9 VOLUME 6 |ISSUE 2 |2015
o If the cult member is physically ill, I will work
with the family member to advise the cult
leader of the situation and appeal to the leader
to remand the cultist to the care of her family.
In my experience, cult leaders for the most
part do not want to have sick people in the
ranks, especially if there might be a threat of
the cultist harming herself or others, or
dying while in the group.
b) What criteria should be considered to determine the
appropriateness of mental-health consultation and/or
treatment?
In considering when it might be appropriate for
an interventionist to refer to a mental-health professional,
I would advise the following: In my personal opinion,
anyone who exits a cult would benefit from psychotherapy
in many cases, the family members might benefit as well
from their own therapy. Cult participation is traumatic to
one degree or another. Psychotherapy explores the nature
of trauma and allows the emotional release and narrative
coherence that is a path to healing. I would like to see all
interventionists routinely recommend psychotherapy to
the families of cultists and to the cultists themselves. n
About the Authors
J. Paul Lennon, STL, MA, LPC, Board member,
Regain Network (Religious Groups Awareness
International Network). Mr. Lennon was a
Legionary of Christ brother from 1961 to 1969
and an LC priest from 1969 to 1984. He served as
a Diocesan priest from 1985 to 1989 and received
an MA in Counseling from the Catholic University
of America in 1989. For the past 10 years he has
worked as a Child and Family Therapist in Arlington, Virginia. In 2008 he
published a memoir, Our Father who art in bed, A Naive and Sentimental
Dubliner in the Legion of Christ.
Joseph Szimhart began research into cultic
influence in 1980, after ending his 2-year devotion
to a New Age sect called Church Universal and
Triumphant. He began to work professionally as
an intervention specialist and exit counselor in
1986.
Since 1998 he has worked in the crisis department
of a psychiatric emergency hospital in Pennsylvania. He continues to
assist families with interventions and former members in recovery,
including consultations via phone and Internet. As an artist he
maintains a studio at Goggleworks Art Center in Reading, Pennsylvania.
jszimhart@windstream.net
William Goldberg, MSW, LCSW, a therapist in
private practice, has co-led a support group for
former members with his wife, Lorna, for more
than thirty years. He retired in 2008 from his
position as Program Supervisor for Rehabilitative
Services for the Rockland County (NY)
Department of Mental Health. He is presently an
Adjunct Instructor in the Social Work Department
of Dominican College.
Daniel Shaw, LCSW, is a psychoanalyst in private
practice in New York City and Nyack, New York
Faculty and Clinical Supervisor, The National
Institute for the Psychotherapies (NIP), New
York, New York and former cochair, Continuing
Education Committee, The International
Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and
Psychotherapy. Shaw spent 13 years as a staff
member in Siddha Yoga (SYDA Foundation). There he wore many hats,
including manager of the residential Manhattan facility, educator,
spokesperson, public-relations coordinator, community organizer,
and writer/director of public programs. Shaw exited Siddha Yoga in
1994, published an Open Letter about Siddha Yoga on the Internet in
1995, and helped create the Leaving Siddha Yoga website, one of the
first Internet websites for former cult members. Shaw is the author of
“Traumatic Abuse in Cults: A Psychoanalytic Perspective,” published in
the Cultic Studies Journal, and of numerous psychoanalytic papers. Mr.
Shaw leads the monthly New York-area ICSA group with Chris Carlson.
This group offers support, education, and interaction for all those who
have been harmed by, or want to learn about high-demand groups. n
Notes
[1] Unfortunately, a videotape of the conference
is not available.
[2] Ford endorses Montgomery 1955 as a
medium, encourages her to automatic write
(www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_
Montgomery).
[3] Ford endorses Moon 1965 during séance
through spirit “Fletcher”
(http://www.letusreason.org/moon2.htm).
o If the cult member is physically ill, I will work
with the family member to advise the cult
leader of the situation and appeal to the leader
to remand the cultist to the care of her family.
In my experience, cult leaders for the most
part do not want to have sick people in the
ranks, especially if there might be a threat of
the cultist harming herself or others, or
dying while in the group.
b) What criteria should be considered to determine the
appropriateness of mental-health consultation and/or
treatment?
In considering when it might be appropriate for
an interventionist to refer to a mental-health professional,
I would advise the following: In my personal opinion,
anyone who exits a cult would benefit from psychotherapy
in many cases, the family members might benefit as well
from their own therapy. Cult participation is traumatic to
one degree or another. Psychotherapy explores the nature
of trauma and allows the emotional release and narrative
coherence that is a path to healing. I would like to see all
interventionists routinely recommend psychotherapy to
the families of cultists and to the cultists themselves. n
About the Authors
J. Paul Lennon, STL, MA, LPC, Board member,
Regain Network (Religious Groups Awareness
International Network). Mr. Lennon was a
Legionary of Christ brother from 1961 to 1969
and an LC priest from 1969 to 1984. He served as
a Diocesan priest from 1985 to 1989 and received
an MA in Counseling from the Catholic University
of America in 1989. For the past 10 years he has
worked as a Child and Family Therapist in Arlington, Virginia. In 2008 he
published a memoir, Our Father who art in bed, A Naive and Sentimental
Dubliner in the Legion of Christ.
Joseph Szimhart began research into cultic
influence in 1980, after ending his 2-year devotion
to a New Age sect called Church Universal and
Triumphant. He began to work professionally as
an intervention specialist and exit counselor in
1986.
Since 1998 he has worked in the crisis department
of a psychiatric emergency hospital in Pennsylvania. He continues to
assist families with interventions and former members in recovery,
including consultations via phone and Internet. As an artist he
maintains a studio at Goggleworks Art Center in Reading, Pennsylvania.
jszimhart@windstream.net
William Goldberg, MSW, LCSW, a therapist in
private practice, has co-led a support group for
former members with his wife, Lorna, for more
than thirty years. He retired in 2008 from his
position as Program Supervisor for Rehabilitative
Services for the Rockland County (NY)
Department of Mental Health. He is presently an
Adjunct Instructor in the Social Work Department
of Dominican College.
Daniel Shaw, LCSW, is a psychoanalyst in private
practice in New York City and Nyack, New York
Faculty and Clinical Supervisor, The National
Institute for the Psychotherapies (NIP), New
York, New York and former cochair, Continuing
Education Committee, The International
Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and
Psychotherapy. Shaw spent 13 years as a staff
member in Siddha Yoga (SYDA Foundation). There he wore many hats,
including manager of the residential Manhattan facility, educator,
spokesperson, public-relations coordinator, community organizer,
and writer/director of public programs. Shaw exited Siddha Yoga in
1994, published an Open Letter about Siddha Yoga on the Internet in
1995, and helped create the Leaving Siddha Yoga website, one of the
first Internet websites for former cult members. Shaw is the author of
“Traumatic Abuse in Cults: A Psychoanalytic Perspective,” published in
the Cultic Studies Journal, and of numerous psychoanalytic papers. Mr.
Shaw leads the monthly New York-area ICSA group with Chris Carlson.
This group offers support, education, and interaction for all those who
have been harmed by, or want to learn about high-demand groups. n
Notes
[1] Unfortunately, a videotape of the conference
is not available.
[2] Ford endorses Montgomery 1955 as a
medium, encourages her to automatic write
(www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_
Montgomery).
[3] Ford endorses Moon 1965 during séance
through spirit “Fletcher”
(http://www.letusreason.org/moon2.htm).
