Post-Cult CounsellingHVC
Post-Cult CounsellingHVC
As the term 'Post-Cult Counselling' is a generic term, the use of HVC (Hope Valley Counselling) distinguishes Gillie's approach from others' use of the term.
Post-Cult CounsellingHVC is a specialised approach to counselling ex-cult members and survivors of spiritual abuse. It has been developed by Gillie, integrating years of clinical experience; Gestalt psychotherapy; pastoral counselling; studying other writers/practitioners who work in this field as well as the thought reform (sometimes called mind control) model developed by Wellspring Retreat and Resource Centre [www.wellspringretreat.org].
What does Post-Cult CounsellingHVC entail in practice?
When an individual contacts Gillie she has an initial free chat about what she has to offer. If that individual is interested in her services she offers a formal mutual assessment of 1-2 hours (charged at same price as all other therapy). Throughout this assessment she learns about the individual's experience and assesses if she is suited to working with their issues. At the same time she explains her training, how she works and what the Post-Cult CounsellingHVC will ential in practice. Gillie is open about her training and what she can offer. If a potential client wishes Gillie can supply references and she has a current, clear, CRB check and Insurance.
Gillie worked with secondary school children from 2008-2011 at Hope Valley College and has also worked with children who have left a cultic situation, alongside Dr. Paul Martin at Wellspring in 2008.
If an individual decides to see Gillie for Post-Cult Counselling she provides them with an 'Agreement for Post-Cult CounsellingHVC' which is mutually agreed at the start of therapy, and sets out the expectations and boundaries for this work. Gillie also asks clients to fill out a monitoring form at the beginning and ending of therapy in order to evaluate whether therapy has been effective.
Gillie's research (and others) shows that education about how cults gain control, identifying the cult pseudo-personality, and de-briefing any trauma are all vital parts of the therapy - as is the therapeutic relationship. Gillie calls this the Psycho-Ed-Relational Approach.
In the sessions Gillie will listen carefully and respond - she does not sit quietly and say nothing or offer a 'blank screen' as some approaches do. She is a lot more interractive than many therapists - she also does her utmost to attune to each client and to respond appropriately. She brings her experience, understanding of cults, thought reform and training to bear in order to help each individual understand their experience more fully. Gillie offers her support in order that recovery from any traumatic experiences may take place as this is an emotional as well as psycho-educational journey.
Gillie's Model for Post-Cult CounsellingHVC and what it entails (this is tailored to each client or group of clients):
Margaret Singer sums up the post-cult recovery process thus:
“The array of necessary adjustments can be summed up as coming out of the pseudo-personality.” “I present them in a sequence....a kind of peeling off of the outer layer of identity that was taken on while in the cult. The process is a matter of recovering one’s self and one’s value system, and of keeping whatever good was learned during cult days while discarding all the not-so-good.” (Singer, 2003, Cults in our Midst, p.301/2)
Gillie believes the cult-pseudo personality is formed by a process of introjection: “Introjection is...material – a way of acting, feeling, evaluating – which you have taken into your system of behaviour but which you have not assimilated in such fashion as to make it a genuine part of.....your self.”
“The organism (person) takes the ‘material’ in on the basis of forced acceptance, a forced (and therefore pseudo) identification and that although it is a foreign body, the organism resists it being dislodged”. Perls et.al,Gestalt Therapy, 1951)
Gillie suggests that the way to recover from the cult pseudo-personality is to 'chew over' the experience, discard and eliminate what is not nutritious, and to hold on to what is, as the individual moves forward to form a 'post-cult personality'. (Jenkinson, 2008, An Investigation into cult Pseudo-Personality: What is it and how does it form?', Cultic Studies Review, Vol.7, No.3 - internet - www.icsahome.com)
The Post-Cult CounsellingHVC Model addresses and facilitates 'chewing over' the layers that have been introjected after being in a cult. The areas that may need to be addressed are:
Understanding the cult pseudo-personality and how it forms
Understanding Lifton's 8 components of thought reform and applying them
Understanding Robert Cialdini's theories of 'Influence'
Understanding psychopathology of a cult leader/guru
Understanding projection/identification with the aggressor/abuser
Understanding how boundaries were violated
Understanding trauma and how the brain and body are affected
Understanding the effect and impact of sexual abuse or violence
Understanding how to disarm triggers
Understanding Third Culture Kid issues and the confusion of leaving one 'culture' and entering another
Understanding how to make friends
Understanding how anger and rage may be affected - following Sue Parker Hall's model (Anger, Rage and Relationship, 2008, Routledge)
Exploring spirituality issues (if you are ready)
Watching TV programmes including Derren Brown - The Heist and Messiah amongst others
Watching relevant films - e.g. The Wave, Egomania
Because all these issues take time to address Gillie suggests a block of time is set aside to spend looking at the psycho-educational issues above and that this is then followed up by weekly (or more frequent) telephone, skype, or face-to-face sessions.
In order to overcome the logistics of travel a good number of ex-cult members have had stayed for a time in the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District (see photos).
'Time Away in the Peak District' - explained below:
Gillie offers a more extended therapy time, so, for example individuals or groups can stay locally in the beautiful Peak District [www.peakdistrictonline.co.uk] in a bed and breakfast or a hotel and spend approximately 4 hours (in 2 hour blocks) a day with Gillie in order to start the process of understanding the cult experience more fully whilst having a break from the pressures of life. The sessions are spread out each day in order to allow for time to process the information.
A plan for what issues to cover on the days away is mutually agreed on beforehand and adjusted if necessary as the time away progresses. Gillie suggests the longer spent on this the better (and two weeks is ideal) but that at least four days are spent together: 2 hours on 1st day; 4 hours on 2nd and 3rd days; 2 hours on final day (12 hours in all). Gillie has also seen people weekly for 4 hours, if they can travel to Derbyshire.This is then followed up by therapy either on the telephone, skype or face-to-face. Some return for a follow up later. The hourly charge is the same as for other therapy and some find that finances restrict the length of time they can spend doing the 'Time Away'. It may be more financially viable to do 'Time Away' in a group if a number of individuals have left a group/organisation.
If you are interested please contact Gillie either by telephone or email for a discussion about what might suit you best. Gillie is happy to have an intial discussion for free (as this is not a formal assessment session).
