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of personal power and sense of self. An empowerment model will help therapists
comprehend the delicacy of this therapeutic relationship, as well as provide a framework to
facilitate growth and healing. For the purpose of this article, it is assumed that the client is
already out of the cult and may have participated in some exit counseling.
Empowerment
The term empowerment has been used increasingly across social science literature and
more recently in counseling (McWhirter, 1991). Empowerment refers to a comprehensive
process where people who are powerless can become aware of the power dynamics at work
in relationships, develop skills for gaining control over their lives, and exercise these skills
(McWhirter, 1994). The concept of empowerment has been included in feminist therapy
theory and models. Hawxhurst and Morrow (1984) define empowerment as the process of
gaining control over one‟s life and supporting others‟ having control in their lives. They state
that empowerment consists of
1. An analysis of power
2. An understanding of female socialization and sex-role stereotyping
3. The attainment of power at personal, interpersonal, and social levels
4. Advocacy for ourselves and others (p. 35)
The scope and nature of empowerment will be influenced by the context in which the
empowerment occurs. In counseling, the context is the therapeutic relationship between the
counselor and the client. Thus, the first step toward empowering survivors of cultic
relationships is building trust within the therapeutic relationship.
Building Trust
Survivors of cultic relationships have experienced environments in which they were not
mentally or emotionally safe therefore, the counseling relationship needs to be safe and
trustworthy for the client. There are several ways to build trust in therapy, including
providing consistency (Pearson, 1994) and using encouragement (Classen, 1995).
By consistently responding to the client empathetically and compassionately, the counselor
will earn the client‟s trust, and a therapeutic alliance can be established. For example, one
counselor explained that in her work with one client, she knew a safe environment had been
established when the client stated, “This is the only place I feel I can tell what is going on
with me without feeling like you are going to criticize me, manipulate me or hurt me.”
A safe and trustful environment for the client can also be built through the use of
encouragement. Rencken (1989) mentioned encouragement as an important relationship-
building technique. As a means of encouragement, counselors can emphasize the client‟s
strengths and survival skills. For example, one counselor said to a client, “You are so
amazing to have survived so much, and I continue to see you grow and face these difficult
issues.” Encouragement can also be in the form of supporting the client in her effort to
explore and confront the cultic relationship issues, as well as recognizing her uniqueness
and commonalities with other cult survivors.
Other forms of developing a trusting and safe environment include accepting and validating
clients‟ experiences (Josephson &Fong-Beyette, 1987). Counselor statements that have
been effective for validating such experiences include the following: “You have been through
so much and that takes strength,” “You have shared some important issues today and I feel
honored that you are trusting me,” and “You have so much courage to continue to work on
these difficult issues.” Finally, the counselor can ask the client: “How are we going to create
a safe environment so you can work through these difficult issues?” or “What do you need

Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1997, page 92
from me to feel safe in here?” These types of questions empower clients by having them
participate in the creation of a safe environment.
Power Analysis
Once a safe environment has been established, the counselor can, together with the client,
engage in a power analysis. McWhirter (1994) suggested that a power analysis helps clients
see how their life context kept them in a powerless position. Conducting a power analysis
will help women see how they were kept oppressed by a dominant force (Worell &Remer,
1992). Survivors of cultic relationships can benefit from acknowledging how they were
powerless in the cultic environment. This sort of analysis will help clients move from self-
blame to putting responsibility for the abuse onto the cultic leader. Once they have accepted
the powerlessness of having been in the cultic environment, clients can be encouraged for
now taking responsibility for their healing.
An example of an effective power analysis is provided in the dialogue below. The client,
“Joanne,” was involved with a religious cult for 7 years. At the time she joined, she had
been experiencing a lengthy divorce she was lonely, vulnerable, and trying to put her life
together. She doesn‟t remember exactly how she got so involved in the cult. The leader was
charismatic and made her promises of love, family, and financial security. Joanne described
the relationship as one in which she was terrified if she did not obey everything the leader
told her. Demands ranged from sexual favors for the leader (and no one else), praying to
him, and giving him all her possessions. Eventually, Joanne was able to leave the cult, and
had had some exit counseling prior to therapy. In the following dialogue the counselor is
conducting a power analysis:
Counselor: “When you were in the cult who had the power?”
Joanne: “Well, I never told him to leave me alone.”
Counselor: “Who was the powerful one?”
Joanne: “I guess the leader.”
Counselor: “It seems like you are reluctant to blame him for the
harm he has caused you. It must be difficult for you to accept that what he did
hurt you so badly and manipulated you.”
Joanne: “I should have been able to do something when this was happening.”
Counselor: “I can‟t imagine myself being able to tell a leader such
as the one you were with to stop. I can imagine you were very frightened. He
hurt you and took away so much. I can tell how tough this has been on you and
admire your courage. I wonder who has the responsibility for your healing now?”
Joanne: “I don‟t know.”
Counselor: “Even though this has been very painful, it seems to me
you are taking a lot of responsibility for your healing --like being here today.”
Joanne: “Yeah.” (starts to cry)
Counselor: “It is so painful.” (silence) “I can imagine how painful
and frightening it must be to realize that you do have your own power now.”
This sample dialogue provides possible words that can be empowering. However, words
alone do not give essence to the spirit of empowerment and conducting a power analysis in
session. Empowerment is also a nonverbal way of being which indicates to clients that the
counselor believes in their unique way of healing.
An empowerment model needs to incorporate both a personal, interpersonal, and social
component, dealing not only with the intrapsychic functions but also the female client
herself within the context of her relationships and social environment (Worell &Remer,
1992). Rosedale (1995) discusses special issues related to women when they emerge from
groups. He states: