"TM-EX" is Founded to Aid Former Transcendental Meditation Practitioners

From "Group Claims TM Movement Is a Cult," the Washington Post, July 2, 1987, p. C3

On the eve of a "yogic flying" demonstration for members of the U.S. House of Representatives by followers of Transcendental Meditation guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a group of former TM practitioners and concerned members of the Cult Awareness Network gathered at the Shoreham Hotel in Washington to debunk the "flying" and warn about cults.

The group charged in a press conference July 1 that TM, of which "yogic flying" is an advanced stage, is not simply a method of relaxation through meditation, but a cult that ultimately seeks to strip individuals of their ability to think and choose freely.

"They want you to dress and think and speak in a certain way and not to ask questions. They go into hypnotic trances and shut off who they are as a person," said Steven Hassan, a former member of the Unification Church who has studied cults for a decade. He said that TM adherents suffer a "destruction of personality. It's an addiction, akin to alcohol and drugs," and stressed that "physical and psychological harm" may result from using TM techniques "even if only for a short time."

But Mark Haviland of Maharishi International University's College of Natural Law maintained that TM is "not a philosophy, a life style, or a religion," but "a very simple, useful thing [with] practical benefits of relaxation, of increased inner potential."

Haviland said that so far only the first stage of yogic flying, "hopping," had been achieved, but that "given the results we've experienced so far, we feel that it won't be long before we'll be getting onto the second and third stage" of "hovering" and "actual flight." He said the important thing is the."coherence" that the "flying" creates individually and collectively, "which leads to world peace."

Joe Kelly and John Taity, two former TM adherents who studied yogic flying at MIU in Fairfield, IA, demonstrated the technique at the press conference. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, they hopped in an awkward forward motion that lifted them into the air a few inches.

"It's strictly physical exercise," said Kelly. "There's nothing spiritual about it."

Former MIU student Patrick L. Ryan said he studied yogic flying in a "totalitarian environment" where every minute of his day was programmed, but that he "never saw anybody fly."

Ryan said that a new group called TM-EX is being formed to offer support to those leaving the TM movement. He said that when he left the movement he received help from CAN and a related group, FOCUS, which offers support for those seeking to leave "cultic or totalistic involvement."

Ryan has sued the Maharishi for compensation for the eight years he said he devoted to raising money and promoting TM.

Ex-members of TM said at the press conference that TM is in fact a religion for its adherents, and that the Maharishi is seen as a god.

Patricia Ryan, daughter of California Representative Leo J. Ryan, who was shot to death in 1978 in Guyana by a member of Jim Jones' Peoples Temple, said that "bright, idealistic people are the most vulnerable" to movements such as TM, of which "they become unsuspecting victims."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Republican Representative Jim Leach of Iowa said the congressman set up a room in the Rayburn Building for the TM adherents to demonstrate yogic flying after receiving a request from MIU in Fairfield, which is located in Leach's congressional district.

The spokesman said that Leach, after being told of the criticisms of the TM movement, responded that MIU is "accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and also recognized by the Federal Interagency Commission on Education." He quoted Leach as saying that he has "no objection to any American citizen expressing their First Amendment rights on Capitol Hill or elsewhere."

Cult Observer, Vol. 4, No. 4, 1987, p. 7

Profile: Patrick Ryan

Patrick Ryan (BA in Interdisciplinary Studies, Maharishi International University) is the founder and former head of TM-Ex, the organization of one-time members of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement. His association with AFF involves frequent attendance at conferences, where he is often a speaker, work with other ex-cult members, and a book about his personal experience, Recovery From Cults, to be published this August.

TM recruiters were allowed into his high school in the mid-'70s, a time when the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was a frequent guest on the "Merv Griffin" and other TV shows. Mr. Ryan attended an informational meeting which led to a weekend, then a week, with "no privacy, endless tapes of chanting, meditation, and lectures." Mia Farrow's sister, Prudence, was one of the teachers. She and her husband attended MIU, to which she persuaded Mr. Ryan and 250 others to go for both "academics and enlightenment." `His five years there provided "a mixed bag academically."

The school was accredited through the Ph.D. in various subjects, and because courses were taught by the "block system," good faculty could be brought in briefly for good pay. Out of three months, two were allotted for academics, one for meditating, sometimes as many a 7 hours a day for 7 days at a time. There was an average of 4 hours' trance-inducing activity per day, and all for academic credit.

After graduating, Mr. Ryan worked a year for a Maharishi community. A family intervention when one of his sisters joined "a cult" (The Way) began his questioning process, and he started to see parallels in his situation. He sought insights from former TM-ers, and was further disillusioned. Several lawsuits against the organization exposed hitherto secret tales of "yogic flying," adding to its embarrassment. An attorney in one such suit urged Mr. Ryan to visit Dr. Margaret Singer, who put the "crowning touches" on his liberation. She sent him to a Cult Awareness Network conference where he met many families of TM members. Thus began his exit counseling career which, after he gave up a thriving import business, soon became full-time. He works with a variety of cult members, stressing that he does "no involuntaries."

The young man once trained as a "spiritual warrior" for TM (a distinction reserved for heroic meditators, not the mere 20 minutes a day kind) is now an internationally recognized cult expert, relied on by families and media in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. He is also another of those AFF associates whose advice to law enforcement officials might, had it been heeded, have helped avert the Waco debacle.

Cult Observer, Vol. 10, No. 06, 1993

Lifetime Achievement Award (2011)

Lifetime Achievement Award (2011)

2011 International Conference, Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, Social Addictions, and Harm; Organized jointly by the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and Atención e Investigación de Socioadicciones (AIS), with the collaboration of Info-Cult/Info-Secte and the University of Barcelona

July 7-9, 2011, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, (Spain)

Patrick Ryan has many talents. He won a writing award for contributions to his high school newspaper.

He ran a million dollar business. He has a passion for computers, and his skills in this area are impressive. He is a born entrepreneur.

He should be rich. But he isn’t. Why?

When he was in high school, he took an introductory course on Transcendental Meditation. That led to a degree in business from the Maharishi University and years of TM practice. Like many others, he had dedicated himself to saving the world.

