International Cultic Studies Association conference (Santa Fe)

ICSA Conference
High Demand Groups: Helping Former Members and Families

The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is conducting a conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico November 2-3, 2013. This conference will focus on the helping needs of former group members and families concerned about a loved one in a high-demand or cultic group or relationship. The conference will take place at La Fonda on the Plaza, one of Santa Fe's finest hotels, located in the heart of the old city.

The agenda will address the needs of those seeking help and those who want to help others. 

Speakers include some of the cultic studies field's most experienced mental health professionals, as well as other experts.  Among the mental health professionals attending will be contributors to a book project that will present the clinical state of the art in this field.

Attend this conference if you are interested in how psychologically manipulative and demanding groups can hurt people and what can be done to help those who are harmed.

   
Details: http://events.icsa.name/overview-santa-fe

ICSA Annual International Conference

Governments, Human Rights and the Cult Phenomenon
Washington, DC July 3-5, 2014

 

The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is conducting its 2014 Annual International Conference jointly with Info-Secte/Info-Cult of Montreal at the Sheraton Silver Spring, which is located 10 minutes by subway from downtown Washington, DC. The conference will take place from July 3-5, 2014. On July 2nd there will be pre-conference workshops on research and education and a pre-conference orientation for former members of cultic groups. The conference itself will include special tracks for mental health professionals and former members of groups, as well as many other topics.

Details: http://events.icsa.name/

International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA): Conference

High-Demand Groups: Helping Former Members and Families, November 2-3, 2013, Santa Fe, New Mexico 

Registration and other info: http://events.icsa.name (look left for Santa Fe links). Registration fees increase on September 1st.

Go directly to online registration: http://bit.ly/11RScSW 

This conference will focus on the helping needs of former group members and families concerned about a loved one in a high-demand or cultic group or relationship.

The conference will take place at La Fonda on the Plaza, one of Santa Fe’s finest hotels, located in the heart of the old city. Santa Fe has been chosen to give ICSA’s western supporters an opportunity to attend a conference closer to home.

Speakers include some of the cultic-studies field’s most experienced mental health professionals, as well as other experts. Among the mental health professionals attending will be contributors to a book project that will present the clinical state of the art in this field. 

Attend this conference if you are interested in how psychologically manipulative and demanding groups can hurt people and what can be done to help those who are harmed.

Manipulation, Abuse, and Maltreatment in Groups

ICSA 2013 Annual Conference
Trieste, Italy
July 4–6, 2013

The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is conducting its 2013 Annual International Conference jointly with SOS Abusi Psicologici, Exit S.C.S. Onlus, and Info-Secte/Info-Cult. More than 100 speakers will present in English and/or Italian.

More info: http://icsahome.com/pdf/fax_mail_conf.pdf 

Attendees and speakers at past conferences have been diverse, including academicians, researchers, helping professionals, former and current group members, families, attorneys, clergy, educators, and others.

Details of 2013 Conference Speakers http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/event_conferences_workshops_speaker.asp
 

Cheerio,
 
The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous

Abuses in the Troubled Teen Industry

One Day Conference 20^th April 2013 (USA) for details Click Here:

http://icsahome.com/pdf/fax_mail_spev_dc.pdf

Co-sponsored by the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth (CAFETY) Including: Overview of the Cultic Influences in the Troubled Teen Industry. 

Can't make it? Shame. So why not put your feet up with a packet of crisps and watch a few home videos instead..

Straight Inc. and its descendants: Torture and Treatment

Surviving Straight, The documentary: http://www.survivingstraightincthemovie.com/

“Don’t have your son and your daughter become one of us. Don’t think for a minute that place went away. It’s too smart for that. It just changed, and moved, and put a new name on itself. But there are still children out there being tortured, one day at a time.” 

Straight Inc. Boston: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_JBV2_etGk

 

“..and to make matters worse, Scots mother says she was not informed, and not even allowed to ask about her son’s injuries..” 

 

CBS News: Kids and Straight Inc:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDH3IT_ddTc

“I have grave concern that the program has evolved into a cult” 

The Times Online: SAFE = Straight Inc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5PXmvknypI&list=PLBE196CC2C08C3212

“It was something like the Twighlight Zone or something, everyone was yelling, like stop, wait. Two people, you know, grabbed me, had me up against a wall…” 

WCPO TV investigates Kids Helping Kids closure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkIMcJ0MlFU&list=PLBE196CC2C08C3212 “..when we first  investigated after former clients and some parents called it a brainwashing cult.”

