Recovery Workshop for Former Group Members
August 5 – 7th, 2011
Colorado Springs, CO
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

February 2011

Trauma, Cults, and Combat PTSD: Applying a Cognitive Processing Therapy Program for Soldiers to Cult Recovery. On Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 3:00 – 5:30 p.m., Madeleine Tobias, APRN, will speak on this subject at an ICSA Special Event in New York City. Her talk will take place at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (site of coming ICSA local meetings – see below). For many years Madeleine Tobias, co-author ofCaptive Hearts, Captive Minds, and Take Back Your Life, was a counselor to former cult members. In 1994 she began to work at the Vet Center (Readjustment Counseling Services) a division of the Veteran’s Administration, where she applied her experience dealing with trauma in former cult members to the needs of combat veterans and those with military sexual trauma. Now, Ms. Tobias would like to discuss how what she has learned in her trauma work with veterans can apply to the recovery needs of ex-cult members. In this special ICSA event, Ms. Tobias will present her ideas and lead an extended discussion on the subject of trauma and cults. All who are interested in this subject are welcome to attend and participate in the discussion, including mental health professionals, former group members, families of the cult involved, researchers, and students. Flyers and e-mail announcements will go out soon. If you want to make sure you receive announcements on this event, New York local meetings, and future New York events, please add your e-mail to the New York sign-up box on our local meetings page:http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/event_localmeetings.asp

ICSA Annual Conference in Barcelona. All ICSA members should have received Barcelona conference flyers in the post and via e-mail. If you did not receive a flyer, make sure we have your up-to-date street and e-mail addresses. Conference information: http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/event_conferences_work shops.asp

ICSA’s History and Future. New York Local Meetings. On January 22, 2011 Michael Langone talked about ICSA’s 32-year history at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in New York City. This church will be the site of ICSA local meetings in New York, which will begin on Friday, March 25th (7:00 – 9:00 pm). The facilitators of the NY local meetings spoke briefly and described their plans for the meetings: Chris Carlson, Shelly Rosen, and Dan Shaw. Dr. Langone’s Power Point presentation is now on the Web:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B7wsUBpBPDH5OGIzNjIzM2UtMmFlMC00MDg4LTliZWQtZDZhNzJmYTU3OTBj&hl=en If you want to make sure you receive announcements on New York local meetings and future New York events, please add your e-mail to the New York sign-up box on our local meetings page: http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/event_localmeetings.asp

The Phoenix Project, an exhibit of art and literary works which have been created by former cult members, is calling for works to be presented at this year’s annual conference of the International Cultic Studies Association, to be held outside of New York City, July 1-3. (http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_conferences/conference_home_2010_ny.asp )

If you are a former member of a cult or high demand organization, we invite you to participate in this upcoming exhibit to present your group or recovery related artwork.

Please submit proposals of your visual art, drama, dance, music, video, or literary works that illustrate the world of the cult survivor—including the previous group world, healing or recovery, or aspects of the time of transition from the cult or high-demand organization—to the Phoenix Project at exmemberartwork@yahoo.com.

Creations may be in any art form, including but not limited to: literary (such as poetry, drama, short story, or other writings), music of any kind, dance, and the visual arts (such as paintings, drawings, collage, sculpture, fiber arts, photography, film, video, or multi-media).

If desired, this work may be presented anonymously, or through another presenter.

Further, we particularly ask for works by those who have been helped or touched by Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center, and especially by its founder and director, the late Dr. Paul Martin. Dr. Martin’s care for the ex-cult member, love of the arts, and belief in the value of the arts as an illuminating tool in the explanation of cult affiliation and recovery come together in the Phoenix Project, and we wish to honor him and his work this year.

Not only will this exhibit illuminate the reality of cult and high demand organization life, and its effects on individuals, we believe that it will also provide an empowering experience for participating artists, who will have the opportunity to tell their own stories in their own ways.