But something happened on the road to utopia. He lost faith in Maharishi. Patrick realized that the movement to which he had dedicated himself was an alluring dead-end, an intellectual and emotional cul-de-sac that had stolen years of his life. He successfully sued the movement in the 1980s.

In the process of seeking justice for himself, he came into the network of people who constitute ICSA. He learned that there are countless groups that deceive and harm people. And he decided to do something about it.

He became an exit counselor, a profession that he has practiced for more than 20 years. He worked with others to develop ethical alternatives to the abduction deprogrammings that the press loved to report on in the 1970s and 1980s. The approach he helped to develop focuses on relationship building

and conflict resolution, not merely on “exit,” although “exit” frequently results.

In 1997, when few of us in this field understood anything about the Internet, Patrick saw the future.

He realized that the future of ICSA’s network would depend upon the Web. So he dedicated himself, initially as a volunteer, to creating and developing a Website for ICSA (then known as American Family Foundation). The site he developed, www.csj.org, won more than a half-dozen awards.

Not content to rest on his laurels Pat has continued to keep up with the technical changes that keep the Web in a constant state of developmental turmoil, and he has completely recreated the ICSA site three times. A few years ago he redesigned the site so that its 25,000+ documents could be organized and displayed with a database. And now he is dragging us into the “cloud,” whatever that is. We don’t really understand, but we have come to trust that Patrick does understand. So we follow our Web scout into the cyberjungle.

Besides his many talents, Patrick is also a lot of fun to be with. Given his intellectual and social attributes, he really ought to be a rich businessman. But, fortunately for ICSA, he isn’t. Instead, he is a dedicated worker in a field that depends almost completely upon dedication. We salute him for the many years during which he has donated his talents and time to ICSA and to helping others. May many others follow in his footsteps.

Acceptance

I first heard about ICSA (then called American Family Foundation) in 1984. I had recently exited Transcendental Meditation and had sued the leader, Maharishi. I was in a "cult fighter" mode. As I learned about ICSA's work, I was at first a bit troubled because the leaders of the organization seemed

to me at the time to be too academic and not activist enough. However, as I learned more and became more active in this field, I realized that ICSA's emphasis on respect, dialogue, and exploration of diverse perspectives so as to HELP people was essential to the long-term survival of this broad and varied movement to counter the harm caused by cultic groups. That spirit of tolerance enables ICSA to bring into its broad tent people of very different religious, political, and philosophical perspectives. Our common concern is how to help those abused by groups using exploitatively manipulative methods and

to forewarn those who are vulnerable to manipulation. To emphasize dialogue and respect is not the only approach one can take in this field. It is a vital one, however, and one that I follow in my own work as an exit counselor.

I am honored to accept this award and to contribute to ICSA's important work.

Presentations by Patrick Ryan (2000+)

Thought Reform Consultation
David Clark; Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan; Hana Whitfield; Jerry Whitfield
Conference: Cults and the Millennium
April 28-30, 2000, Seattle, WA

Workshop for Families and Friends
Livia Bardin, M.S.W.; Patrick Ryan
Conference: Cults, Conversion, Science and Harm
May 4-5, 2001, New York City
                          
Thought Reform Consultation
David Clark; Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan; Hana Whitfield; Jerry Whitfield
Conference: Cults, Conversion, Science and Harm
May 4-5, 2001, New York City

Inner Experience and Conversion
Michael Langone, Ph.D.; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan
Conference: Understanding Cults and New Religious Movements -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families
June 14-15, 2002, Orlando, FL

Workshop for Family Members
Livia Bardin, M.S.W.; Patrick Ryan
Conference: Understanding Cults and New Religious Movements -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families
October 17-18, 2003, Enfield, CT

Exit Counseling Case Study: Psychotherapy Group
Carol Diament; Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly
Conference: Understanding Cults and New Religious Movements -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families
October 17-18, 2003, Enfield, CT

Advanced Communication for Families
Livia Bardin, M.S.W.; Patrick Ryan.Conference: Understanding Cults and New Religious Movements -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families
October 17-18, 2003, Enfield, CT

Workshop for Family Members
Livia Bardin, M.S.W.; Patrick Ryan
Conference: Understanding Cults and New Religious Movements -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families
June 13-14, 2003, Orange, CA

Exit Counseling Case Study: Eastern Group
Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly
Conference: Understanding Cults and New Religious Movements -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families
2003, June 13-14, 2003, Orange, CA

Coping with Triggers
Joseph Kelly
Conference: Understanding Cults and Other Charismatic Groups -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families
June 11-12, 2004, Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)

Workshop for Family Members
Livia Bardin, M.S.W.; Patrick Ryan
Conference: Understanding Cults and Other Charismatic Groups -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families
June 11-12, 2004, Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)

Family Members
Livia Bardin, M.S.W.; Patrick Ryan
AFF Conference: Understanding Cults, New Religious Movements, and Other Groups
October 14, 2004, Atlanta, GA

Coping With Triggers
Joseph Kelly
AFF Conference: Understanding Cults, New Religious Movements, and Other Groups
October 14, 2004, Atlanta, GA

Approaches to Exit Counseling: Part I
David Clark, Rick Halpern; Patrick Ryan; Craig Branch
Discussants: Sandy Andron; Carol Giambalvo
AFF Conference: Understanding Cults, New Religious Movements, and Other Groups
October 14, 2004, Atlanta, GA

Approaches to Exit Counseling: Part II
David Clark, Rick Halpern; Patrick Ryan; Craig Branch
Discussants: Sandy Andron; Carol Giambalvo
AFF Conference: Understanding Cults, New Religious Movements, and Other Groups
October 14, 2004, Atlanta, GA

Question and Answer Session for Families
William Goldberg, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.; Patrick Ryan; David Clark; Joseph Kelly
Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements
July 14-16, 2005, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain)

Experienced exit counselors and a psychotherapist who has worked in this field for more than 25 years will field questions from family members concerned about a loved one’s group involvement

Exit Counseling Panel
David Clark; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan

Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements

July 14-16, 2005, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Three experienced exit counselors (thought-reform consultants) will

discuss their work, to help attendees appreciate the variety of approaches in this field and the kinds of issues that families, group members, and thought-reform consultants encounter. Among the issues to be discussed from the different perspectives of the speakers are:

• The ethics of an intervention
• Assessing a family situation
• Determining whether an intervention is appropriate
• Family preparation
• The phases and dynamics of an intervention
• Alternatives to interventions
• Issues confronted after an intervention

Ex-Members: Coping with Triggers

Joseph F. Kelly; Patrick Ryan
Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements
July 14-16, 2005, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, (Spain)

“Floating” is a word often used in association with “trancing out,” “spacing out,” “being triggered,” or “dissociation.” Ex-cult members describe floating in several ways, including (but not limited to) feeling disconnected, feeling as though you’re watching yourself live your life, having spells during which you experience uncontrollable emotions (usually sadness or anger) that are not appropriate to what is happening at the moment.