Congressional Hearing 2008; Straight Inc. model pervades:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyK3XlsWIEQ

 

Return of Pathway: http://www.pfctruth.com/ 

NATSAP - Jan Moss 2007 Congressional Hearing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtQJ8MWINtM&playnext=1&list=PL92FE4010DF42541C&feature=results_main

“..We just know that there are thousands of cases of reported deaths and abuse….” 

Congressional Hearings 2008, Government Accountability Office investigation telephone recordings:

 

1)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-nkRyp-p28

2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAkkOU74if4&playnext=1&list=PLEE758B17681E3F1F&feature=results_video

3)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5txr_Vy6jWc&playnext=1&list=PLEE758B17681E3F1F&feature=results_video

4)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CII5u97LKP0

5)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiHsqWuFRlU 

Synanon Cult: Origin of Straight Inc., The Seed, Pathway, as well as a multitude of various behaviour modification programmes in the United States:

http://www.pfctruth.com/pathwayorigins.htm 

“By the early 1970s, the federal government itself had funded its own Synanon clone. It was located in Florida and Ohio and was known as the SEED……On September 1st, 1976 Mel Sembler and Joseph Zappala founded a program virtually identical to the SEED, staffed by former SEED parents and participants. They named it Straight Incorporated…… This program was highly controversial due to the style of therapy it used, called “Tough Love,” that has been likened to brainwashing…….The Pathway Family Center, Detroit was founded in 1993 by former Straight Inc. program director Helen Gowanny, 15 miles from the old Straight Inc. facility near Detroit……” 

Over the GW - full movie: http://vimeo.com/28493462 “Over the GW based on a true story of an abusive, cult-like drug-rehabilitation center.

“Eventually led to believe that the only thing keeping them alive is the program, the frightened siblings fall victim to a detestable form of brainwashing while navigating a cult-like maze of confusion and struggling to maintain their true identities.” 

“Must-see indie film!” - Huffington Post 

“Not to be missed!”- Chicago Sun-Times 

“The rehab drama is here to stay!”-The New York Times

31% of AA’s USA membership results from treatment centre referrals (Wikipedia) - Time to keep an eye on ICYPAA [International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous]? 

Happy viewing,

Cheerio,

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)

“Founded in 1979, the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is a global network of people concerned about psychological manipulation and abuse in cultic groups, alternative movements, and other environments. ICSA is tax-exempt, supports civil liberties, and is not affiliated with any religious or commercial organizations.

ICSA's mission is to apply research and professional perspectives on cultic groups to educate the public and help those who have been harmed”

Comment: A source of useful information for those so affected

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous) 

Cults: Useful resources

Beginning our series:

“Michael D. Langone, is an American counseling psychologist who specialises in research about "cultic" groups and psychological manipulation. He is executive director of the International Cultic Studies Association, editor of the journal Cultic Studies Review.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Langone

“Founded in 1979, the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is a global network of people concerned about psychological manipulation and abuse in cultic groups, alternative movements, and other environments. ICSA is tax-exempt, supports civil liberties, and is not affiliated with any religious or commercial organizations.”

"ICSA's mission is to apply research and professional perspectives on cultic groups to educate the public and help those who have been harmed." http://www.icsahome.com/

ICSA documentation on Alcoholics Anonymous: http://www.google.com/cse?cx=001799989780590661597%3A5b8gyda5z5a&ie=UTF-8&q=alcoholics+Anonymous&sa0=Search#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=alcoholics%20Anonymous&gsc.page=1

Characteristics Associated with Cultic Groups –Revised, Michael D. Langone, Ph.D.

http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/faq_whatisacult.asp?Subject=Characteristics+Associated+with+Cultic+Groups+-+Revised#More

Videos: 05 - Michael Langone: Overview - First Part http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU1H9Irjka8  
06 - Michael Langone: Overview - Second Part http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdRqUV4v6ww   
Michael Langone- Deradicalization Conference Session III Speaker IV http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qk_lCXMnz4

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to this contributor