Cult Intervention and Recovery Services

We Serve Current and Former Cult Members, their Family, Friends, and Loved Ones.

Services

As Featured on

Latest News: Check out Ashlen Hilliard's featured appearance in the new series, How I Escaped My Cult now available to watch on Hulu!

Mission

Our Mission is to provide HOPE for those affected by coercion.

Hope is what keeps us moving against problems that often feel too big for any one person.

Consulting Services

Help for Survivors

People Leave Cults offers psychoeducation, therapeutic resources, and opportunities for community with other survivors.

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Help for Loved Ones

Are you a concerned family member or friend? Do you know someone in a suspected cultic group or relationship? Let's develop a roadmap together.

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Support for Helpers

Are you a professional supporting someone who has left a cultic group or relationship as a therapist or coach? I offer education, resources, and support.

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MEdia Consulting

Are you looking for a subject matter expert? My work has been highlighted in podcasts, documentaries, articles, national news, and conferences.

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Meet Ashlen

Founder and Cult Intervention Specialist

Hi! My name is Ashlen Hilliard, and I'm a Cult Intervention Specialist. I founded People Leave Cults because I'm deeply committed to helping individuals and families affected by coercive groups. My approach is comprehensive, drawing on my academic expertise, professional background, and my personal dedication.

My professional entry into the field began 7 years ago. My experience has included providing direct support within polygamist communities as a case manager, organizing international conferences for professionals in the field, and facilitating local support groups for survivors. As an advocate, I've been fortunate to share my insights with major media outlets, and I'm also an Executive Producer on an upcoming film focused on this crucial topic.

I hold an MSc in the Psychology of Coercive Control, and I conducted the first exploratory quantitative research on reproductive coercion within cultic groups. That research, which will soon be published in the International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation.

Beyond my academic work, I'm a certified Peer Support Specialist with the Oregon Health Authority due to my extensive volunteer work in my community. I believe that my personal experiences and professional experience allow me to offer compassionate, non-coercive support to those who need it. Building community is also essential to me. I actively volunteer as an organizer of the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education in Portland, Oregon and have organized local survivor conferences.

My vision is to enhance the resources and opportunities available in the cult recovery field.

Blog

Aug 30, 20238 min read

Growing Up In A Cult (+4 Challenges to Recovery)

Learn about growing up in a cult, plus unique challenges that these former members face in adulthood and beyond.

Jul 25, 20237 min read

Why Do People Leave Cults?

It might seem obvious why people leave cults - but the reasons may still surprise you.

Jul 1, 202313 min read

Why Do People Stay In Cults? Here Are 9 Reasons

This article discusses 9 reasons why people stay in cults - despite the warning signs, mistreatment, or cognitive dissonance.

2 3 4 5

Currently trending at #2 on @hulu 💫

Now that it’s public, I’m so excited to share that I was featured in the new series, “How I Escaped a Cult” now available to watch on @hulu.

I am featured on three episodes in the series:

S1.E6 ∙ The Pilgrims
S1.E7 ∙ Angel’s Landing
S1.E9 ∙ The Bergholz Clan

Narrated by the brilliant @tamronhall, you will hear first-hand accounts from former cult members, their loved ones, and the investigators who helped bring these tormentors to justice, each episode follows the unique and harrowing journey of a survivor from their earliest cult experiences and revelations.

Special thanks to @jennawilstv and @thetexascrew for the opportunity to spread the word that people leave cults!
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#Hulu #peopleleavecults #freeform #texascrewproductions #howiescapedmycult

🎨 New video resource available for survivors and helping professionals!

🔗 LINK IN BIO TO ACCESS

Cult Recovery, Complex Trauma, and Art Therapy: A Comprehensive Approach

Presented at the American Art Therapy Association’s (AATA) 2024 Virtual Conference [Clinical Settings Track].

Presented by Ashlen Hilliard MSc, PSS; Dr. Erin Falconer PhD, MSc, LMSW; Natalee Bigger Stockdale MA, ATR-BC, LPCC, NCC

This presentation delves into the intersection of cult recovery, complex trauma, and the innovative application of art therapy as a transformative modality for survivors. Coercive control, a subtle yet insidious form of abuse, often leaves survivors grappling with complex trauma, a multifaceted and enduring aftermath that challenges traditional therapeutic approaches
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#cultpsychology #cultsurvivors #cultrecovery #cult #complextrauma #aata2024 #arttherapy

Know someone affected by coercion or who is in a suspected cultic group or relationship?

People Leave Cults is here to help. You don't have to go through this alone.