Floating is also described as having exaggerated physical sensations, having anxiety or mild panic attacks, or having a fantasy or dream-like vision, almost like a dream that invades your waking state. Most ex-members report that these experiences make them feel as though there  is something drastically wrong with them; they feel as though they may be going crazy.

The purpose of this presentation is to take the fear out of these experiences and bring about some understanding that they are not abnormal.

Triggered experiences are common to people who have been through a traumatic experience or prolonged periods of stress.

Life in a cult is stressful and, for some former members, extremely traumatic. In addition, cults induce altered states of consciousness in many ways. Some cults produce tranceinduced experiences through meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, guided visualization, auditing, and/or decreeing.

Other cults produce dissociative states when they put members through long, confrontational (“struggle”) sessions.  Still others overload the senses through rhythmic drumming, music, information overload, or simply through long, emotionally laden sermons or lectures.

Periods of floating are usually brought on by a trigger. Dr. Margaret T. Singer speaks  of  the importance of being able to define and label these varying experiences. To define the word trigger, she uses the following examples: “It triggered my memory of . . .”; “it reminds me of . . .”; “it made me recall or re-experience memories.”

This session will discuss triggers and how to manage them.

Communicating with Cult Members
Linda Dubrow-Marshall, Ph.D.; Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly; David Clark
Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements
July 14-16, 2005, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, (Spain)

Personal Change in an Eastern Group
Gina Catena; Discussant: Patrick Ryan
ICSA Annual International Conference
June 22-24, 2006, Denver, CO

Workshop for Family Members
Livia Bardin, M.S.W.; William Goldberg, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.; Patrick Ryan
ICSA Annual International Conference
June 22-24, 2006, Denver, CO

Topics discussed may include:

• The nature of psychological manipulation and abuse
• When exit counseling might be appropriate and how to prepare
• Why people join and leave high-control, abusive groups
• How to assess your situation
• How to communicate more effectively with your loved one
• Learning new ways of coping
• Problem-solving
• Ethical issues
• Formulating a helping strategy

Coping with Triggers
Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan
ICSA Conference
June 29-July 1, 2007 Brussels, (Belgium)

How to be Helpful: The Importance of Information
Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan; Amanda van Eck Duymaer van Twist
ICSA Conference
June 29-July1, 2007 Brussels, (Belgium)

Four Approaches to Helping Families
Lois Svoboda, M.D., LMFT, Moderator; David Clark; Joseph Szimhart; Joseph Kelly/Patrick Ryan; Steve Hassan, M.Ed., LMHC, NCC
ICSA Conference
June 26-29, 2008, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Each presenter has spent at least 20 years helping families concerned about a loved one involved in a cultic group. Yet they represent four distinct approaches to working with families (Kelly and Ryan work as a team). In this session, each of the four approaches will be briefly described, and then the presenters will answer questions from the audience.


Religious Conflict Resolution for Families
slideshow
Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.; Patrick Ryan
ICSA Conference (slideshow)
June 26-29, 2008, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Research suggests that, in the West, hundreds of thousands of individuals join and leave cultic groups each year. Research studies also suggest that at least a sizeable minority of those who join cultic groups are adversely affected. The families of these group members, and probably many other families, tend to become concerned about their loved one‘s group involvement.

Roughly 80 percent of the groups that cause concern are religious. The psychological, political, and occasionally commercial groups that aren‘t overtly religious often influence members‘ lives as though they were religions because they typically bring about a major shift in members‘ views of self, world, and other—i.e., a conversion experience.

During the past 25 years, most professionals who work with these families have emphasized helping them persuade their loved ones to leave cultic groups. Exit counseling, a process aimed at helping families create conditions under which their loved one will reevaluate a group involvement, has been very valuable to thousands of grateful families and group members. (Exit counseling is also often referred to as ―thought reform consultation.)

Nevertheless, only a very small percentage of families are able to proceed to an exit counseling intervention. In many cases, an intervention is not possible or even appropriate because the loved one‘s relationship to a group does not fit the typical pattern of exploitative manipulation associated with the subjects of exit-counseling interventions, even though the family may have valid concerns. In other cases, the loved one may be so attached to the group (e.g., because of family ties within the group, decades of commitment, fear of adjusting to the mainstream world) that his or her departure is unlikely, even with an intervention.

Very little attention has been paid to this large majority of families for whom exit counseling is not feasible or appropriate.


Workshop for Family Members
Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.; Ron Loomis; Patrick Ryan
ICSA Conference
June 26-29, 2008, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA


This workshop will help family members concerned about a loved one‘s cult involvement or its aftereffects learn how to assess their situations more effectively and how to evaluate strategic options. Among the topics to be discussed are:

• Why people join and leave high-control, abusive groups.
• How to assess your situation.
• How to communicate more effectively with your loved one.
• Identifying and coping with your own problems.
• Ethical issues.
• Formulating a helping strategy.
• When exit counseling might be appropriate and how to prepare.

A Loved One in a Group? Dealing with Alarm and Assessing the Problem (Parts 1 and 2)
Conference
William Goldberg, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.; Discussant(s) Patrick Ryan
July 2-4, 2009, Université de Genève, Genève, (Switzerland)


This session will explore issues that families have to deal with when they become concerned about a loved one involved in a cultic group, including: recognizing and evaluating the sense of alarm; dealing with the anxiety and uncertainty of family members; identifying the kinds of information that are needed to assess the problem;and acquiring and evaluating that information.

