IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A THERAPIST
KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CULTS…

…you’ve come to the right place. And I applaud you for taking this step to heal from the mental, emotional, and spiritual damage caused by being in a cult. Whether you grew up in one and that’s all you’ve ever known, or you just spent a few years in a cult, that damage is real.

When you first leave a cult, there is a period of withdrawal or transition into the “normal” world. Cult survivors may feel guilt, anxiety or depression, fear large groups, be surprised by sudden emotional outbursts, have difficulty sleeping, have nightmares, amnesia or sexual dysfunction. Children who were raised in a cult may find it difficult to integrate into society.

But on a deeper level, you likely wonder who you really are. Do you think or feel something because that’s what you were taught to think or feel, or is it really coming from you? Who is “you?” What matters to you? What makes you laugh, cry, or feel safe? You may know what doesn’t feel safe because you were living for years in a state of fear – the fear of doing or saying the “wrong” thing. But what does it mean to feel safe as the norm?

And if you can’t communicate with family or friends in the cult you left because that isn’t allowed, you are probably experiencing a huge sense of grief and loss – and loneliness. All that you’ve known for years is now denied you.

If you were part of a cult that denigrates psychology, psychiatry, you may feel bad, guilty, for even reading this page. Or seeking help from someone in my profession. And being able to ask questions, expect honest answers, is something you will probably need time to practice.

All of this is normal, expected.

I hope that you are already discovering that being out of the cult gives you a sense of lightness and freedom you hadn’t experienced in a long time, if ever. You begin to realize that no one is monitoring you. And once you do the work to discover who you really are that sense of lightness, joy and well-being will be your steady state. Once you know who you really are, you will be living YOUR life – not someone else’s idea of who you are or should be.

I’ve helped many clients discover self-knowledge and self-care and then create beautiful lives for themselves. I would be honored to help you do the same. See my qualifications and a definition of cults here.

For an appointment,
Or just to ask questions,
Call: 408-486-9202, or
Email: therapist@beaarmstrong.com.