Let's develop a roadmap together:

"I am dedicated to educating families about cult intervention, covering its history, various approaches, and potential risks for those helping loved ones involved in cults. My journey started as a case manager for those exiting polygamist communities seven years ago. I hold an MSc in the Psychology of Coercive Control, a Peer Support Specialist Certification in Adult Mental Health in Oregon, and actively mentored by Cult Intervention Experts Pat Ryan, Joseph Kelly, and Rachel Bernstein, LMFT."

-Ashlen Hilliard, MSc, PSS

Learn more at peopleleavecults.com/services/cult-intervention-process
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#peopleleavecults

“The first time that we did Cult Awareness Day was in 1988 in Chicago. We had Patricia Ryan, come and share her experiences. So the idea has been going on for 20+ years...” -Pat Ryan (interview can be found on the @peopleleavecults YouTube channel)

Last year, I made this graphic that could be shared honoring November 18th as International Cult Awareness Day and the 46th Anniversary of the Jonestown Massacre.

Over the past few years, Pat Ryan and I have worked towards formalizing the day. This year, we have been AMAZED at how many of you shared content, your experiences, and graphics in honor of the day as well. Thank you so much!

➡ Scroll to see some of the content that was created for #cultawarenessday

🥀 You can participate in Cult Awareness Day! Use #cultawarenessday or message @peopleleavecults directly to be featured on our social media channels.

🥀 For more information visit: https://www.cultawarenessday.com/
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#cultawarenessday #cultawareness #cultrecoveryday #cult #cultrecovery #cultspecialist #coercivecontrol #coercivecontrolsurvivor #cultsurvivor

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be presenting alongside Natalee and Erin at the AATA2024 Virtual Conference organized by the American Art Therapy Association @arttherapyorg 🎉

Join us as we explore “Cult Recovery, Complex Trauma, and Art Therapy: A Comprehensive Approach.”

This presentation delves into the intersection of cult recovery, complex trauma, and the innovative application of art therapy as a transformative modality for survivors. Coercive control, a subtle yet insidious form of abuse, often leaves survivors grappling with complex trauma, a multifaceted and enduring aftermath that challenges traditional therapeutic approaches.

Clinical Settings (CS) Track -

🗓 Date: October 27, 2024
⏰ Time: 10:00 am US Eastern Time
🔗 Find out more: arttherapy.org/annual-conferences

Art therapy emerges as a promising tool in addressing the impact and complexities of cult recovery and complex trauma.

#arttherapy #artheals #knowledge #symbols #AATA2024 #ArtTherapy #cult #cultsurvivor #igotout #HealingThroughArt #peopleleavecults #MentalHealthMatters #VirtualConference

Something big is coming…

“What happens when biblical patriarchy, christian nationalism, and a theology of authority and submission become the pillars of a movement? Scores of abuse stories in marriages, schools, churches, families, and more. Though these ideas have filtered throughout the United States for decades, they found a home in Moscow, Idaho, through the ministry and work of Doug Wilson. From there, they have influenced churches across the United States, and across the world. In this series, you’ll hear from experts on all aspects of these movements, and the stories of abuse from those who survived. Some are Christian, some are not, but one thing they’ve got in common? They’re finally speaking out. This is their story.”

SOURCE: Sons of Patriarchy - https://www.sonsofpatriarchy.com

#churchtoo #metoo #Moscowtoo #CRECtoo #ACCStoo #churchabuse #christiannationalism #examineDougWilson #examineMoscow #EDWAM

🚨Book Launch🚨
LINK IN BIO TO ORDER!

"Beyond the Fence stands as a deeply moving tribute to the unwavering strength of cult survivors." - Ashlen Hilliard, MSc

It's so cool to see my quote on the cover of Beyond the Fence!

This book is the extended version of the script that the feature film will be based on (film trailer launching soon)!

Swipe to read a little bit about what this book is about ➡➡

Let's support the writer, Lindsey in launching her book -- message from the Author below ⤵ ⤵

"My book, Beyond the Fence, is finally having its official launch on September 15th!

If you'd like to order a local pick up copy (Virginia) and have it put aside for you at the coffee reception, you can order directly through me on Venmo. Copies are $17.50 and can be ordered by sending (your name + BTF) to https://venmo.com/u/LindseyPaulyD

If you are in Virginia, here is the Facebook event page for the coffee reception: https://www.facebook.com/share/etdDhNU1hZqxgzf4/

Not local to the area but still want a copy? You can order through Amazon! (see linktree in People Leave Cults bio)

ALSO!! Be sure to keep a look out for our sizzle reel for the film. It will be dropping soon!!

Major thank you to everyone that made this book launch possible and for supporting me every step of the way.

Super excited to share this story (and eventually) our film with you all!!"

#womeninfilm #beyondthefence #booklaunch #virginiabooks

🎙️New Video Content is now Available!

