less balanced, so that the client can be mindful
enough to use the therapy process. If a client is
in an agitated (sympathetically aroused) state, he
cannot “think straight,” and the therapy sessions
will be ineffective or, in some cases, frightening.
If the client is in a dissociated or a depressive-
type shutdown (parasympathetically aroused
state), he also cannot concentrate fully and
participate in therapy. I used Somatic
Experiencing interventions in most sessions with
Michael, which gradually calmed his nervous
system. This approach brought him into the
window of tolerance, which allowed him a
greater capacity to face or hear things we were
discussing in therapy.
Mindful meditation is a popular practice that
trauma therapists often introduce to patients to
help them stabilize and increase their window of
tolerance. Indeed, many neuroimaging studies
demonstrate that mindfulness practice can build
cognitive and affective control (Lutz, Slagter,
Dunne, &Davidson, 2008 Prakash, De Leon,
Klatt, Malarkey, &Patterson, 2012 Teper &
Inzlicht, 2012). However, therapists should be
cautious about recommending meditation to
former members. Many cultic groups practice
meditation, and this practice can be a PTSD
trigger for former members. In addition, clients
who have the spacey or numb forms of
dissociation, as well as other specific issues, can
become distressed during meditation (Britton &
Sydnor, in press). Lola, a former client, would
discipline herself to meditate but once she was
relaxed, violent images would emerge. With
some encouragement, she let go of this inner
dictate about meditation and when she was
stressed or triggered, she would go on a bike
ride, or look at beautiful art instead, which
effectively calmed her nervous system and
brought her a peaceful, centered feeling.
As with all other psychotherapy patients, it is
sometimes useful for former cult members to
consider and be evaluated for psychotropic
medication for stabilization. Medication can be
helpful for sleep and mood problems. It is also
important to remember that not all symptoms are
from traumatic experiences such as cult
involvement. Many people come into the world
with genetic predispositions for mood, and
behavioral leanings that cause problems in living
(Segal, 2012). Each former member has a
history, biology, and uniqueness.
For former members (and for all clients), it is
useful to educate, educate, educate.
Psychoeducation can be the most stabilizing of
all interventions. First and foremost, it is
important to educate about the therapeutic
process to counterbalance the magical ideas
clients have learned in their groups. When it is
fitting, the therapist can educate clients about the
nervous system, neuroscience, psychoanalytic
thinking, the power of negative cognitions,
dissociative phenomena, self states, social and
cultural realities, and so on. The therapist can
educate clients about the varied natural reactions
their minds and bodies are having to past and
present overwhelming events. It is wise to
educate clients that dissociative experiences are
adaptive and can be ameliorated in therapy. In
particular, clients who hear internal voices or
experience visual hallucinations, abreactions,
derealization, and depersonalization may be
afraid that they are psychotic they may be
unaware that these are not uncommon
experiences for people suffering from PTSD and
C-PTSD (Dell &O’Neil, 2009).
It is beneficial to educate former members about
the personalities of cult leaders and the
potentially harmful group process within cults.
Jennifer Freyd’s research on betrayal trauma can
function as a useful tool in therapy for educating
clients about the loyalty/attachment/dependency
conflict, and the fact that self-protection can
result in dissociation from the ongoing abuses
that often occur in cultic groups (Freyd, 1998
Freyd &Birrell, 2013). It is also helpful to
introduce ICSA to clients and encourage them to
try the local monthly meetings and other ICSA-
based groups that may be helpful to former
members.
It is important to respect clients’ readiness for
information and education. Some clients read
everything they can get their hands on. Some
are suspicious of interventions, so it is important
to talk about what the therapist is doing and with
what purpose. Some take longer than others to
take in the reality that the leader is harmful.
Some people do not like to read about high-
demand groups. And still others may not want
22 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 5, 2014
enough to use the therapy process. If a client is
in an agitated (sympathetically aroused) state, he
cannot “think straight,” and the therapy sessions
will be ineffective or, in some cases, frightening.
If the client is in a dissociated or a depressive-
type shutdown (parasympathetically aroused
state), he also cannot concentrate fully and
participate in therapy. I used Somatic
Experiencing interventions in most sessions with
Michael, which gradually calmed his nervous
system. This approach brought him into the
window of tolerance, which allowed him a
greater capacity to face or hear things we were
discussing in therapy.
Mindful meditation is a popular practice that
trauma therapists often introduce to patients to
help them stabilize and increase their window of
tolerance. Indeed, many neuroimaging studies
demonstrate that mindfulness practice can build
cognitive and affective control (Lutz, Slagter,
Dunne, &Davidson, 2008 Prakash, De Leon,
Klatt, Malarkey, &Patterson, 2012 Teper &
Inzlicht, 2012). However, therapists should be
cautious about recommending meditation to
former members. Many cultic groups practice
meditation, and this practice can be a PTSD
trigger for former members. In addition, clients
who have the spacey or numb forms of
dissociation, as well as other specific issues, can
become distressed during meditation (Britton &
Sydnor, in press). Lola, a former client, would
discipline herself to meditate but once she was
relaxed, violent images would emerge. With
some encouragement, she let go of this inner
dictate about meditation and when she was
stressed or triggered, she would go on a bike
ride, or look at beautiful art instead, which
effectively calmed her nervous system and
brought her a peaceful, centered feeling.
As with all other psychotherapy patients, it is
sometimes useful for former cult members to
consider and be evaluated for psychotropic
medication for stabilization. Medication can be
helpful for sleep and mood problems. It is also
important to remember that not all symptoms are
from traumatic experiences such as cult
involvement. Many people come into the world
with genetic predispositions for mood, and
behavioral leanings that cause problems in living
(Segal, 2012). Each former member has a
history, biology, and uniqueness.
For former members (and for all clients), it is
useful to educate, educate, educate.
Psychoeducation can be the most stabilizing of
all interventions. First and foremost, it is
important to educate about the therapeutic
process to counterbalance the magical ideas
clients have learned in their groups. When it is
fitting, the therapist can educate clients about the
nervous system, neuroscience, psychoanalytic
thinking, the power of negative cognitions,
dissociative phenomena, self states, social and
cultural realities, and so on. The therapist can
educate clients about the varied natural reactions
their minds and bodies are having to past and
present overwhelming events. It is wise to
educate clients that dissociative experiences are
adaptive and can be ameliorated in therapy. In
particular, clients who hear internal voices or
experience visual hallucinations, abreactions,
derealization, and depersonalization may be
afraid that they are psychotic they may be
unaware that these are not uncommon
experiences for people suffering from PTSD and
C-PTSD (Dell &O’Neil, 2009).
It is beneficial to educate former members about
the personalities of cult leaders and the
potentially harmful group process within cults.
Jennifer Freyd’s research on betrayal trauma can
function as a useful tool in therapy for educating
clients about the loyalty/attachment/dependency
conflict, and the fact that self-protection can
result in dissociation from the ongoing abuses
that often occur in cultic groups (Freyd, 1998
Freyd &Birrell, 2013). It is also helpful to
introduce ICSA to clients and encourage them to
try the local monthly meetings and other ICSA-
based groups that may be helpful to former
members.
It is important to respect clients’ readiness for
information and education. Some clients read
everything they can get their hands on. Some
are suspicious of interventions, so it is important
to talk about what the therapist is doing and with
what purpose. Some take longer than others to
take in the reality that the leader is harmful.
Some people do not like to read about high-
demand groups. And still others may not want
22 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 5, 2014
