Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 8, No. 2, 1991, Page 116
Negotiation is a must between families and the cult member. I advise families to "Prepare for
the worst, expect the best!" Let the counselors do their work.
Giambalvo explains in detail what exit counselors do during the intervention and how exit
counseling is accomplished. Under the topic of pre-intervention the author provides advice on
what to say and not say, the information gathering process, readings, logistical details
(timing, location, travel, etc.), post-cult rehabilitation facilities, and suggestions for presenting
the plan to the cultist.
The author's philosophy of intervention is based on an educational model with the goal of
helping the client re-evaluate his or her commitment to the group. The emphasis is on
sharing information at a pace that the client can manage. During the intervention the exit
counselors, after establishing the necessary rapport, explore the client's cult background,
teach the client about mind control, and help the client understand how mind-control factors
influenced his or her own cult experience.
The first step in the recovery process is taken when the client makes the decision to leave the
group. The author lists a number of issues that must be addressed. She omits, however, a
piece of advice that I believe is important: The client should avoid contact with the former
group and should have a feeling of being "protected" for a period of time.
I believe that Giambalvo is on target, however, when she stresses that follow-up and follow-
through are every bit as important as the intervention itself. When the counseling team
completes its work there is more for the family and the ex-cult member to do. The ex-cult
member needs rehabilitation and counseling to re-enter society and to get re-established in
the outside "real" world. Without follow-through the client may feel considerable distress and
might regress rather than progress. Care, compassion, and understanding are needed to help
the ex-cult member regain self-esteem and become functional in society. If the family does
not follow through with the counselor's post-intervention recommendations, there is a higher
possibility of a difficult re-entry into society.
I recommend this booklet as a handy reference for families to read before entering into an
intervention and exit counseling situation. The quick-fix solutions sometimes associated with
the term "exit counseling" are illusory. The fact is that exit counseling is hard work, done by
families, contact persons, counselors, rehabilitation personnel, and, most important of all, the
ex-member of the group. Moreover, communication, education, and planning are key to a
successful intervention. When families contact me after an intervention is completed, I ask
them for their recommendations to help me better prepare other families to cope while
getting ready for an intervention. Sometimes it takes years for a family to call me back and
they echo this thought over and over: "Communication, education, and planning helped me
get my loved one out of the group."
Judy Safransky, President
Cult Awareness Network, Tampa Bay
Cults on Campus: Continuing Challenge. Edited by Marcia Rudin. An
International Cult Education Program Book published by the American Family
Foundation, 1991, 126 pages.
This book provides the reader with significant current information regarding the cult
phenomenon particularly as it relates to cultic activities on college campuses. Edited by
Marcia Rudin, it includes articles by cult experts such as Dr. Gregory S. Blimling, Dr. Michael
D. Langone, William and Lorna Goldberg, and the Rev. Robert Watts Thornburg. Their
interests, broad in scope, range from such topics as Policy and Legal Issues, and Training
and Educating Students to Working with Cult-Affected Families.
Negotiation is a must between families and the cult member. I advise families to "Prepare for
the worst, expect the best!" Let the counselors do their work.
Giambalvo explains in detail what exit counselors do during the intervention and how exit
counseling is accomplished. Under the topic of pre-intervention the author provides advice on
what to say and not say, the information gathering process, readings, logistical details
(timing, location, travel, etc.), post-cult rehabilitation facilities, and suggestions for presenting
the plan to the cultist.
The author's philosophy of intervention is based on an educational model with the goal of
helping the client re-evaluate his or her commitment to the group. The emphasis is on
sharing information at a pace that the client can manage. During the intervention the exit
counselors, after establishing the necessary rapport, explore the client's cult background,
teach the client about mind control, and help the client understand how mind-control factors
influenced his or her own cult experience.
The first step in the recovery process is taken when the client makes the decision to leave the
group. The author lists a number of issues that must be addressed. She omits, however, a
piece of advice that I believe is important: The client should avoid contact with the former
group and should have a feeling of being "protected" for a period of time.
I believe that Giambalvo is on target, however, when she stresses that follow-up and follow-
through are every bit as important as the intervention itself. When the counseling team
completes its work there is more for the family and the ex-cult member to do. The ex-cult
member needs rehabilitation and counseling to re-enter society and to get re-established in
the outside "real" world. Without follow-through the client may feel considerable distress and
might regress rather than progress. Care, compassion, and understanding are needed to help
the ex-cult member regain self-esteem and become functional in society. If the family does
not follow through with the counselor's post-intervention recommendations, there is a higher
possibility of a difficult re-entry into society.
I recommend this booklet as a handy reference for families to read before entering into an
intervention and exit counseling situation. The quick-fix solutions sometimes associated with
the term "exit counseling" are illusory. The fact is that exit counseling is hard work, done by
families, contact persons, counselors, rehabilitation personnel, and, most important of all, the
ex-member of the group. Moreover, communication, education, and planning are key to a
successful intervention. When families contact me after an intervention is completed, I ask
them for their recommendations to help me better prepare other families to cope while
getting ready for an intervention. Sometimes it takes years for a family to call me back and
they echo this thought over and over: "Communication, education, and planning helped me
get my loved one out of the group."
Judy Safransky, President
Cult Awareness Network, Tampa Bay
Cults on Campus: Continuing Challenge. Edited by Marcia Rudin. An
International Cult Education Program Book published by the American Family
Foundation, 1991, 126 pages.
This book provides the reader with significant current information regarding the cult
phenomenon particularly as it relates to cultic activities on college campuses. Edited by
Marcia Rudin, it includes articles by cult experts such as Dr. Gregory S. Blimling, Dr. Michael
D. Langone, William and Lorna Goldberg, and the Rev. Robert Watts Thornburg. Their
interests, broad in scope, range from such topics as Policy and Legal Issues, and Training
and Educating Students to Working with Cult-Affected Families.
