4 ICSA TODAY
We present in this issue selected conference papers that articulate key topics participants discussed during an important
one-day ICSA conference on the subject of mental-health issues in cult-related interventions. Every talk at this conference was
significant and exciting for speakers and audience alike.1 Some participants submitted written papers. We have selected those
papers that adhere to ICSA Today space requirements and most clearly reflect the issues discussed at the conference. We thank
all the participants for their important contributions. —Editors
By J. Paul Lennon, Joseph Szimhart, William Goldberg, and Daniel Shaw
Mental-Health
Issues in
Cult-Related
Interventions
Introduction
By J. Paul Lennon
On October 13, 2013, ICSA brought together cult-intervention
specialists and mental-health professionals for a landmark
event at the Sheraton Philadelphia [PA] University City Hotel.
The purpose was to discuss the roles of these individuals in
helping members and former members of cultic groups and
their families.
As the event chair, ICSA President Steve Eichel, noted, this was
the first time that intervention specialists (sometimes called
exit counselors) and mental-health professionals had sat down
together and discussed their different approaches to helping
cultic-group members and their families.
The questions for the conference were
a) What assessment criteria should be considered to
determine the appropriateness and feasibility of cult-
related interventions?
b) What criteria should be considered to determine the
appropriateness of mental-health consultation and/or
treatment?
Attendees at the event were former members of high-control
groups or relationships, families concerned about an affected
loved one, and helping professionals whose assistance families
and former members sometimes seek. Speakers included
some of the leading intervention specialists, mental-health
professionals, and authors in this field: David Clark Steve K. D.
Eichel, PhD, ABPP Lorna Goldberg, MSW, LCSW, PsyA William
Goldberg, MSW, LCSW, PsyA Steven Hassan, MEd, LMHC, NCC
Joseph Kelly Arnold Markowitz, LCSW Patrick Ryan Daniel
Shaw, LCSW and Joseph Szimhart. You will find biographical
sketches of all these presenters on ICSA’s people-profiles page
(icsahome.com/elibrary/peopleprofiles).
The mental-health professionals spoke first, followed by brief
discussion with the audience then the intervention specialists
spoke, followed by another audience discussion. Each group
discovered some consensus, explaining where they saw the
extension and limits of their work, and how they frequently
referred clients to those who had more expertise at the other
end of the spectrum of clients’ needs.
In the third part of the program, both sets of professionals
formed a roundtable and a general discussion ensued,
revealing and fleshing out the complementariness between
interventionists and therapists. The fourth stage of the
program offered the audience an array of experts available
to answer questions. Final remarks summarized the historic
nature of this meeting and the satisfaction both sets of
professionals felt. As the program drew to a close, members
of the audience sought out their favorite expert for one-
on-one help, more specific information, and that often-vital
networking.
We publish here the presentations by intervention specialist
Joseph Szimhart and mental-health professionals William
Goldberg and Daniel Shaw.
…this was the first time that
intervention specialists …
and mental-health professionals
had sat down together…
We present in this issue selected conference papers that articulate key topics participants discussed during an important
one-day ICSA conference on the subject of mental-health issues in cult-related interventions. Every talk at this conference was
significant and exciting for speakers and audience alike.1 Some participants submitted written papers. We have selected those
papers that adhere to ICSA Today space requirements and most clearly reflect the issues discussed at the conference. We thank
all the participants for their important contributions. —Editors
By J. Paul Lennon, Joseph Szimhart, William Goldberg, and Daniel Shaw
Mental-Health
Issues in
Cult-Related
Interventions
Introduction
By J. Paul Lennon
On October 13, 2013, ICSA brought together cult-intervention
specialists and mental-health professionals for a landmark
event at the Sheraton Philadelphia [PA] University City Hotel.
The purpose was to discuss the roles of these individuals in
helping members and former members of cultic groups and
their families.
As the event chair, ICSA President Steve Eichel, noted, this was
the first time that intervention specialists (sometimes called
exit counselors) and mental-health professionals had sat down
together and discussed their different approaches to helping
cultic-group members and their families.
The questions for the conference were
a) What assessment criteria should be considered to
determine the appropriateness and feasibility of cult-
related interventions?
b) What criteria should be considered to determine the
appropriateness of mental-health consultation and/or
treatment?
Attendees at the event were former members of high-control
groups or relationships, families concerned about an affected
loved one, and helping professionals whose assistance families
and former members sometimes seek. Speakers included
some of the leading intervention specialists, mental-health
professionals, and authors in this field: David Clark Steve K. D.
Eichel, PhD, ABPP Lorna Goldberg, MSW, LCSW, PsyA William
Goldberg, MSW, LCSW, PsyA Steven Hassan, MEd, LMHC, NCC
Joseph Kelly Arnold Markowitz, LCSW Patrick Ryan Daniel
Shaw, LCSW and Joseph Szimhart. You will find biographical
sketches of all these presenters on ICSA’s people-profiles page
(icsahome.com/elibrary/peopleprofiles).
The mental-health professionals spoke first, followed by brief
discussion with the audience then the intervention specialists
spoke, followed by another audience discussion. Each group
discovered some consensus, explaining where they saw the
extension and limits of their work, and how they frequently
referred clients to those who had more expertise at the other
end of the spectrum of clients’ needs.
In the third part of the program, both sets of professionals
formed a roundtable and a general discussion ensued,
revealing and fleshing out the complementariness between
interventionists and therapists. The fourth stage of the
program offered the audience an array of experts available
to answer questions. Final remarks summarized the historic
nature of this meeting and the satisfaction both sets of
professionals felt. As the program drew to a close, members
of the audience sought out their favorite expert for one-
on-one help, more specific information, and that often-vital
networking.
We publish here the presentations by intervention specialist
Joseph Szimhart and mental-health professionals William
Goldberg and Daniel Shaw.
…this was the first time that
intervention specialists …
and mental-health professionals
had sat down together…