Cult Media Messaging: Feeling Comfortable with Sharing Your Story. Presented by Dhyana Levey, MSc – Media Consultant and Founder of Cult Media Messaging

✅ Purchase price is $15, one time payment, unlimited streaming. Link in bio or visit peopleleavecults.com/premium-content to watch!

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People who have left cults are sometimes approached by members of the media to discuss their experiences. Participating can have upsides and downsides.

Asserting yourself and owning your story can feel good and alert people to a problematic group or experience that they should stay away from. In addition, you are also supporting other victims and validating their experiences, encouraging others to come forward, which could lead to justice for those harmed.

However, going public also puts you in a vulnerable position. It can be embarrassing, and you don’t know what information will end up making it into the public. Others who disagree with you can get mad, accuse you of lying and even threaten litigation.

Let’s talk about why you would or wouldn’t want to share your story with a reporter, filmmaker, podcaster, author or other media creator after leaving a high-demand group:

— What should you watch out for?
— What important aspects of this interaction should you keep in mind if you choose to go forward?
— Why might the journalist have to operate by certain rules?
— How do you take care of yourself?

Get tips from a media consultant with a background in journalism who also grew up in a cult and is sympathetic to both sides of this equation.

Please note: Cult Media Messaging provides education about going public through various media outlets and tips on how to have a more positive experience during this high-pressure situation. It is not a publicity service and does not set up interviews or public appearances.

More video content coming soon!
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#peopleleavecults #traumarecovery #religioustrauma #religiousabuse #control #manipulators #religion #cultexpert #psychology #cultrecovery #cultawareness #cultsurvivors

🙌 Registration is now open, space is limited -- link in bio!

This virtual peer-led support group is tailored for individuals seeking community with fellow survivors. Former members of cults or high-demand groups or relationships are welcome.

In the realm of recovery from the trauma endured in cults, high-control groups, or coercive relationships, peer support has the potential to be immensely impactful.

Establishing or joining such a peer support group may serve as a catalyst for healing, nurturing resilience, and empowering individuals to navigate their journey toward recovery.

People Leave Cults is excited to partner with Jenny Cornbleet and Mark Futterman to facilitate a peer support community group offering.

Jenny Cornbleet and Mark Futterman are a couple who got into cults separately and got out together. They spent years involved in controlling New Age spiritual groups and working with a manipulative counselor/healer who inflicted spiritual and psychological abuse.

Since leaving that behind, Jenny and Mark have embraced their creativity, love of learning, and capacity for healthy human connection.

Through non-profits, they have offered peer support for survivors of high-control groups. They are particularly interested in helping fellow survivors deconstruct thought systems that lead to manipulation, discover their authentic values and move forward with life meaningfully.

They are delighted to partner with People Leave Cults, and they are deeply impressed by its inspiring vision of what post-cult life can be and its impressive track record of helping survivors build autonomy through support and education.

In addition, Mark and Jenny enjoy humor writing, philosophical discussions, thought-provoking fiction, and travel that involves eating

Disclaimer: Support Group Services provided by People Leave Cults, LLC are not meant to be a substitute for individualized professional counseling from mental health professionals. These session are NOT an emergency service, therapy, or medical in nature.

✳ UPDATE! ✳

It's been a while since I last posted on social media, and I am still catching up on messages from the past several weeks. If you are waiting to hear back from me, I appreciate your patience!

In the meantime, I wanted to share an update and some pictures from the Portland, Oregon "Not Alone" conference!

Running this event was truly a dream. I have organized numerous conferences and workshops in the field of cult recovery over the years, but the most memorable aspect for me was witnessing how effectively the speakers and organizers created an environment where the attendees felt heard and supported. I saw survivors truly cared for.

This was the second SAFE conference I helped co-organize alongside Kent Burtner, Ken Garrett, and Sharon Garrett. Our first conference in 2019 had around 70 attendees, 2 tracks, and one co-sponsor.

Since 2019, we have experienced exponential growth. Here are some highlights from this year's event:

☑ 3 Tracks, 12 Workshops
☑ Over 100 attendees
☑ 8 Sponsors
☑ Participants and speakers from across the country and even someone from the UK
☑ The majority of attendees were survivors
☑ Many helping professionals (therapists, social workers, etc.) in attendance were also survivors

Presenters were dear friends, and colleagues, who are doing amazing work with survivors of high-control groups and relationships: @annaclarkmiller @itsjosh_dangit Anna Tolf @restoredvoicescollectiv
@connie_a_baker @5_ad_astra_5

Some of the speakers were also in my MSc program, and work as educational consultants, coaches, and therapists. I was so grateful to have them participate and fly in from all across the country for a little "class reunion": @jennifer.french.jfh @chrissheltonmsc @erinmfalconer @dhyanalevey

I'm feeling so proud. So grateful. Volunteering to help with this event, has been my love letter to the community of people here in Portland. I have so much love for this city and the connections it has to offer.