Conversion and Worldviews (Parts 1 and 2)
Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.
Discussants: William Goldberg, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.; Patrick Ryan
July 2-4, 2009, Université de Genève, Genève, (Switzerland)

This session will examine conversion in general and conversion to cultic belief systems specifically.
Conversion will be conceptualized as a shift in worldview that results in a person’s looking at self, world, and relationships in different ways. The challenge for families and friends of people who have experienced cultic conversions is to understand the convert’s new worldview and to communicate with him/her accordingly. Such “cross-cultural communication” is vital to enhancing the relationship with the cult-involved loved one and to finding ways to lessen conflict.

Enhancing Relationships by Communicating Across Worldviews - I and II
Facilitator: William Goldberg, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Discussants: Michael Langone, Ph.D.; Patrick Ryan
July 2-4, 2009, Université de Genève, Genève, (Switzerland)

This session will be discussion oriented. It is designed to help family members concerned about a loved one’s cultic involvement to improve communication with him/her. The discussion presumes familiarity with material discussed in previous sessions: “A Loved One in a Group? Dealing with Alarm and Assessing the Problem” and “Conversion and Worldviews.”


Family Discussion: Alarm, Assessment, Conversion, Worldviews, Relationships, and Action (Part 1 and 2)
Facilitator: William Goldberg, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Discussant: Patrick Ryan
July 2-4, 2009, Université de Genève, Genève, (Switzerland)

This session will be discussion oriented. It will try to help families apply lessons from previous family sessions, explore action options, and consider the consequences of various courses of action.

Workshop for Families and Others: Understanding and Responding to Cultic Involvements Overview, Conversion, Conflict Resolution
Michael Langone, Ph.D.; William Goldberg, M.S.W.; Patrick Ryan
ICSA 2010 Annual International Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Harm

Discussion for Families and Friends of Group Involved Persons: Assessment, Communication, Relationship Building, Strategizing
William Goldberg, M.S.W.; Patrick Ryan
ICSA 2010 Annual International Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Harm
July 1-3, 2010, NY, NY

What Can Families Do?
Linda Dubrow-Marshall; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan
Cultic Groups in Society, “Prevention, Information, Assistance”
September 18-19, 2010, Istituto Madonna del Carmine “Il Carmelo”, Via Doganale 1 Ciampino, Roma, (Italy)

Family members concerned about a loved one‘s cult involvement or its aftereffects need to learn how to assess their situations more effectively and how to evaluate strategic options. This session will explore the problems families face and steps they can take to address these problems.

A Loved One in a Group? Dealing with Alarm and Assessing the Problem
William Goldberg, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., Psy.A.; Discussant: Patrick Ryan
2011 International Conference, Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, Social Addictions, and Harm
Organized jointly by the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and Atención e Investigación de Socioadicciones (AIS), with the collaboration of Info-Cult/Info-Secte and the University of Barcelona
July 7-9, 2011, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, (Spain)

Enhancing Relationships by Communicating Across Worldviews
Facilitator:  William Goldberg, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., Psy.A.; Discussant: Patrick Ryan
2011 International Conference, Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, Social Addictions, and Harm
Organized jointly by the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and Atención e Investigación de Socioadicciones (AIS), with the collaboration of Info-Cult/Info-Secte and the University of Barcelona
July 7-9, 2011, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, (Spain)

A Mediation Approach to Exit Counseling
Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly
2011 International Conference, Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, Social Addictions, and Harm
Organized jointly by the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and Atención e Investigación de Socioadicciones (AIS), with the collaboration of Info-Cult/Info-Secte and the University of Barcelona
July 7-9, 2011, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, (Spain)

Workshop for Families and Former Members
Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly
January 29, 2012, Philadelphia, PA

Special Event: Jehovah’s Witnesses, Former Members and Families
May 12, 2012, Philadelphia, PA
About ICSA (who are we and why do we feel we can talk about the JW Organization)

• Exploring a psychological perspective (experiences in the organization as women, men, lgbt)
• Is the JW organization a cult? What’s a cult anyway?
• Why do people leave?
• Can departures be facilitated?
• What problems do people have when they leave?
• How can they manage these problems?
• Disfellowshipping

A Seminar for Families and Former Members

May 5-6, 2012, Ft. Myers, FL

Mental Health Issues in Cult-Related Interventions
October 13, 2013,  Philadelphia, PA


Restoring Family Connections
Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly
INFORM Spring Seminar: "New Religious Movements and Counselling"
MAY 18, 2013, London School of Economics. London, UK

ICSA Family Workshop: "BUILDING BRIDGES"
Patrick Ryan, Coordinator; Eileen Barker; Joseph Kelly; Shelly Rosen; Philip Simo; Doni Whitsett
July 3, 2014, Washington, DC


Mental Health Issues in Cult-Related Interventions
Philadelphia, PA
October 13, 2013

Family Workshop: Building Bridges
Patrick Ryan, Coordinator; Eileen Barker, Ph.D.; Joseph Kelly; Philip Simo; Doni Whitsett, Ph.D.
2014 International Cultic Studies Association International Conference, Washington, DC
July 3, 2014

Family Workshop: Building Bridges
Patrick Ryan, Joseph Kelly
2015 International Cultic Studies Association International Conference, Stockholm, Sweden
June 24, 2015

"Cultic Group Intervention: Exploring internal experiences in Yoga, Qigong and Transcendental Meditation"
Patrick Ryan, Joseph Kelly
Center for the Study of Cultic Groups & Religious Culture
Beijing Union University, Beijing, China
August 15, 2015

Building Relationships and Communicating with the Cult Involved
Facilitator: Steve Eichel; Discussants – Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan
ICSA Santa Fe Conference: High-Control Groups: Helping Former Members La Fonda on the Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico
November 6, 2015

Exit Counseling and Conflict Resolution
Facilitator Michael Langone; Discussants: Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan
ICSA Santa Fe Conference: High-Control Groups: Helping Former Members and Families
La Fonda on the Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico
November 7, 2015


Case Discussion: Families
Facilitator: William Goldberg; Stimulus Presentation by Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly; Case-Focused Group Discussion
ICSA Santa Fe Conference: High-Control Groups: Helping Former Members and Families
La Fonda on the Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico
November 7, 2015