To submit your art, literary, or other proposals, or for more information, please e-mail Phoenix Project Director and Coordinator Diana Pletts at: exmemberartwork@yahoo.com

Diana Pletts, M.A., directs and coordinates The Phoenix Project, which provides a time and place for cult survivors to present their cult and recovery related artwork. A former member of the Path, a charismatic Christian End-Times group, she is working, herself, on the production of artwork to express her own group involvement. Diana has spoken on cult affiliation at colleges and churches, on the radio, as a speaker for Elderhostel, and at Chautauqua Institution. She is an adjunct speech professor in Maryland, where she lives with her husband, Dennis. Those interested in participating in the Phoenix Project, or in obtaining more information about the Project, are invited to e-mail her at exmemberartwork@yahoo.com.

ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association)
[Formerly AFF (American Family Foundation)]
P.O. Box 2265
Bonita Springs, FL 34133
Phone: 239-514-3081
fax: 305-393-8193
E-mail: mail@icsamail.com
Web site: www.icsahome.com
Bookstore: http://store.icsahome.com

Conferences and Workshops http://www.icsahome.com/idx_events.conferences.htm

Become a Member of ICSA and gain access to an e-Library with over 20,000 items.
http://store.icsahome.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=ICIB&Category_Code=Mem

Free e-Newsletter: http://icsahome.com/idx_icsa.enews.htm

With the Collaboration of Info-Cult/Info-Secte, Montreal, Canada

This conference is for:

o former group members

o people born or raised in cultic groups

o families of group-involved persons

o helping professionals

o researchers

o other people interested in cults and psychological manipulation

More than 90 speakers from 14 countries. Speaker Biographical Sketches (if the preceding and subsequent links do not work for you, copy and paste the Web address into your browser: http://icsahome.com/infoserv_conferences/conference_speakers_2010_ny.asp

Location: Doubletree at George Washington Bridge (2117 Route 4 East, Fort Lee, NJ) – across New York’s Hudson River

Special sleeping room rate: $99/night (available 2 days before and after conference for those wishing to tour New York). Hotel provides a shuttle to and from Manhattan.

Hotel Information (http://icsahome.com/infoserv_conferences/conference_meeting_locations.asp)

Detailed Schedule, including lunch and dinner speakers (http://icsahome.com/infoserv_conferences/conference_agenda.asp)

Special Meal Discussion Tables (http://icsahome.com/infoserv_conferences/conference_mealtables.asp)

Register Now (http://icsahome.com/infoserv_conferences/conference_registration.asp)

Abstracts of Talks (http://icsahome.com/infoserv_conferences/conference_session_bytitle.asp) – click on the title to see the abstract.

Directions (http://icsahome.com/infoserv_conferences/conference_transport.asp)

Call for Work

The Phoenix Project, an exhibit of art and literary works which have been created by former cult members, is calling for works to be presented at this year’s annual conference of the International Cultic Studies Association, to be held outside of New York City, July 1-3.

If you are a former member of a cult or high demand organization, we invite you to participate in this upcoming exhibit to present your group or recovery related artwork.

Please submit proposals of your visual art, drama, dance, music, video, or literary works that illustrate the world of the cult survivor—including the previous group world, healing or recovery, or aspects of the time of transition from the cult or high-demand organization—to the Phoenix Project at exmemberartwork@yahoo.com.

Creations may be in any art form, including but not limited to: literary (such as poetry, drama, short story, or other writings), music of any kind, dance, and the visual arts (such as paintings, drawings, collage, sculpture, fiber arts, photography, film, video, or multi-media).

If desired, this work may be presented anonymously, or through another presenter.

Further, we particularly ask for works by those who have been helped or touched by Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center, and especially by its founder and director, the late Dr. Paul Martin. Dr. Martin’s care for the ex-cult member, love of the arts, and belief in the value of the arts as an illuminating tool in the explanation of cult affiliation and recovery come together in the Phoenix Project, and we wish to honor him and his work this year.

Not only will this exhibit shed light on the reality of cult and high demand organization life, and its effects on individuals, we believe that it will also provide an empowering experience for participating artists, who will have the opportunity to tell their own stories in their own ways.