A special thank you to our sponsors who donated to help cover costs and financial assistance for survivors:
@empathyparadigm @theaftermathfoundation @peopleleavecults @ecumenicaloregon
@cultnews101 Cult Mediation
SPTV

“We needed friends, maybe that’s where you’re at…”

Join us for a one-day event, Not Alone: a Conference for Survivors and Helping Professionals, at the McMenamins Kennedy School in Portland, OR, on May 11, 2024 for a day of education, healing, and community. The cost to attend is $45, which includes a catered lunch by the venue.

This event is sponsored by the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education (SAFE), a regular meetup in Portland, Oregon. Conference Co-Sponsors include @peopleleavecults, @empathyparadigm, @ecumenicaloregon, @theaftermathfoundation, @cultnews101, and Cult Mediation.

Presenters include a range of professionals with specializations in coercive control, cult recovery education, and religious trauma therapy.

🔗Link in bio to register or visit https://www.safeportland.org/safe-conference
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#notalonepdx

Featured Conference Presentation at Not Alone: A Conference for Survivors and Helping Professionals (LINK IN BIO)!

Re-establishing Faith After Spiritual Abuse - Presented by Kent Burtner, M.Div., M.A

“I thought I trusted God, and look what happened.” When cults, high control groups or unhealthy churches use psychological and social control to enforce their ideology, and do so in the name of God or some other divinity, their subject's lives are violated to the core of their being. They thought they were trusting in a God that would provide for them but found their lives emotionally, vocationally financially and spiritually turned inside out.

Recovering from spiritual abuse and re-establishing faith is a difficult project at best and most often is the last task that a survivor of spiritual abuse is able to undertake.

This workshop will examine the issues of:

-- trust,

-- free will,

-- how spiritual emotions are manipulated and healed,

-- deconstructing a sick theology that reinforced the coercive control used by abusive groups,

-- reconnecting with resources of spiritual wisdom,

-- how to safely explore the institutions that carry that wisdom and

-- making meaning from a new vision informed by an awareness of what was hurtful in the past.

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Kent Burtner, M. Div., M.A., served as a Roman Catholic priest of the Dominican Order for 20 years, resigning from the priesthood in 1994. He subsequently served as program manager for an interfaith social-services agency, director of the agency’s Cult Resource Center, public-information officer for a local county public-health department, and parish business manager. A published author, Kent has also lectured extensively in the United States, Canada and Spain. In 1983, he received the Leo J. Ryan Award from the Cult Awareness Network for his work educating the public about cults and thought-reform programs. Kent makes his home in Portland, Oregon and as a pastoral counselor.
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#notalonepdx #pdxevents #pdxconference #portlandevents #portlandoregon #portlandconference #traumarecovery #religioustrauma #religiousabuse #control #manipulators #religion #cultexpert #psychology #cultrecovery

Featured Conference Presentation at Not Alone: A Conference for Survivors and Helping Professionals (LINK IN BIO)!

Spiritual Abuse & Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse: How Does it Happen and How Are They Connected - Presented by Anna Tolf

This presentation examines the intersectionality of spiritual abuse and sexual abuse of adults. Survivors of abuse in religious environments often have the experience of living with profound, lifelong wounds while not having access to the language for their experience. As a result, many are disbelieved, blamed and silenced by the institutions they trusted. It has only been in recent years that research has begun to address this hermeneutical injustice through the development of a conceptual understanding of spiritual abuse. As this knowledge base has broadened, there has also been an effort to develop accurate language for adult clergy sexual abuse. Due to the reality that many victims of abuse experience poly-victimization across their lifespan; it is helpful to identify how these two types of abuse overlap. Spiritual abuse is characterized by control and manipulation, it can also be a tool used to groom victims of adult clergy sexual abuse. In the research, identifiable patterns have been noted in the grooming process including the characteristics that make someone vulnerable to both spiritual abuse and adult clergy sexual abuse. In order to understand the nuanced and complex nature of these two forms of abuse, it is helpful to name these vulnerabilities and patterns. In the naming, we are both able to help survivors heal and prevent the traumatic re-enactment of abuse and abusive environments.

Anna Tolf, Co-Founder of Restored Voices Collective, a nonprofit championing survivors of Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse, brings a unique blend of advocacy and empathy to the forefront.
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#notalonepdx #pdxevents #pdxconference #portlandevents #portlandoregon #portlandconference #traumarecovery #religioustrauma #religiousabuse #control #manipulators #religion #cultexpert #psychology #cultrecovery

Featured Conference Presentation at Not Alone: A Conference for Survivors and Helping Professionals

Tools and Skills to Help and Advocate for Other Survivors - Presented by Connie Baker, MA, LPC

Are you wanting to learn how to be more effective with helping other survivors? Are you needing more tools and insight for how to advocate for them? Are you wanting to take the next step in recovery and support those who have been through religious and cult trauma? This workshop is for you!