Workshop for Families: A Collaborative Approach to Addressing a Loved One's Cult-Related Involvement
Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan, Rachel Bernstein
2016 International Cultic Studies Association International Conference
June 29, 2016, Dallas, TX

Panel: Inside Out — One Group, One Fugitive Swami: Three Different Experiences
Karen Jonson; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan
2016 International Cultic Studies Association International Conference
June 29, 2016, Dallas, TX

Leaving and Recovering from Cultic Groups and Relationships: Workshop for Families and Former Members
Rachel Bernstein, Joseph Kelly, Patrick Ryan, Doni Whitsett, Ph.D.
Center For Inquiry, International Cultic Studies Association International
October 15-16, 2017 Hollywood, CA

Presentations by Joseph Kelly

After the Cult "Coping with Trance States; Hypnosis and Trance"

Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly

May 21-22, 1992, Stony Point, NY

After the Cult "Coping with Trance States; Hypnosis and Trance"

Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly

May 21-22, 1993, Stony Point, NY

After the Cult

Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly

June 2-4, 1995, Stony Point, NY

Workshop for Loved Ones: "How to Help a Loved One Affected by a Cult"

Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly

June 7-9, 1996, Stony Point, NY

Former Group Members Workshop

Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly

May 30-31, 1997, Philadelphia, PA

Exit Counseling

Conference Women and Cults: Psychological Manipulation: The Abuse of Women

Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly

May 30-31, 1997, Philadelphia, PA

Panel: From Deprogramming to Thought Reform Consultation

Carol Giambalvo; Patrick Ryan; Hana Whitfield; Joseph Kelly

1998 Jonestown Memorial Conference, 20 Years After Jonestown: What Have We Learned About Cults

November 13-15, 1998, Chicago, IL

Thought Reform Consultation (Exit Counseling): Helping Families Address a Loved One’s Group Involvement

Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly

"Children and Cults" Conference

May 29-31, 1998, Philadelphia, PA

Workshop for former members of cultic groups

Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly

November 19–21, 1999, Stony Point, NY

Coping with Trance States; Hypnosis and Trance

Workshop for Former Group Members

Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly

1999 Conference: Cults, Psychological Manipulation & Society

May 14-16, 1999, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

Can Cultic Groups Change? The Case of ISKCON

Anuttama Dasa; Radha Dasi; Joseph Kelly; Michael Langone, Ph.D.

1999 Conference: Cults, Psychological Manipulation & Society

May 14-16, 1999, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

Thought Reform Consultation: A Panel Discussion

David Clark; Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan; Hana Whitfield; Jerry Whitfield;

Mike Kropveld, Moderator

1999 Conference: Cults, Psychological Manipulation & Society

May 14-16, 1999, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

Thought Reform Consultation

David Clark; Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan; Hana Whitfield; Jerry Whitfield

Conference: Cults and the Millennium

April 28-30, 2000, Seattle, WA

Workshop for Former Group Members

Coordinator: Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly; Wendy Ford Wolfberg, M.Ed.

Cults, Conversion, Science and Harm

May 4-5, 2001, New York City

Thought Reform Consultation

David Clark; Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan; Hana Whitfield; Jerry Whitfield

Conference: Cults, Conversion, Science and Harm

May 4-5, 2001, New York City

Inner Experience and Conversion

Michael Langone, Ph.D.; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan

Conference: Understanding Cults and New Religious Movements -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families

June 14-15, 2002, Orlando, FL

Exit Counseling Case Study: Psychotherapy Group

Carol Diament; Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly

Conference: Understanding Cults and New Religious Movements -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families

October 17-18, 2003, Enfield, CT

Workshop for Former Group Members

Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly

Conference: Understanding Cults and New Religious Movements -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families

October 17-18, 2003, Enfield, CT

Coping with Triggers

Joseph Kelly

Conference: Understanding Cults and New Religious Movements -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families

October 17-18, 2003, Enfield, CT

Workshop for Former Group Members

Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly

Conference: Understanding Cults and New Religious Movements -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families

June 13-14, 2003, Orange, CA

Exit Counseling Case Study: Eastern Group

Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly

Conference: Understanding Cults and New Religious Movements -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families

June 13-14, 2003, Orange, CA

Workshop for Former Group Members

Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly

Conference: Understanding Cults and Other Charismatic Groups -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families

June 11-12, 2004, Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)

Coping with Triggers

Joseph Kelly

Conference: Understanding Cults and Other Charismatic Groups -- Perspectives of Researchers, Professionals, Former Members, and Families

June 11-12, 2004, Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)

Former Group Members

Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly

AFF Conference: Understanding Cults, New Religious Movements, and Other Groups

October 14, 2004, Atlanta, GA

Coping With Triggers

Joseph Kelly

AFF Conference: Understanding Cults, New Religious Movements, and Other Groups

October 14, 2004, Atlanta, GA

Question and Answer Session for Families

William Goldberg, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.; Patrick Ryan; David Clark; Joseph Kelly

Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements

July 14-16, 2005, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, (Spain)

Experienced exit counselors and a psychotherapist who has worked in this field for more than 25 years will field questions from family members concerned about a loved one’s group involvement.

Exit Counseling Panel

David Clark; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan

Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements

July 14-16, 2005, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, (Spain)

Three experienced exit counselors (thought-reform consultants) will discuss their work, to help attendees appreciate the variety of approaches in this field and the kinds of issues that families, group members, and thought-reform consultants encounter. Among the issues to be discussed from the different perspectives of the speakers are:

• The ethics of an intervention
• Assessing a family situation
• Determining whether an intervention is appropriate
• Family preparation
• The phases and dynamics of an intervention
• Alternatives to interventions
• Issues confronted after an intervention

Ex-Members: Coping with Triggers

Joseph F. Kelly; Patrick Ryan

Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements

July 14-16, 2005, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, (Spain)

“Floating” is a word often used in association with “trancing out,” “spacing out,” “being triggered,” or “dissociation.” Ex-cult members describe floating in several ways, including (but not limited to) feeling disconnected, feeling as though you’re watching yourself live your life, having spells during which you experience uncontrollable emotions (usually sadness or anger) that are not appropriate to what is happening at the moment.

