ICSA Special Event in Ft Myers, Florida on May 5-6, 2012 Joining, Leaving, and Recovering from a Cultic Group: Giving and Receiving Support Former Group Members, Families, and Helping Professionals Share Experiences
May 5-6, 2012
Fort Myers, Florida
In order to give more people an opportunity to have face-to-face educational experiences, ICSA is now organizing special events in various cities. Events have been held in London, New York, and Philadelphia. This is the first special event to be held in Florida. The event is designed so that each of the two days can stand alone, giving attendees the option of attending either or both days. Both days will include considerable opportunity for discussion.
Questions to Explore
Attendees and facilitators will explore questions that are often central to the concerns of former members of cultic groups and families/friends troubled about a loved one’s group involvement:
How are cultic groups different from and similar to other kinds of groups?
Why do people join (or are recruited or brought into) and remain in cultic groups?
Why do people leave?
Can departures be facilitated?
What problems do people have when they leave?
How can they manage these problems?
Program
Both days will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., with a 90-minute lunch break. We hope that attendees will chat informally during breaks, in the evening, and after the event.
Saturday will consist of directed discussions aimed at encouraging participants to describe their relevant experiences and explore their current opinions regarding the key questions listed above. (Participants may choose not to contribute to discussions, if they wish.)
On Sunday, each facilitator will give a brief presentation on one or more of the questions, taking into account the discussions of day one. There will be additional opportunities for discussion after each presentation and a wrap-up discussion at the end of day two.
In short, the event will focus on attendees’ experiences and views, not presenters’ prepared talks, so as to help attendees better understand these important questions and enhance their capacity to express themselves and help others as well as themselves.