Recovery from Abusive Groups Page x
What You Can Do to Help
Everyone connected in anyway to the ex-cultist can be helpful, even the brief
encounter at a party or on a bus ride can be supportive. You can be supportive
by listening to and sympathizing with the ex-cultist without judgment and
without the offering of unsolicited opinions, such as "I never would have listened
to them." (See Chapter Four.)
Most ex-cultists and their families do not get enough good information about
what abusive groups are, how they work, and how to recover from the
experience. There is so much more information available these days, so point
them to their local library and bookstore.
You can also contact the International Cultic Studies Association
(Formerly known as the American Family Foundation)
P O Box 2265
Bonita Springs, FL. 34133
www.culticstudies.org
Email= mail@icsamail.com
239-514-3081.
The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) publishes reports and books
that give advice to families and helping professionals. ICSA also publishes a
scholarly journal on cults. Many of their excellent articles are referenced in the
Reference List at the end of this handbook. Regular newsletters are available
for a small donation.
Ex-members may want to consider a subscription to ReFOCUS, a national
support group for ex cultists.
For additional excellent information, please review the Recommended Reading
and Additional Readings lists in the back of this handbook. You may also want to
review the reading lists in both Steve Hassan's (1988) book and Carol
Giambalvo's (1991) book. Their lists are excellent.
What You Can Do to Help
Everyone connected in anyway to the ex-cultist can be helpful, even the brief
encounter at a party or on a bus ride can be supportive. You can be supportive
by listening to and sympathizing with the ex-cultist without judgment and
without the offering of unsolicited opinions, such as "I never would have listened
to them." (See Chapter Four.)
Most ex-cultists and their families do not get enough good information about
what abusive groups are, how they work, and how to recover from the
experience. There is so much more information available these days, so point
them to their local library and bookstore.
You can also contact the International Cultic Studies Association
(Formerly known as the American Family Foundation)
P O Box 2265
Bonita Springs, FL. 34133
www.culticstudies.org
Email= mail@icsamail.com
239-514-3081.
The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) publishes reports and books
that give advice to families and helping professionals. ICSA also publishes a
scholarly journal on cults. Many of their excellent articles are referenced in the
Reference List at the end of this handbook. Regular newsletters are available
for a small donation.
Ex-members may want to consider a subscription to ReFOCUS, a national
support group for ex cultists.
For additional excellent information, please review the Recommended Reading
and Additional Readings lists in the back of this handbook. You may also want to
review the reading lists in both Steve Hassan's (1988) book and Carol
Giambalvo's (1991) book. Their lists are excellent.