To submit your art, literary, or other proposals, or for more information, please e-mail Phoenix Project Director and Coordinator Diana Pletts at: exmemberartwork@yahoo.com

Diana Pletts, M.A., directs and coordinates The Phoenix Project, which provides a time and place for cult survivors to present their cult and recovery related artwork. A former member of the Path, a charismatic Christian End-Times group, she is working, herself, on the production of artwork to express her own group involvement. Diana has spoken on cult affiliation at colleges and churches, on the radio, as a speaker for Elderhostel, and at Chautauqua Institution. She is an adjunct speech professor in Maryland, where she lives with her husband, Dennis. Those interested in participating in the Phoenix Project, or in obtaining more information about the Project, are invited to e-mail her at exmemberartwork@yahoo.com.

Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Harm

MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON. MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON ICSA’S MAILING LIST SO THAT YOU CAN GET ANNOUNCEMENTS.

If you are not on their list, send them an e-mail requesting to be added: mail@icsamail.com

This conference, organized in collaboration with Info-Cult/Info-Secte of Montreal, is for:

* anyone interested in cults, psychological manipulation, and related groups
* former group members
* people born or raised in cultic groups
* families of group-involved persons
* helping professionals
* researchers

The conference will take place at the Doubletree Hotel at George Washington Bridge, Fort Lee, New Jersey from July 1-3, 2010. There will be a special social event (to be identified later) on Sunday, July 4th.

On Thursday, July 1, there will be four workshops, as well as sessions in the evening. The workshops (10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.) are:

* Workshop for Former Members of Cultic Groups
* Workshop for Family Members
* Workshop for Mental Health Professionals
* Workshop for Researchers

More than 90 speakers from 14 countries will contribute to the conference. All catered lunches and dinners will include a speaker.

Here are examples of the 70+ presentations in the conference:

· Anger, Rage, Pseudo-Personality and Cults (Sue Parker; Gillie Jenkinson)

· “The Magical Mystery Tour is Dying to Take You Away” – The Beatles’ Experience of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Transcendental Meditation, as Reflected in Their Music (Gina Catena)

· Grandparents and the Second Generation (Amy Siskind, Ph.D.; Lois Kendall, Ph.D.)

· Recent Insights into the Neuroscience of Thought Reform: From Neurons to Groups (Tara Stewart, Ph.D.)

· Psychological Makeup of a Muslim Suicide Bomber (Aftab Khan, M.D..)

· Psychosis and Cults (Dr. Miguel Perlado)

· Impact of Cults on Creativity: Psychological, Sociological, Aesthetic/Philosophical Views (Dana Wehle, L.C.S.W.)

· The Undue Influence Doctrine: A Bastion of Legally Acknowledged Extreme Influence (Linda Demaine, J.D., Ph.D.)

· The Charles Manson Family (Patrick O’Reilly, Ph.D.)

· A Practical Approach for Law Enforcement When Dealing with Cult Groups (Mark Roggeman)

· Public Policy and Cults in Europe (Francois Bellanger, Ph.D.)

· Polish Approaches to Helping Former Cult Members and Families of Cult-Affected Loved Ones (Piotr T. Nowakowski, Ph.D.)

· Islamic Soft Power Antidote to Extremist Terrorism (Kadir Ayhan)

· Sex and a Celibate Holy Man: A Case Study of the Use of Defense Mechanisms to Create and Maintain an Illusion (Alice Herron )

· Something Old, Something New: A Comparative Analysis of 19th Century Utopian Groups With Contemporary New Religious Movements (Ronald Enroth, Ph.D.)

· Boundaries: Recognition and Repair after Leaving a Destructive Cult (Rosanne Henry, M.A., L.P.C.)

· Gnosticism, est and the Legacy of Kevin Garvey (Joseph Szimhart; Vanessa Weber, M.S.W.)

Schedule is subject to change without notice.

