HELP FOR LOVED ONES OF THE CULT- INVOLVED

DOCUMENT YOUR CONCERNS: Is your loved one being harmed? How has your loved one changed? In what ways?

CHECK OUT WORKBOOK: Coping with Cult Involvement by Livia Barden to give yourself a format or structure to evaluate harm. Available online at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4dmoPK1tYNjMWxQSXJhNUZBOW8/view

BASIC STRATEGIES TO COPE WITH YOUR LOVED ONE’S CULT INVOLVEMENT (primarily from workbook)

ASSESSMENT: HOW BELIEVING IN Q’ANON IS AFFECTING YOUR LOVED ONE

GET EDUCATED: about cults, what they are, and how they work.

RESEARCH: the group, organization and the leader.

EVALUATE THE CULT LEADER: This document describes many cult leaders to various degrees: Profile of a Sociopath. Profile of a Sociopath.

STAY OPEN: Try not to jump to conclusions and stay open to the possibility that this group may not be a cult.

STAY IN CONTACT WITH THE LOVED ONE IN THE CULT. Tips on Communicating With Your Loved One.

READ: LETTING GO AND STAYING CONNECTED: Coping with being out of contact with a cult-involved child by Dana Wehle, C.S. W.  located at www.cultnews101.com/2014/05/letting-go-and-staying-connected.html

GET SUPPORT: personal and professional.

JOURNAL YOUR FEELINGS: especially the ones that you cannot share with your loved one in the cult.

EXPLORE: the possibility and feasibility of Exit Counseling.

PREPARE for your loved one to walk away from the group. Most cultists eventually do leave their group. Try to be patient, it will feel like a vigil, and you will experience unresolved grief.

INTERVENTION: www.intervention101.com

VIDEO: Cults 101 from Judith Patrick on Vimeo. Jim Bergen talks about his cult experience in the Gentle Wind Project.