Floating is also described as having exaggerated physical sensations, having anxiety or mild panic attacks, or having a fantasy or dream-like vision, almost like a dream that invades

your waking state. Most ex-members report that these experiences make them feel as though there  is something drastically wrong with them; they feel as though they may be going crazy.

The purpose of this presentation is to take the fear out of these experiences and bring about some understanding that they are not abnormal.

Triggered experiences are common to people who have been through a traumatic experience or prolonged periods of stress.

Life in a cult is stressful and, for some former members, extremely traumatic. In addition, cults induce altered states of consciousness in many ways. Some cults produce trance induced experiences through meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, guided visualization, auditing, and/or decreeing.

Other cults produce dissociative states when they put members through long, confrontational (“struggle”) sessions.  Still others overload the senses through rhythmic drumming, music, information overload, or simply through long, emotionally laden sermons or lectures.

Periods of floating are usually brought on by a trigger. Dr. Margaret T. Singer speaks  of  the importance of being able to define and label these varying experiences. To define the word trigger, she uses the following examples: “It triggered my memory of . . .”; “it reminds me of . . .”; “it made me recall or re-experience memories.”

This session will discuss triggers and how to manage them.

Communicating with Cult Members

Linda Dubrow-Marshall, Ph.D.; Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly; David Clark

Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements

July 14-16, 2005, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, (Spain)

Mini-Workshop for Ex-Members – I, II

Lorna Goldberg, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.; Joseph F. Kelly

Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements

July 14-16, 2005, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, (Spain)

This mini-workshop is for former group members only, not family or friends. This workshop is an abridged version of weekend workshops AFF has been running for more than 10 years. Topics to be discussed include:

• the nature of psychological manipulation and abuse
• coping with depression and guilt
• effects of hypnosis and trance techniques
• coping with feelings of anger
• coping with anxiety
• decision-making
• dependency issues
• reestablishing trust in yourself and others
• the grieving process
• reintegration/identity issues
• spiritual and philosophical concerns

Evolution and Variation Within a Movement: The Case of ISKCON

Anuttama Dasa; Hanuman Dasa; Merudevi Dasi; Joseph Kelly; Michael Kropveld; Michael Langone,Ph.D.

Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Other Alternative Movements

July 14-16, 2005, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, (Spain)

ISKCON, the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, is informally known to nonmembers as “the Krishnas” or the “Hare Krishna organization.”

In 1999 at its annual conference in Minneapolis, the International Cultic Studies Association (then known as AFF—American Family Foundation) organized a panel that brought together an exit counselor, Joseph Kelly; AFF’s Executive Director, Michael Langone, Ph.D.; ISKCON’s Director of Communications, Anuttama Dasa; attorney and ISKCON devotee Radha Dasi; and moderator, Steve Dubrow-Eichel, Ph.D. The title of this panel was “Can Cultic Groups Change:

The Case of ISKCON.”

The idea for this panel came out of informal discussions that leaders of ICSA (AFF) had had with Anuttama Dasa and several of his colleagues. The ICSA (AFF) leaders became convinced that Anuttama and  others within ISKCON were genuinely trying to reform the organization to free it of the kinds of abuses that had fueled much external criticism of it in the 1970s and 1980s.

Joseph Kelly, an exit counselor who had helped several families get loved ones out of ISKCON, had told his colleagues within AFF that considerable variation existed within ISKCON. Some temple heads abused those under them; others did not. Indeed, Mr. Kelly had (and has) a good friend who has been a long-time Krishna devotee.

Some experts in ICSA (AFF) had believed for many years that cultic groups could vary significantly across geographical locations and over time. This nuanced perspective was contrary to the black-and-white views that were thought to be widely held within the so-called “anti-cult” movement.

However, AFF leaders believed that it was time to challenge this limited view by having a public dialogue with members of a controversial organization.

To the surprise of many, the audience favorably, even enthusiastically, responded to the panel discussion. Radha Dasi’s critical look at the role of women in ISKCON was especially popular. Audience members found that they and their ISKCON guests shared a common concern for the mistreatment of individuals.  The ISKCON members’ saffron robes, Hindu beliefs, and nonmainstream lifestyle were not concerns. ISKCON members and conference attendees were

both troubled by violations  of human dignity and rights. In that, they found common ground.

Since that panel discussion,  ICSA (AFF) has held several additional sessions on ISKCON, with attendees reflecting a variety of views, including  those of former members of ISKCON, who still see serious problems with the organization, although they respect the motivations and honesty of people such as Anuttama. One of these former members, Nori Muster, author of  Betrayal of the Spirit, has spoken at ICSA (AFF) conferences and has published an article in  Cultic Studies Review, “Authoritarian Culture and Child Abuse in ISKCON” (Vol. 3, No. 1).

In 2005, ISKCON is still evolving. The panel discussions at this conference (to be given in English, French, and Spanish, with some variation among speakers in the three languages) will elaborate on current ICSA (AFF) concerns, the history of ISKCON, the variations within the organization today (especially in Europe), and the diverse cultural contexts that affect ISKCON members and those who take an interest in ISKCON, whether critical or favorable.

The goal of these panels is to continue to advance the candid dialogue that began in 1998, a year before the first ISKCON panel at an ICSA (AFF) conference, to make the critical community aware of the changes within ISKCON.

Workshop for Former Group Members

Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly

ICSA Annual International Conference

June 22-24, 2006, Denver, CO

Topics discussed include:

• Nature of psychological manipulation and abuse
• Conditions of thought-reform programs
• General recovery needs of former members
• Coping with depression and guilt
• Effects of hypnosis and trance techniques
• Coping with feelings of anger
• Coping with anxiety
• Decision-making
• Re-establishing trust in yourself and others
• Dependency issues
• The grieving process
• Reintegration/identity issues
• ·Spiritual and philosophical concerns

Coping with Triggers

Joseph Kelly; Carol Giambalvo

ICSA Annual International Conference

June 22-24, 2006, Denver, CO

Dissociation is a disturbance in the normally integrative functions of identity, memory, or consciousness. It is also known as a trance state. It is a very normal defense mechanism.

