What Cult Survivors Wish Therapists Knew

“I was tired of paying my therapist to teach her about cults.”

The quote in the subtitle comes from Laura, a former member of the International Churches of Christ (ICOC), formerly known as The Boston Church of Christ. After 13 years in the group, she struggled with the mental health system for 11 years. She was misdiagnosed and stigmatized, contributing to her trauma.

Laura’s therapists weren’t trained to recognize or treat cult members. When she contacted me and finally received cult informed specialized counseling, things changed dramatically for her. Laura was able to put words to her experiences, realize what had happened to her, and learn how to heal from her experiences in the cult.