Local Support Locations
I think of all the words in the world that I've ever heard, the two most lovely and encouraging are, "Me, too."
- Support Groups: reFOCUS does not have "official" support groups, nor do we endorse any of the following. The following are support groups that are currently meeting. The list at the end consists of support groups that are open not only to former members of cults, but to families of cult members.
Colorado:
Fort Collins:Facilitator: Hal Mansfield. Contact: (970) 490-2032
California:
Los Angeles: Facilitated by Rachel Bernstein, who is a therapist and who has worked for years with the Cult Hot Line and Clinic in New York. Meets the first Thursday of the month; please call first to see if the group is appropriate for you: (818) 907-0036
Sacramento Area: Renewed Directions, P.O. Box 227, Loomis, CA 95650. Facilitator: John Morehead (916) 631-7896 tqi@quiknet.com
San Francisco Area: (Mill Valley)Facilitator: Colleen Russell, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, (415) 383-7721, email crussellmft@earthlink.net
Colleen and Janja Lalich, Ph.D. will be facilitating workshops in the San Francisco Bay Area for former cult members and for individuals born and/or raised in cults. If interested, send an email to Colleen Russell crussellmft@earthlink.net or Janja Lalich drlalich@sbcglobal.net .
Connecticut:
Westbrook: Co-led by Vanessa Weber, Kristin DeVoe and Richard Poletunow, meets monthly (except July) on the first Sunday of the month, 1:30-4:00. Please call for more information: 860-399-0190
Nebraska:
Omaha: Victim of an abusive church? Bible based cult? Authoritarian group? Here in Omaha and the surrounding areas, like everywhere else, these groups still exist. There is help and hope and support! Our support group focuses on providing a safe place to recover and reflect on what happened to you or your family. We also look at building skills that help us as former members not fall back into other manipulative settings to be victimized again. You will know that there are others who have been through similar situations, you are not alone...there is power in that! On the first Friday of every month from 7pm to 9:30 pm we will be meeting to share, network, and learn together. If you have interest feel free to e-mail or call. We will try to respond quickly. Tricia and Jimmy Cartledge ~ 402-991-9289 triciacartledge@q.com
New Hampshire/Vermont
Facilitator: Brad Hibbard, please contact via e-mail before calling: Rhavin54@hotmail.com
New Jersey/New York:
Meets monthly in Englewood, NJ. Facilitators: Bill & Lorna Goldberg. (201) 894-8515. Email: blgoldberg@aol.com
Meets bi-monthly at Seton Hall University. Facilitator: Tom Morris. (973) 763-2735 mordog2@juno.com
Dallas, Texas: for former members of cults, high-demand groups, or spiritually abusive groups. The support group provides a safe place to discuss personal experience as a former member, a nonjudgmental group of peers, and basic educational information about cultic groups. The group meets on the 4th Saturday of the month in Dallas, Texas from 3-5 pm. Call 214-607-1065 or e-mail at info@dallascult.com for more information.
Washington
Seattle area. Facilitator: John Goldhammer (206) 306-0322
Sweden:
SESAM - call 0709-90-16-23 for more information and see their web site at http://home.swipnet.se/FRI
Support Groups for former members of Jehovah's Witnesses:
California:
San Francisco Bay Area Ex-Jehovah's Witness Support Group, P.O. Box 6472, San Rafael, CA 94903. Facilitators: Wendy Taylor and Wayne Rogers. Contact: 408-354-2707 or email Wendy at wendy@wjtaylor.com
Fremont, CA - For more information, call 510-790-8960
New York:
The Lighthouse. Facilitator: Barbara Castillo. Contact (718) 393-0056
Texas:
Spring, Texas: Cult Prevention and Recovery Assistance Network, Shawn A. Svacha, Director. 281 655-7235
Support Groups open to former members AND families of cult-involved individuals: Tennessee:
Tennessee Valley: (Christian perspective) Coordinators: Randy & Susan Rogers (423) 339-1664. Email: Rafael Martinez.
Melbourne, Australia:
A support group for former cult members and family members of those who are involved in cults offered by CARM (Cult Awareness Research Ministry. Meetings are once a month on the first Tuesday of every month at 8:00 p.m. Contact Troy Waller at 03-9699-1536 Visit their web site for information about next scheduled meeting and location: http://carm.home.ml.org
Helping Resources:
Colorado:
Rocky Mountain Resource Center, 629 S. Howes, Ft. Collins, CO 80521 (970) 490-2032
Rosanne Henry, M.A., L.P.C. Rosanne is a licensed professional counselor in private practice in the Denver area. She specializes in the Recovery from Cults and Other Abusive Relationships. She served as vice president and then, co-director of the former Cult Awareness Network Denver affiliate from 1991 to 1996. She now serves on ICSA�s Board of Directors. Rosanne has also facilitated ICSA'S Recovery Workshops in Estes Park for the last ten years. She is a former member of an Eastern based cult called Kashi Ranch. Visit her web site: http://www.cultrecover.com
There is a comprehensive list of helping resources on ICSA's web site: http://icsahome.com