Friday 3:00 p.m. April 16, 2010 to Sunday 2:00 p.m. April 18, 2010

Workshop Location: Trinity Conference Center, 79 Lower River Road, West Cornwall, CT 06796 (860-672-1000)

Surviving and Moving On After a High Demand Group Experience

The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) has run workshops for former members of high-demand, “cultic” groups for many years. In recent years increasing numbers of people born or raised in such groups (i.e., “second generation adults” – SGAs) have attended these workshops. These ex-members have special needs, which can be most effectively addressed through a workshop that focuses on them. SGAs do not have a “pre-cult identity” to which they can return. SGAs raised in fringe subcultures have to learn the implicit rules and expectations of mainstream culture. SGAs frequently have educational and other skill deficits that interfere with adjustment to mainstream culture. Having grown up in high-control groups that are often based on irrational belief systems, SGAs tend to struggle with issues of dependency, self-esteem, and social conflict. Because many SGAs were physically or sexually abused, they often have to deal with anger, resentment, and other emotions related to trauma.

This workshop will address the needs of SGAs through a series of brief didactic presentations (supplemented by written handouts) followed by discussions, to which attendees may contribute according to their comfort levels. Specifically, the workshop will address:

* critical thinking

* socialization, culture shock, and acculturation

* psychological development, child abuse and neglect, parenting styles, boundaries, and trust

* long-term psychological, educational, and emotional effects of growing up in a culture of abuse and neglect

* relationships with families and others

This workshop has been made possible by special donations and the willingness of facilitators to volunteer large amounts of their time. Without the dedication of these people, registration fees would be much higher than what is listed below.

The donations cover a substantial portion of the total cost. Therefore, the fees listed below reflect a significant discount. Because many SGAs struggle economically, additional financial assistance is available for those in need. If you would like to apply for financial assistance, please contact us.

The conference center (http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/center/index.html) is located on a bend in the Housatonic River, just a half-mile from the covered bridge in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, on 500 forested acres. The Center is two hours from New York, an hour-and-a-half from Albany, three hours from Boston, and an hour from Hartford and Bradley International Airport (BDL). Contact us if you plan to fly (Hartford’s Bradley Airport would be the closest airport) and will need ground transportation to the conference center.

FEES - Register Online

Fees include sleeping accommodations (Friday and Saturday) and meals (Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Sunday breakfast and lunch). Double occupancy (please tell us your roommate’s name or request that we assign a roommate): $250 per person. Single occupancy: $350 per person.

REGISTRATION- Register Online

Please send us (see top for contact information) a note indicating your interest in attending (SGAs ONLY!) and your name, address, phone(s), and e-mail along with a check (made out to ICSA) or Visa or MasterCard number and expiration date. Or, use the registration form on the back.

Contact us if you would like to apply for financial assistance.

SPACE IS LIMITED, SO PLEASE REGISTER ASAP.

Correspondence to:

ICSA
P.O. Box 2265
Bonita Springs, FL 34133
fax: 732-352-6818
Ph: 239-514-3081
E-Mail: mail@icsamail.com

www.cultinfobooks.com

Psychological Manipulation, Cultic Groups, and Harm

International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)

ICSA has extended the early registration discount deadline for its
special two-day conference http://icsahome.com/infoserv_conferences/conference_home_2009_denver.asp
for ex-members, families, and helping professionals at the Sheraton
Lakewood Denver October 2-3, 2009. Register now for this exciting
conference.

The Denver conference includes four tracks: ex-members, families, mental
health professionals, and miscellaneous.

We also plan to have discussion meal tables for families dealing with
cult-related issues, recovery for ex-members, and other topics.

A special rate is available from the Sheraton Lakewood, and attendees
may take the special rate two days before and after the conference in
order to append a few days of vacation to the conference. The
Sheraton’s guaranteed conference rate of $85/night will expire soon, so register now.

Click here to register for the Conference

Click here to reserve your room at the Sheraton

Click here for agenda of the conference

ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association)
[Formerly AFF (American Family Foundation)]
P.O. Box 2265
Bonita Springs, FL 34133
Phone: 239-514-3081
fax: 305-393-8193
E-mail: mail@icsamail.com
Web site: www.icsahome.com
Bookstore: http://store.icsahome.com