watch his own tendency to
dissociate because the material is too painful to
hear” (p. 5).
Believing
Whitsett (2014) also has spoken of the risk that
clients might have their cult-related experiences
invalidated because, through lack of
experience/understanding, the therapist does not
believe that the practices and experiences the
client has described about the cult could be
perpetrated by one human being on another, and,
as a consequence, sees the client as “paranoid or
exaggerating” (p. 5).
Mind Science and Neurophysiological
Imaging
Kunsman (2014) has reviewed a range of
therapeutic options for trauma, including the
following:
Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing (EMDR) reports very favorable
results but, significantly, reports “works rapidly
in non-complex trauma” (p. 2 my italics). There
is no indicative success of EMDR with Complex
PTSD. Rosen (2014) has cautioned about the use
of this method, indicating that, during EMDR
therapy, rapid stimulation of “associative
networks” (p. 25) occurs, and it is possible for
the former member to recall something
frightening (i.e., retraumatizing) during
processing.
Kunsman (2014) has observed that Emotional
Freedom Techniques (EFT) are “not harmful,”
there is “no need of therapist,” and “early
research results findings appear favorable” (p. 2)
for the use of EFT in the treatment of PTSD.
Kunsman (2014, p. 2) has emphasizes the rapid
effect of EFT in treating noncomplex trauma.
Ogden et al. (2006) identified studies “with
patients who are relatively stable or have adult-
onset, single-incident trauma” (p. 364). Neither
Kunsman nor Ogden reported studies relating to
complex trauma.
Internal Family Systems
Rosen (2014) has highlighted the “built-in
stabilizing elements” within Internal Family
Systems (IFS) therapy, which facilitate clients
being both “present” and also “regulated” in
their emotions during therapy (p. 25, my italics).
Similarly, van der Kolk (2014, pp. 281–284) is
supportive of this therapy for Complex PTSD
and has suggested its suitability for postcult
Complex PTSD (van der Kolk, personal
interview, 2016).
Talk Therapy
Rosen (2014) has stated that “talk therapy
works” (p. 25) and, citing Norcross &Lambert
(2011), has reemphasized that the therapeutic
alliance, combined with respect and
understanding, constitute a large part of what is
effective in therapy. In the absence of this
experience (Cozolino, 2010 van der Kolk,
1996)” (Siegel, 2002, as cited in Whitsett, 2014,
p. 5). And again, to cite Siegel, “If an event is
not encoded in words, it cannot be retrieved in
words, so that therapist must be careful not to
blame the client for being resistant, that is, not
talking” (Siegel, as cited in Whitsett, 2014, p. 5).
In another example, Rosen (2014) recounted the
case of a client, Mary, who “would be unable to
engage in talk therapy for the remainder of the
hour because she ‘couldn’t think straight’” (p.
23). Because of the extensive periods of
hyperarousal and hypoarousal within the cult,
former cult members, in particular, struggle with
finding words.
Affect Regulation
Whitsett (2014) has stressed how important it is
for clients to be able to express their feelings in
a safe space. The implication of this is that
therapists must feel confident that they
themselves are capable of maintaining their own
state of calmness, in case the client picks up on
this and “goes back into her shell” (p. 5). At the
same time, it also implies that therapists must
have the skills of assisting their clients to remain
calm otherwise, there is a risk of the clients
becoming disorganized.
Bearing Witness
Another aspect of the initial phase of recovery,
in which the client is moving toward a place of
safety, is the importance of the therapist bearing
witness. As Whitsett (2014) has warned, “the
therapist must watch his own tendency to
dissociate because the material is too painful to
hear” (p. 5).
Believing
Whitsett (2014) also has spoken of the risk that
clients might have their cult-related experiences
invalidated because, through lack of
experience/understanding, the therapist does not
believe that the practices and experiences the
client has described about the cult could be
perpetrated by one human being on another, and,
as a consequence, sees the client as “paranoid or
exaggerating” (p. 5).
Mind Science and Neurophysiological
Imaging
Kunsman (2014) has reviewed a range of
therapeutic options for trauma, including the
following:
Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing (EMDR) reports very favorable
results but, significantly, reports “works rapidly
in non-complex trauma” (p. 2 my italics). There
is no indicative success of EMDR with Complex
PTSD. Rosen (2014) has cautioned about the use
of this method, indicating that, during EMDR
therapy, rapid stimulation of “associative
networks” (p. 25) occurs, and it is possible for
the former member to recall something
frightening (i.e., retraumatizing) during
processing.
Kunsman (2014) has observed that Emotional
Freedom Techniques (EFT) are “not harmful,”
there is “no need of therapist,” and “early
research results findings appear favorable” (p. 2)
for the use of EFT in the treatment of PTSD.
Kunsman (2014, p. 2) has emphasizes the rapid
effect of EFT in treating noncomplex trauma.
Ogden et al. (2006) identified studies “with
patients who are relatively stable or have adult-
onset, single-incident trauma” (p. 364). Neither
Kunsman nor Ogden reported studies relating to
complex trauma.
Internal Family Systems
Rosen (2014) has highlighted the “built-in
stabilizing elements” within Internal Family
Systems (IFS) therapy, which facilitate clients
being both “present” and also “regulated” in
their emotions during therapy (p. 25, my italics).
Similarly, van der Kolk (2014, pp. 281–284) is
supportive of this therapy for Complex PTSD
and has suggested its suitability for postcult
Complex PTSD (van der Kolk, personal
interview, 2016).
Talk Therapy
Rosen (2014) has stated that “talk therapy
works” (p. 25) and, citing Norcross &Lambert
(2011), has reemphasized that the therapeutic
alliance, combined with respect and
understanding, constitute a large part of what is
effective in therapy. In the absence of this
