away. We want to find those with whom we
resonate, to be able to cooperate with those we
must, and to eschew those we wish to avoid.
We want to live lives of relative calmness, and
to have the ability to stay curious and flexible.
We want to engage in meaningful work and
activities. We want to have growing intimacy
with our loved ones, and feel safe and engaged
in communities. From Wilson’s evolutionary
perspective (2012), we may deduce that humans
all want to be thought of as valued members of
the pack, the clan, and our human tribe (Perry,
2009). Francine Shapiro (2001) speaks about
the possible shame and survival terror that may
be a result of feeling left out of the herd. After
all, vulnerable or marginalized animals in a herd
are easier prey. Labeling former cult members
as pathological or sick is highly traumatizing in
and of itself and is reflective of the us-versus-
them thinking we dislike in cultic groups. It is
humane to see survivors of high-demand groups
as “us,” fellow humans who have survived a
natural disaster.
Providing strength-based trauma therapy can be
enormously healing. After I had worked with
Michael for months on stabilization, we began
using EMDR to help process his memories and
concomitant negative beliefs about himself.
EMDR is an integrative, comprehensive
psychotherapy model that incorporates many
other psychotherapeutic modalities (Shapiro,
2001). There are assessment and preparation
phases, and these phases can be extended for as
long as necessary for work with patients with
complex trauma. The EMDR trauma-processing
phase includes components of cognitive
behavioral therapy (CBT), the somatic
psychotherapies, and emotionally focused
therapy (EFT). After the elements of experience
related to a particular traumatic incident are
identified and stimulated, psychoanalytic
processing is encouraged via free association
while the client is experiencing some type of
bilateral stimulation (BLS). The BLS is usually
eye movement. Clients move their eyes, with
the aid of a light bar or pendulum, from one side
of their visual field to the other. The BLS can
also be achieved by the clients’ rhythmic tapping
of each side of the body or their listening to
headphones that play tones that alternate from
one ear to the other. The clients are reassured
that with the support of the therapist and the
EMDR steps, their own minds will find a more
accurate memory of the traumatic event, with
the fear and helplessness ameliorated, and a
positive view of themselves.
In keeping with the EMDR protocol, Michael
was free-associating during the trauma
processing. He was processing a frightening
memory of the leader criticizing him for being a
“selfish capitalist.” The trauma was coupled
with Michael’s negative belief, “I am defective,”
which was still present 5 years after he had left
the group.
In the last of a series of Michael’s EMDR
sessions, I asked him to return to the image of
the leader berating him. He responded,
“Wooooooooow—now the leader just looks
small and bad and crazy… There’s nothing
wrong with me! I just joined the wrong group.”
References
Abrams, M. P., Carleton, R. N., Taylor, S., &Asmundson, G. J.
(2009). Human tonic immobility: Measurement and correlates.
Depression and Anxiety, 26(6), 550–556.
Almendros, C. (2006). Abuso psicológico en contextos grupales
(Unpublished doctoral thesis). Universidad Autónoma de Madrid,
Spain.
Amano, T., Seiyama, A., &Toichi, M. (2013). Brain activity
measured with near-infrared spectroscopy during EMDR treatment
of phantom limb pain. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research,
7(3), 144–153.
Bados, A., Toribio, L., Garcia-Gau, E. (2008). Traumatic events
and tonic immobility. Spanish Journal of Psychology, 11(2), 516–
521.
Bernstein, E. M., &Putnam, F. W. (1986). Development,
reliability, and validity of a dissociation scale. Journal of Nervous
and Mental Disease, 174, 727–735.
Berreby, D. (2005). Us and them: Understanding your tribal mind.
New York, NY: Little, Brown.
Brand, B., Lanius, R. A., Vermetten, E., Lowenstein, R. J., &
Spiegel, D. (2012). Where are we going? An update on assessment,
treatment, and neurobiological research in Dissociative Disorders
as we move toward the DSM5. The Journal of Trauma and
Dissociation, 13(1), 9–31. doi:10.1080/15299732.2011.620687
Briere, J., Hodges, M., &Godbout, N. (2010). Traumatic stress,
affect dysregulation, and dysfunctional avoidance: A structural
equation model. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23(6), 767–774.
Britton, W. B., &Sydnor, A. (in press). Neurobiological models of
meditation practices: Implications for applications with youth. In
C. Willard (Ed.), Mindfulness with youth: From the classroom to
the clinic. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
26 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 5, 2014
resonate, to be able to cooperate with those we
must, and to eschew those we wish to avoid.