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Connie Baker is a licensed professional counselor with a Master of Arts. She is a clinical supervisor, Masters Level University instructor, Seminar speaker and Workshop facilitator. She is a Trauma Recovery Specialist, trained life coach and the author of her book, Traumatized by Religious Abuse-Discover the Cultures and Systems of Religious Abuse and Reclaim Your Personal Power’. It is the culmination of her own story and her years of experience as a therapist. Connie is sought after for guidance, radio and television interviews, and contributions to magazines for support and education about religious abuse and trauma recovery. Connie lives in Portland, OR with her husband, JR. They have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren.

Learn more about the conference at https://www.safeportland.org/safe-conference
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#notalonepdx #pdxevents #pdxconference #portlandevents #portlandoregon #portlandconference #traumarecovery #religioustrauma #religiousabuse #control #manipulators #religion #cultexpert #psychology #cultrecovery

Happy Monday! I am excited to highlight our last round of FEATURED SPEAKERS!

Join us at the Not Alone: A Conference for Survivors and Helping Professionals on May 11, 2024, in Portland, Oregon!

You will have the opportunity to meet three individuals who specialize in religious abuse recovery and education. These include Connie A Baker MA LPC, a specialist in religious abuse recovery, Anna Tolf, the co-founder of Restored Voices Collective which is a community that supports survivors of adult clergy sexual abuse, and Kent Burtner, a presenter and co-organizer of the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education.

This event is sponsored by the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education (SAFE), a regular meetup in Portland, Oregon. This will be SAFE's second sponsored conference in Portland. Our conference co-sponsors include People Leave Cults, The Empathy Paradigm, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, CultNEWS101 and Cult Mediation.

You can register for the conference with the link in bio or at https://www.safeportland.org/safe-conference.
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#notalonepdx #pdxevents #pdxconference #portlandevents #portlandoregon #portlandconference #traumarecovery #religioustrauma #religiousabuse #control #manipulators #religion #cultexpert #psychology #cultrecovery #cultsurvivors #cult #cultspecialist #igotout #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissist #peopleleavecults #coercivecontrol #coercionisnotconsent #howtoleaveacult #borninacult #notaloneconferencepdx #psychologicalsafety

Featured Conference Presentation at Not Alone: A Conference for Survivors and Helping Professionals

When to Leave your Church - Presented by Rev. Kenneth Garrett, MDiv. DMin.

To most Christians, joining and supporting a local church is an important, even sacred aspect of their faith. The decision to commit to a spiritual community can be one of the deepest community commitments a person makes in life, and the decision to leave a beloved church can be equally significant. What shall a person do when their beloved church becomes a place of coercion, control, and spiritual abuse? Should they immediately walk away? Confront abusive leaders? Stay and hope for a change as a loyal opposition? These are all possible decisions, and all represent the end of deep, heartfelt, and often heart-breaking deliberation. In this workshop Pastor Ken will draw from his own experience of leaving an abusive Christian church and his studies in the processes of thought-reform that can occur in unhealthy, hurtful church communities. We will develop a working model to help a church member negotiate the difficulties and decisions faced when their church becomes abusive.

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Rev. Kenneth Garrett, MDiv. DMin. is senior pastor of Grace Church, Portland, OR. For 12 years Ken and his wife Sharon belonged to an abusive, controlling church in which their life-choices, beliefs, and behaviors were increasingly brought under the control of church leaders. Ken and Sharon left church in 1996 with their three daughters. Ken attended seminary and has completed post-graduate research in spiritual abuse as it occurs in Christian churches. Ken and Sharon now enjoy many opportunities to counsel and care for survivors of abusive churches from the Portland-metro area and have established the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education (SAFE), a regular gathering to promote friendship and education for survivors of spiritual abuse. Ken's book, In the House of Friends: Understanding and Healing from Spiritual Abuse in the Christian Church, (Wipf and Stock Press, 2020) describes the inner workings of high-control churches, the pastors who lead them.

LINK IN BIO TO REGISTER!
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#notalonepdx

Featured Conference Presentation at Not Alone: A Conference for Survivors and Helping Professionals

Cult Recovery: The Basics - Presented by Chris Shelton, MSc

What are the basics of recovering from a destructive cult or coercive situation one was involved in? We all know the first steps are getting away from the abuse, but then what? And then what after that? There are no concrete steps everyone has to walk, but there are some guide rails we can know about that can keep us on the path forward. In this talk, Chris will cover these basics and how to build a more healthy life, relationships and mental health for yourself after escaping a coercive situation.