You've all probably heard of how a child being abused — or persons in the midst of traumatic experiences — dissociate. Those are natural occurrences to an unnatural event.

What are some of the events in the life of a cult member that may bring on dissociation?

• Stress of maintaining beliefs.
• Stress of constant activities.
• Diet/sleep deprivation.
• Discordant noises — conflicts.
• Never knowing what‘s next.

There are many, many ways to produce a dissociative or trance state:

• Drugs,
• Alcohol.
• Physical stress (long-distance running).
• Hyperventilation.
• Rhythmic voice patterns or noises (drumming).
• Chanting.
• Empty-minded meditation.
• Speaking in tongues.
• Long prayers.
• Guided visualizations. ―Imagine…
• Confrontational sessions (hot seat, auditing, struggle sessions).
• Decreeing.
• Hypnotism or ―processes
• Hyper arousal — usually into a negative state so the leaders can rescue you (ICC confessions).
• Ericksonian hypnosis (Milton Erickson) hypnotic trance without a formal trance induction.

Why are we so concerned about trance states?

• Individuals don‘t process information normally in trance states.
• Critical thinking — the arguing self — is turned off.
• Also turned off are reflection, independent judgment, decision-making.

In trance you are dealing with the subconscious mind, which has no way to tell the difference between something imagined or reality — it becomes a real experience which is interpreted for you by the group ideology.

• Once in a trance, people have visions or may ―hear‖ sounds that are later interpreted or you in the context of the cult mindset — the ―magic— while, in reality, they are purposely manufactured physiological reactions to the trance state.
• While in trance you are more suggestible — not just during trance, but for a period of time up to two hours after.
• When a person dissociates, it becomes easier and easier to enter into a dissociative state — it can become a habit — and it can become uncontrollable.

You may have heard it said that not everyone can be hypnotized … that you need to be able to trust the hypnotist‘s authority. While it‘s true that there are degrees of hypnotizability, dissociative states may be induced indirectly. What if instead of telling you that ―now we‘re going to hypnotize you, the leaders just say, ―Let‘s do a fun process — close your eyes and imagine …?

• Are you told to trust your leaders?
• Do they have your best interest at heart?

And what if they are using Ericksonian hypnosis, where there is no formal trance induction?

What is Ericksonian Hypnosis? It‘s an interchange between two people in which the hypnotist must:

• Gain cooperation.
• Deal with resistant behavior.
• Receive acknowledgement that something is happening.

Ericksonian hypnosis involves techniques of expectation, pacing and leading, positive transference, indirect suggestion, the use of ―yes sets,‖ deliberate confusion, the embedding of messages, and suggestive metaphor.

Coping with Triggers

Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan

ICSA Conference

June 29-July 1, 2007 Brussels, (Belgium)

How to be Helpful: The Importance of Information

Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan; Amanda van Eck Duymaer van Twist

ICSA Conference

June 29-July 1, 2007 Brussels, (Belgium)

Four Approaches to Helping Families

Lois Svoboda, M.D., LMFT, Moderator; David Clark; Joseph Szimhart; Joseph Kelly/Patrick Ryan; Steve Hassan, M.Ed., LMHC, NCC

ICSA Conference

June 26-29, 2008, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Each presenter has spent at least 20 years helping families concerned about a loved one involved in a cultic group. Yet they represent four distinct approaches to working with families (Kelly and Ryan work as a team). In this session, each of the four approaches will be briefly described, and then the presenters will answer questions from the audience.

Workshop for Former Group Members

Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly

ICSA Conference

June 26-29, 2008, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

• Nature of psychological manipulation and abuse.
• Conditions of thought-reform programs.
• General recovery needs of former members.
• Coping with depression and guilt.
• Effects of hypnosis and trance techniques.
• Coping with feelings of anger.
• Coping with anxiety.
• Decision-making.
• Re-establishing trust in yourself and others.
• Dependency issues.
• The grieving process.
• Reintegration/identity issues.
• Spiritual and philosophical concerns.

Workshop for Former Group Members

Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly; Joyce Martella, M.A.

ICSA 2010 Annual International Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Harm

July 1-3, 2010, NY, NY

The purpose of the workshop is to introduce former members to each other and prepare them for the conference and to discuss:

• Triggers – why they happen so often at conferences and how to deal with triggers whenever they occur (taking the sting out of triggers!).
• Setting up a support system for oneself.
• Introduce former members to what happens at conferences and what sessions would appeal particularly to former members; ICSA‘s open policy;
• Safety issues for former members.
• Overview of the Recovery Process.

Coping with Triggers

Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly

ICSA 2010 Annual International Conference: Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Harm

July 1-3, 2010, NY, NY

Dissociation is a disturbance in the normally integrative functions of identity, memory, or consciousness. It is also known as a trance state. It is a very normal defense mechanism.

You've all probably heard of how a child being abused—or persons in the midst of traumatic experiences—dissociate. Those are natural occurrences to an unnatural event.

What are some of the events in the life of a cult member that may bring on dissociation?

• Stress of maintaining beliefs.
• Stress of constant activities.
• Diet/sleep deprivation.
• Discordant noises—conflicts.
• Never knowing what‘s next.

There are many, many ways to produce a dissociative or trance state:

• Drugs.
•  Alcohol.
• Physical stress (long-distance running).
• Hyperventilation.
• Rhythmic voice patterns or noises (drumming).
• Chanting.
• Empty-minded meditation.
• Speaking in tongues.
• Long prayers.
• Guided visualizations.
• Confrontational sessions (hot seat, auditing, struggle sessions).
• Decreeing.
• Hypnotism or ―processes.
• Hyper arousal—usually into a negative state so the leaders can rescue you (ICC confessions).
• Ericksonian hypnosis (Milton Erickson) hypnotic trance without a formal trance induction.

Why are we so concerned about trance states?

• Individuals don‘t process information normally in trance states.
• Critical thinking—the arguing self—is turned off.
• Also turned off are reflection, independent judgment, and decision making.
• In trance you are dealing with the subconscious mind, which has no way to tell the difference between something imagined or reality—it becomes a real experience which is interpreted for you by the group ideology.