We want to live lives of relative calmness, and
to have the ability to stay curious and flexible.
We want to engage in meaningful work and
activities. We want to have growing intimacy
with our loved ones, and feel safe and engaged
in communities. From Wilson’s evolutionary
perspective (2012), we may deduce that humans
all want to be thought of as valued members of
the pack, the clan, and our human tribe (Perry,
2009). Francine Shapiro (2001) speaks about
the possible shame and survival terror that may
be a result of feeling left out of the herd. After
all, vulnerable or marginalized animals in a herd
are easier prey. Labeling former cult members
as pathological or sick is highly traumatizing in
and of itself and is reflective of the us-versus-
them thinking we dislike in cultic groups. It is
humane to see survivors of high-demand groups
as “us,” fellow humans who have survived a
natural disaster.
Providing strength-based trauma therapy can be
enormously healing. After I had worked with
Michael for months on stabilization, we began
using EMDR to help process his memories and
concomitant negative beliefs about himself.
EMDR is an integrative, comprehensive
psychotherapy model that incorporates many
other psychotherapeutic modalities (Shapiro,
2001). There are assessment and preparation
phases, and these phases can be extended for as
long as necessary for work with patients with
complex trauma. The EMDR trauma-processing
phase includes components of cognitive
behavioral therapy (CBT), the somatic
psychotherapies, and emotionally focused
therapy (EFT). After the elements of experience
related to a particular traumatic incident are
identified and stimulated, psychoanalytic
processing is encouraged via free association
while the client is experiencing some type of
bilateral stimulation (BLS). The BLS is usually
eye movement. Clients move their eyes, with
the aid of a light bar or pendulum, from one side
of their visual field to the other. The BLS can
also be achieved by the clients’ rhythmic tapping
of each side of the body or their listening to
headphones that play tones that alternate from
one ear to the other. The clients are reassured
that with the support of the therapist and the
EMDR steps, their own minds will find a more
accurate memory of the traumatic event, with
the fear and helplessness ameliorated, and a
positive view of themselves.
In keeping with the EMDR protocol, Michael
was free-associating during the trauma
processing. He was processing a frightening
memory of the leader criticizing him for being a
“selfish capitalist.” The trauma was coupled
with Michael’s negative belief, “I am defective,”
which was still present 5 years after he had left
the group.
In the last of a series of Michael’s EMDR
sessions, I asked him to return to the image of
the leader berating him. He responded,
“Wooooooooow—now the leader just looks
small and bad and crazy… There’s nothing
wrong with me! I just joined the wrong group.”
References
Abrams, M. P., Carleton, R. N., Taylor, S., &Asmundson, G. J.
(2009). Human tonic immobility: Measurement and correlates.
Depression and Anxiety, 26(6), 550–556.
Almendros, C. (2006). Abuso psicológico en contextos grupales
(Unpublished doctoral thesis). Universidad Autónoma de Madrid,
Spain.
Amano, T., Seiyama, A., &Toichi, M. (2013). Brain activity
measured with near-infrared spectroscopy during EMDR treatment
of phantom limb pain. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research,
7(3), 144–153.
Bados, A., Toribio, L., Garcia-Gau, E. (2008). Traumatic events
and tonic immobility. Spanish Journal of Psychology, 11(2), 516–
521.
Bernstein, E. M., &Putnam, F. W. (1986). Development,
reliability, and validity of a dissociation scale. Journal of Nervous
and Mental Disease, 174, 727–735.
Berreby, D. (2005). Us and them: Understanding your tribal mind.
New York, NY: Little, Brown.
Brand, B., Lanius, R. A., Vermetten, E., Lowenstein, R. J., &
Spiegel, D. (2012). Where are we going? An update on assessment,
treatment, and neurobiological research in Dissociative Disorders
as we move toward the DSM5. The Journal of Trauma and
Dissociation, 13(1), 9–31. doi:10.1080/15299732.2011.620687
Briere, J., Hodges, M., &Godbout, N. (2010). Traumatic stress,
affect dysregulation, and dysfunctional avoidance: A structural
equation model. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23(6), 767–774.
Britton, W. B., &Sydnor, A. (in press). Neurobiological models of
meditation practices: Implications for applications with youth. In
C. Willard (Ed.), Mindfulness with youth: From the classroom to
the clinic. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
26 International Journal of Cultic Studies ■ Vol. 5, 2014