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Chris Shelton is a former Scientologist turned cult recovery specialist, author and broadcaster. He has been working on educating the public about the dangers of destructive cults ever since he escaped Scientology in 2013, documenting his recovery experience in transitioning back into a normal life. As a cult expert, he has personally helped hundreds of people either recover from destructive cult influence or assisted their family and friends in how to best communicate and work with cult members to help get them out from under undue influence.

Chris holds a Masters in the Psychology of Coercive Control and is a Research Assistant at the University of Salford in Manchester. He runs a YouTube channel, produces a weekly podcast called Speaking of Cults and has written Scientology A to Xenu: An Insider's Guide to What Scientology is Really All About. He has produced over 1,000 videos laying out the anatomy and mechanics of cultic and predatory influence, the basics of critical thinking and has done interviews with former members of many different destructive cults, as well as a range of therapists, cult exit counselors, educators and media personalities. Chris has also given talks and presentations around the United States about his experiences and has been featured on numerous podcasts and television shows. He was featured on Leah Remini’s Emmy-award winning documentary, Scientology and the Aftermath, and served as a consultant to the show for its first two seasons.

LINK IN BIO TO REGISTER

Featured Conference Presentation at Not Alone: A Conference for Survivors and Helping Professionals

🎥 Cult Media Messaging: Feeling Comfortable with Sharing Your Story - Presented by Dhyana Levey, MSc

People who have left cults are sometimes approached by members of the media to discuss their experiences. Participating can have upsides and downsides. Asserting yourself and owning your story can feel good and alert people to a problematic group or experience that they should stay away from. In addition, you are also supporting other victims and validating their experiences, encouraging others to come forward, which could lead to justice for those harmed. However, going public also puts you in a vulnerable position. It can be embarrassing, and you don’t know what information will end up making it into the public. Others who disagree with you can get mad, accuse you of lying and even threaten litigation. Let’s talk about why you would or wouldn’t want to share your story with a reporter, filmmaker, podcaster, author or other media creator after leaving a high-demand group. What should you watch out for? What important aspects of this interaction should you keep in mind if you choose to go forward? Why might the journalist have to operate by certain rules? How do you take care of yourself? Get tips from a media consultant with a background in journalism who also grew up in a cult and is sympathetic to both sides of this equation.

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Dhyana Levey is a freelance media consultant and former news reporter at Cult Media Messaging. She produced and hosted the podcast Generation Cult, an interview show about people who grew up in high-demand groups and how they acclimated to mainstream society after they left. In 2022, Dhyana received her MSc in the Psychology of Coercive Control from the University of Salford and has focused her research on the media’s relationship with people who have been in cults. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism and worked as a newspaper reporter in California for Bay Area News Group, McClatchy Newspapers and the San Francisco Daily Journal, as well in Southeast Asia for The Cambodia Daily.

Link in bio to register!

Happy Wednesday! I am excited to highlight some more FEATURED SPEAKERS!

Join us at the Not Alone: A Conference for Survivors and Helping Professionals on May 11, 2024, in Portland, Oregon!

You will get the chance to meet two graduates of the Psychology of Coercive Control Program offered by the University of Salford: @dhyanalevey and @chrissheltonmsc. As well as @ken.garrett, the founder of the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education. After leaving his own Christian cult years prior, Ken Garrett founded the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education to help other survivors connect and build relationships.

This event will feature a range of expert presenters specializing in topics such as coercive control, cult recovery education, and religious trauma therapy.

This event is sponsored by the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education (SAFE), a regular meetup in Portland, Oregon. This will be SAFE's second sponsored conference in Portland. Our conference co-sponsors include @peopleleavecults, @empathyparadigm, @ecumenicaloregon, @cultnews101, and Cult Mediation.

You can register for the conference with the link in bio or at https://www.safeportland.org/safe-conference.
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#notalonepdx #pdxevents #pdxconference #portlandevents #portlandoregon #portlandconference #traumarecovery #religioustrauma #religiousabuse #control #manipulators #religion #cultexpert #psychology #cultrecovery #cultsurvivors #cult #cultspecialist #igotout #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissist #peopleleavecults #coercivecontrol #coercionisnotconsent #howtoleaveacult #borninacult #notaloneconferencepdx #psychologicalsafety

Featured Conference Presentation at Not Alone: A Conference for Survivors and Helping Professionals

Healing After Cults…Spirituality, Self-Help & Cult Hopping - Presented by Jennifer French Tomasic, MSc

So many of us that join cults, enter as sincere seekers wanting to deepen, feel more connected to the spiritual, to ourselves, to what’s beautiful and good in all things. If we leave, only to find that our purpose feels adrift, our community non-existent, or life is lacking the luster of what was, we often turn to alternatives. In this presentation, Jennifer shares some of the most significant tactics and dynamics that unfold just beneath our awareness, in hopes that bringing them to the surface might protect or alert the spiritual seeker to the intricate subtleties that are so often hidden.

