Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1997, page 91
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
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
