Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2006, Page 98
Interviewing) are the treatments of choice for young and older drug abusers (Miller, 1989
Miller &Rollnick, 2002 Miller, Zweben, DiClemente, &Rychtarik, 1995 Project Match
Research Group, 1997). We now understand that the ―shock and awe‖ approaches used by
highly confrontational addictions and delinquency treatment programs are ultimately
unsuccessful at best and often harmful at worst.
Chapters seven and eight are largely devoted to a fascinating and disturbing recounting of
Lulu Corter‘s civil suit against KIDS of Bergen County, successfully prosecuted by New
Jersey attorney Philip Elberg. (Elberg currently serves as president of the International
Cultic Studies Association.) Rather than attack KIDS as a ―cultic‖ organization, Elberg took
the innovative approach of claiming malpractice. In essence, Elberg convinced the jury that
KIDS had violated established and well-known guidelines for the competent and ethical
practice of medical and psychiatric treatment. Nevertheless, according to Szalavitz, the jury
concluded that ―KIDS was more a cult than a clinic—and that such treatment had no place
in a healthcare system‖ (p. 246).
Szalavitz ends her book with a useful appendix, ―For Parents of Troubled Teens,‖ which
contains information about how to obtain appropriate treatment for defiant, oppositional,
antisocial, and addicted youth. The information is presented in a reasoned, undramatic
manner with references to several well-known Websites for additional information. One
section is an especially helpful ―questions parents should always ask‖ format that is concise
yet reasonably comprehensive.
Szalavitz is understandably puzzled that residential treatment for children (TTI) is a
multibillion-dollar industry, while proven treatments such as multisystemic family therapy
(MSFT), motivational interviewing (MI), and cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), ―which are
actually cheaper than long-term residential care ...are largely unavailable‖ (p. 259). She
notes that the United States also has a gross shortage of child psychiatrists. While I agree
with her general points here, Szalavitz neglects to mention the harsh reality that, while
MSFT, MI, and CBT have indeed been proven to be significantly more effective than other
treatments, including residential treatment, the success rates for these interventions are
still disappointingly low.
This minor failing aside, Help At Any Cost is still a must-read for those interested in
adolescent treatment in general, and in how an iatrogenic therapy program can degenerate
into a therapy cult.
Note
[1] Of course, similar statistics apply to those who are exposed to, experiment with, and eventually
participate in, cultic movements. Contemporary cult interventionists (exit counselors and thought-
reform consultants) now realize that noncoercive, empathy-based interventions, as lacking in
immediate impact as they may seem, ultimately work best with cultists. The information-based and
psychoeducational approaches used by thought-reform consultants, or the strategic-interaction
approach advocated by Steven Hassan—while typically slow, methodical, and undramatic intervention
strategies—appear to be the best choices in the long run for intervening with cultists.
References
Miller, W.R. Increasing motivation for change. In: Hester, R.K., and Miller, W.R., eds.
Handbook of Alcoholism Treatment Approaches: Effective Alternatives. New York,
Pergamon Press, 1989. pp.67-80.
Miller, W.R., and Rollnick, S. (2002). Motivational interviewing: Preparing people for
change. New York: Guilford Press.
Miller, W. R. Zweben, A. DiClemente, C. C., and Rychtarik, R. G. Motivational
Enhancement Therapy Manual: A Clinical Research Guide for Therapists Treating
Individuals With Alcohol Abuse and Dependence. Project MATCH Monograph Series,
Interviewing) are the treatments of choice for young and older drug abusers (Miller, 1989
Miller &Rollnick, 2002 Miller, Zweben, DiClemente, &Rychtarik, 1995 Project Match
Research Group, 1997). We now understand that the ―shock and awe‖ approaches used by
highly confrontational addictions and delinquency treatment programs are ultimately
unsuccessful at best and often harmful at worst.
Chapters seven and eight are largely devoted to a fascinating and disturbing recounting of
Lulu Corter‘s civil suit against KIDS of Bergen County, successfully prosecuted by New
Jersey attorney Philip Elberg. (Elberg currently serves as president of the International
Cultic Studies Association.) Rather than attack KIDS as a ―cultic‖ organization, Elberg took
the innovative approach of claiming malpractice. In essence, Elberg convinced the jury that
KIDS had violated established and well-known guidelines for the competent and ethical
practice of medical and psychiatric treatment. Nevertheless, according to Szalavitz, the jury
concluded that ―KIDS was more a cult than a clinic—and that such treatment had no place
in a healthcare system‖ (p. 246).
Szalavitz ends her book with a useful appendix, ―For Parents of Troubled Teens,‖ which
contains information about how to obtain appropriate treatment for defiant, oppositional,
antisocial, and addicted youth. The information is presented in a reasoned, undramatic
manner with references to several well-known Websites for additional information. One
section is an especially helpful ―questions parents should always ask‖ format that is concise
yet reasonably comprehensive.
Szalavitz is understandably puzzled that residential treatment for children (TTI) is a
multibillion-dollar industry, while proven treatments such as multisystemic family therapy
(MSFT), motivational interviewing (MI), and cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), ―which are
actually cheaper than long-term residential care ...are largely unavailable‖ (p. 259). She
notes that the United States also has a gross shortage of child psychiatrists. While I agree
with her general points here, Szalavitz neglects to mention the harsh reality that, while
MSFT, MI, and CBT have indeed been proven to be significantly more effective than other
treatments, including residential treatment, the success rates for these interventions are
still disappointingly low.
This minor failing aside, Help At Any Cost is still a must-read for those interested in
adolescent treatment in general, and in how an iatrogenic therapy program can degenerate
into a therapy cult.
Note
[1] Of course, similar statistics apply to those who are exposed to, experiment with, and eventually
participate in, cultic movements. Contemporary cult interventionists (exit counselors and thought-
reform consultants) now realize that noncoercive, empathy-based interventions, as lacking in
immediate impact as they may seem, ultimately work best with cultists. The information-based and
psychoeducational approaches used by thought-reform consultants, or the strategic-interaction
approach advocated by Steven Hassan—while typically slow, methodical, and undramatic intervention
strategies—appear to be the best choices in the long run for intervening with cultists.
References
Miller, W.R. Increasing motivation for change. In: Hester, R.K., and Miller, W.R., eds.
Handbook of Alcoholism Treatment Approaches: Effective Alternatives. New York,
Pergamon Press, 1989. pp.67-80.
Miller, W.R., and Rollnick, S. (2002). Motivational interviewing: Preparing people for
change. New York: Guilford Press.
Miller, W. R. Zweben, A. DiClemente, C. C., and Rychtarik, R. G. Motivational
Enhancement Therapy Manual: A Clinical Research Guide for Therapists Treating
Individuals With Alcohol Abuse and Dependence. Project MATCH Monograph Series,