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A survivor herself, Jennifer French Tomasic specializes in working with survivors of coercive control. She has a Masters in the Psychology of Coercive Control and is a certified Integrative Trauma practitioner. Jennifer is an affiliate of Dr. Gillie Jenkinson’s specialized cult and religious recovery approach, grounded in survivor research and offered in both individual and group settings. She is also a level 2 trained Internal Family Systems practitioner. Jennifer is not a licensed psychotherapist. She hosts the Project Hope Podcast for families and friends with loved ones in a group of high control / high demand. She is a member of the ICSA (International Cultic Studies Awareness) Research Committee and has conducted research on those who self-identify as having experienced coercive control and received Internal Family Systems (IFS) as a result. Jennifer is an advocate and expert witness in court cases involving coercive control. She works both across the US and internationally and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and extended family.

Learn more about the conference at https://www.safeportland.org/safe-conference (link in bio)
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#notalonepdx #pdxevents #pdxconference #portlandevents #portlandoregon #portlandconference #traumarecovery #religioustrauma #religiousabuse #control #manipulators #religion #cultexpert #psychology #cultrecovery

🧠 Featured Conference Presentation at Not Alone: A Conference for Survivors and Helping Professionals

Complex Trauma After Cult Involvement: Approaches to Recovery - Presented by Erin Falconer, PhD, MSc, LMSW

Experiencing a cultic or coercive environment can have a tremendous impact on our physical and mental health. It is not uncommon for survivors to have symptoms of complex post-traumatic stress, or dissociative symptoms. In this presentation, we explore different approaches to coping with and healing from complex trauma associated with cult involvement. The presentation will discuss current trauma psychotherapies such as EMDR, IFS, and somatic therapies, as well as other healing modalities, and how they might be best adapted to help cult survivors. We will also describe ways to communicate and work with therapists or other mental health professionals who may not understand cult-related trauma.

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Dr. Erin Falconer provides psychotherapy and consultation for individuals and their families who are dealing with the effects of coercive control, cultic abuse, and complex trauma. Dr. Falconer completed her MSW at Columbia University in New York, and her PhD in Psychology, which focused on the neuroscience of trauma, at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. She also completed post-graduate study in the psychology of coercive control at the University of Salford (UK). She is currently continuing her advanced training in trauma-focused therapies at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy in New York. She provides psychotherapy in New York at Refuge Psychotherapy, LCSW, PLLC.

Learn more about the conference at safeportland.org/safe-conference (link in bio)
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#notalonepdx #pdxevents #pdxconference #portlandevents #portlandoregon #portlandconference #traumarecovery #religioustrauma #religiousabuse #control #manipulators #religion #cultexpert #psychology #cultrecovery #cultsurvivors #cult #cultspecialist #igotout #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissist #peopleleavecults #coercivecontrol #coercionisnotconsent #howtoleaveacult #borninacult #notaloneconferencepdx #psychologicalsafety

🎉 LINK IN BIO TO READ! Thank you for the opportunity @huffpost and @carsar91

Cult Intervention Specialist, Ashlen Hilliard, MSc was quoted extensively in the latest HuffPost article, "The 9 Most Common Personality Traits in Cult Leaders".

“Cult leaders are notable for the enormous amount of power they have over their group,” Ashlen Hilliard, a cult intervention specialist and founder of @peopleleavecults, told HuffPost. “This power is what many look for when defining a cult, but it’s not the only aspect that creates a cult leader. When you take a closer look, a cult leader often exhibits a classic set of traits and behaviors. Although there is variety in how these traits present, certain themes tend to ring true.”

Ashlen specifically mentions the role of coercive control, which is an essential part of the conversation when discussing the relationship between charismatic leader and follower:

She noted that there tends to be “a gradual escalation of abusive behavior,” as the leader employs psychological, emotional or physical tactics to maintain power.

“When a cult group or leader applies coercive control to a follower, that person may be left feeling that their only viable path is to remain in the group ― even if unspeakable acts are committed,” Hilliard added.