Once in a trance, people have visions or may ―hear‖ sounds that are later interpreted for you in the context of the cult mindset—the ―magic‖—while, in reality, they are  purposely manufactured physiological reactions to the trance state.

While in trance you are more suggestible—not just during trance, but for a period of time up to two hours after.

When a person dissociates, it becomes easier and easier to enter into a dissociative state—it can become a habit—and it can become uncontrollable.

You may have heard it said that not everyone can be hypnotized … that you need to be able to trust the hypnotist‘s authority. While it‘s true that there are degrees of hypnotizability, dissociative states may be induced indirectly. What if instead of telling you that ―now we‘re going to hypnotize you,‖ the leaders just say, ―Let‘s do a fun process—close your eyes and imagine …‖? Are you told to trust your leaders? Do they have your best interest at heart? And what if they are using Ericksonian hypnosis, in which there is no formal trance induction?

What is Ericksonian Hypnosis? It‘s an interchange between two people in which the hypnotist must:

Gain cooperation, deal with resistant behavior, receive acknowledgement that something is happening.

Ericksonian hypnosis involves techniques of expectation, pacing and leading, positive transference, indirect suggestion, the use of ―yes sets,‖ deliberate confusion, the embedding of messages, and suggestive metaphor.

What Can Families Do?

Linda Dubrow-Marshall; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan

Cultic Groups in Society, “Prevention, Information, Assistance”

September 18-19, 2010, Istituto Madonna del Carmine “Il Carmelo”, Via Doganale 1 Ciampino, Roma, (Italy)

Family members concerned about a loved one‘s cult involvement or its aftereffects need to learn how to assess their situations more effectively and how to evaluate strategic options. This session will explore the problems families face and steps they can take to address these problems.

A Mediation Approach to Exit Counseling

Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly

2011 International Conference, Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, Social Addictions, and Harm

Organized jointly by the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and Atención e Investigación de Socioadicciones (AIS), with the collaboration of Info-Cult/Info-Secte and the University of Barcelona

July 7-9, 2011, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, (Spain)

Introduction and Overview for Former Members of Cultic Groups

Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly

2011 International Conference, Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, Social Addictions, and Harm

Organized jointly by the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and Atención e Investigación de Socioadicciones (AIS), with the collaboration of Info-Cult/Info-Secte and the University of Barcelona

July 7-9, 2011, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, (Spain)

Understanding and Coping with Triggers

Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly

2011 International Conference, Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, Social Addictions, and Harm

Organized jointly by the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and Atención e Investigación de Socioadicciones (AIS), with the collaboration of Info-Cult/Info-Secte and the University of Barcelona

July 7-9, 2011, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, (Spain)

Dissociation is a disturbance in the normally integrative functions of identity, memory, or consciousness. It is also known as a trance state. It is a very normal defense mechanism.

You've all probably heard of how a child being abused—or persons in the midst of traumatic experiences—dissociate. Those are natural occurrences to an unnatural event.

This session discusses how dissociative states may be produced, some of the events in the life of a cult member that may bring on dissociation, and how to cope with the ―triggers,‖ the stimuli that may bring on dissociative or trance-like states.

Workshop for Families and Former Members

Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly

January 29, 2012, Philadelphia, PA

Special Event: Jehovah’s Witnesses, Former Members and Families

Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly, Steve Eichel

May 12, 2012, Philadelphia, PA

• About ICSA (who are we and why do we feel we can talk about the JW Organization)
• Exploring a psychological perspective (experiences in the organization as women, men, lgbt)
• Is the JW organization a cult? What’s a cult anyway?
• How are cultic groups different from and similar to other kinds of groups?
• Why do people leave?
• Can departures be facilitated?
• What problems do people have when they leave?
• How can they manage these problems?
• Disfellowshipping

Restoring Family Connections

Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly

INFORM Spring Seminar: "New Religious Movements and Counselling"

London School of Economics

May 18, 2013

Mental Health Issues in Cult-Related Interventions

Philadelphia, PA

October 13, 2013

Family Workshop: Building Bridges

Patrick Ryan, Coordinator; Eileen Barker, Ph.D.; Joseph Kelly; Philip Simo; Doni Whitsett, Ph.D.

2014 International Cultic Studies Association International Conference, Washington, DC

July 3, 2014

Family Workshop: Building Bridges

Patrick Ryan, Joseph Kelly

2015 International Cultic Studies Association International Conference, Stockholm, Sweden

June 24, 2015

"Cultic Group Intervention: Exploring internal experiences in Yoga, Qigong and Transcendental Meditation"

Patrick Ryan, Joseph Kelly

Center for the Study of Cultic Groups & Religious Culture

Beijing Union University, Beijing, China

August 15, 2015

Building Relationships and Communicating with the Cult Involved

Facilitator: Steve Eichel; Discussants – Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan

ICSA Santa Fe Conference: High-Control Groups: Helping Former Members

La Fonda on the Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico

November 6, 2015

Exit Counseling and Conflict Resolution

Facilitator Michael Langone; Discussants: Carol Giambalvo; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan

ICSA Santa Fe Conference: High-Control Groups: Helping Former Members and Families

La Fonda on the Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico

November 7, 2015

Case Discussion: Families

Facilitator: William Goldberg; Stimulus Presentation by Patrick Ryan; Joseph Kelly; Case-Focused Group Discussion

ICSA Santa Fe Conference: High-Control Groups: Helping Former Members and Families

La Fonda on the Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico

November 7, 2015

Workshop for Families: A Collaborative Approach to Addressing a Loved One's Cult-Related Involvement

Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan, Rachel Bernstein

2016 International Cultic Studies Association International Conference

June 29, 2016, Dallas, TX

Panel: Inside Out — One Group, One Fugitive Swami: Three Different Experiences

Karen Jonson; Joseph Kelly; Patrick Ryan

2016 International Cultic Studies Association International Conference

June 29, 2016, Dallas, TX

Leaving and Recovering from Cultic Groups and Relationships: Workshop for Families and Former Members

Rachel Bernstein, Joseph Kelly, Patrick Ryan, Doni Whitsett, Ph.D.

Center For Inquiry, International Cultic Studies Association International

October 15-16, 2017 Hollywood, CA