People leave cult leaders. People leave cults. There is hope. For cult intervention and recovery services, visit peopleleavecults.com
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#traumarecovery #religioustrauma #religiousabuse #control #manipulators #religion #cultexpert #psychology #cultrecovery #cultsurvivors #cult #cultspecialist #igotout #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissist #peopleleavecults #coercivecontrol #coercionisnotconsent #howtoleaveacult #spiritualabuse #huffpost

🎨 Featured Conference Presentation

Using Art to Build Self Connection
This presentation centers around the use of art as a tool for self-connection and healing. Specifically, we explore Visual Somatic Mapping with an optional written portion utilizing processes from Nonviolent Communication. This presentation aims to help participants understand ethical use of creative expression and art therapy can create containment, foster inner awareness, and create new pathways for healing from self-alienation and complex trauma. Participates will have the opportunity to engage in the strengths-based art experiential.

The Visual Somatic Mapping exercise is an application Art Therapy that is being used in a new application in conjunction with Nonviolence Communication to support cultic recovery. The theoretical framework draws from concepts of neurology based complex post-traumatic stress, Trauma informed Art Therapy, and Nonviolent Communication.

Visual Somatic Mapping allows participants to map their body experience in a visual way in order to have a time print of their inner truth. With ongoing ethically based and cultic recovery informed support this can help build a sense of validation of their personal boundaries and hence self-advocacy. Preliminary outcomes indicate increased self-awareness and an increased grounding to sense of self in everyday life.

Exploring this practice, participants may be able to learn about a creative tool to help bridge the gap between the inner wilderness created by coercive control and the conscious self. Future steps involve refining the methodology and exploring its application in therapeutic contexts within cult recovery.

Learn more about the conference at safeportland.org/safe-conference (link in bio)
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#notalonepdx #pdxevents #pdxconference #portlandevents #portlandoregon #portlandconference #traumarecovery #religioustrauma #religiousabuse #control #manipulators #religion #cultexpert #psychology #cultrecovery #cultsurvivors #cult #cultspecialist #igotout #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissist #peopleleavecults #coercivecontrol #coercionisnotconsent #howtoleaveacult #borninacult #notaloneconferencepdx #psychologicalsafety

✨ Featured Conference Presentation!

Creating Psychologically Safe Communities - Presented by Josh Miller (He/They), MCPC and Ashlen Hilliard (She/Her), MSc

Many survivors have difficulty defining, creating, and fostering safe and healing communities after leaving a high-control group or relationship. Understanding what safety looks and feels like is an essential part of the healing journey, so we’ll be exploring a framework that can act as a foundation for defining individual psychological safety. The purpose of this talk is to identify attributes of healthy people and communities, as well as understand psychological safety as a means of re-integration and healing.

To register for the conference (link in bio) or to learn more you can visit: https://www.safeportland.org/safe-conference
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#notalonepdx #pdxevents #pdxconference #portlandevents #portlandoregon #portlandconference #traumarecovery #religioustrauma #religiousabuse #control #manipulators #religion #cultexpert #psychology #cultrecovery #cultsurvivors #cult #cultspecialist #igotout #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissist #peopleleavecults #coercivecontrol #coercionisnotconsent #neurodiversity #lgbtq #howtoleaveacult #borninacult #notaloneconferencepdx #psychologicalsafety

✨ Featured Conference Presentation!

Navigating Scientology: Perspectives From Generational Differences - Moderated by Ashlen Hilliard, MSc

The panel discussion, "Navigating Scientology: Perspectives from Generational Differences," delves into the diverse experiences of individuals born or raised (also known as second or multi-generational former members) within Scientology compared to those who joined as first-generation members. Scientology, with its unique doctrines and organizational structure, has left a significant impact on the lives of its adherents across generations.

Drawing from personal narratives, this panel aims to shed light on the nuanced dynamics amongst those who have had involvement within Scientology. Key themes to be addressed include familial expectations, indoctrination processes, social networks, and the challenges of leaving the organization.

Through the juxtaposition of these perspectives, the panel seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in navigating life within and beyond Scientology.

Moreover, it will provide a platform for reflection on the intergenerational transmission of beliefs and practices within high-demand religious movements.

Moderated by Cult Intervention Specialist, Ashlen Hilliard, the panel will feature voices from various backgrounds, offering a rich tapestry of experiences and insights. Attendees can expect a thought-provoking discussion that illuminates the diverse roads personal identity can take after departing from Scientology.

To register for the conference (link in bio) or you can visit: https://www.safeportland.org/safe-conference
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#notalonepdx #pdxevents #pdxconference #portlandevents #portlandoregon #portlandconference #traumarecovery #religioustrauma #religiousabuse #control #manipulators #religion #cultexpert #psychology #cultrecovery #cultsurvivors #cult #cultspecialist #igotout #narcissisticabuseawareness #narcissist #peopleleavecults #coercivecontrol #coercionisnotconsent #neurodiversity #lgbtq #howtoleaveacult #borninacult #notaloneconferencepdx #psychologicalsafety

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