I would like to post regarding this topic. Much of what has been said has articulated 2 sides to this issue. I think in my opinion I am in the middle on this issue. I believe that this organization does have certain behavioral tendencies that would indicate that it is a cult and some that don't.
If there is an issue between 2 parties and or negative energy of other individuals towards another even if its baseless and or was caused in part by the incompetence of the facilitators and or TA's then it is a cult because of the way that you are insulted and it hinders the very training that they intend to promote. I would be very weary of an attorney named Martin Boyd and a so called LPC who is not professionally trained in clinical by the name of Laurie Mitchell as they are individuals who don't promote 2 sides of an issue properly or fairly. If others in the training view you as negative energy it defeats your purpose this happened to me over another individual who's cousin I knew but they didn't know. The way the setting is I felt very uncomfortable to express my concerns and I noticed this person's wife asked them whether he was lying and they accused me of promoting and or jeapordizing the secrets of the room. Even when I disclosed to said privately that my conversation with their wife was only about whether they were someone I knew who was what I thought was their last cousin based on last name and genetics. Of course I commented off the cuff to others in the class only my side of the story and was ridiculed. Then in addition when they say that money is not an issue if you overpress your classmates they can be offended because some people can't afford the walk. My roommate felt that way about me and I had to explain to him due to misunderstandings and multiple messages that in fact it was the organization that encouraged me to "SURRENDER" and ask other classmates for financial help as an option and they do stress that I would advise against such behavior. I was able before I walked out of the walk to convince this individual that in fact I did not seek to shake this person for money. When I explained to them NOT TO SELL their antique family guns but rather another unncessary gun the funds achieved would not have been enough to help me when he had his expenses. This gentleman understood the misunderstanding to his credit after 20 minutes of conversation which occurred during a 2 hour break where most of it was spent ONLY WITH OTHER MEMBERS and NOT WITH THE ABILITY TO CONTACT FAMILY OR TAKE CARE OF OTHER PERSONAL THINGS. I think based on this experience that during the training itself that privacy is not present there is an over application of requiring or strongly encouraging after the day's training to spend all free time with those in the training. Again that to me even as verbose as I am I still want my privacy especially when many of the things you hear about other people humble you and can also depress you further. So a real break from that from the people in that room is recommended. If you join this please keep these points in mind and outside the room keep a healthy moderate distance from other members of the room. Also make sure that your name is not dragged through the mud the way mine was. Frankly, this organization is in my opinion is away from its roots and would be more suitable if some of these issues were resolved AND It returned to its roots by having some one who is in fact not an LPC but rather a PHD in Psychology who is clinically trained in addition to being trained with their methods. If they strongly view you as a threat they will not let you at least defend an attack made at you. Its so irritating because Mr. Boyd is in fact a criminal lawyer of all people you know that everyone is innocent till proven guilty and he and Mitchell made my life very difficult and they also did that to another individual. They act like judge jury and prosecutor and that is not fair and that does indicate in mind in addition of what I spoken about Cult tendencies.
HOWEVER, given the actual specific definition it is not a cult. But I can see how many here can feel that way given my experience. My advice do not seek help from this organization UNLESS they obtain a Licensed PHD Clinical Psychologists so their methods can be regulated by the State.
If there is an issue between 2 parties and or negative energy of other individuals towards another even if its baseless and or was caused in part by the incompetence of the facilitators and or TA's then it is a cult because of the way that you are insulted and it hinders the very training that they intend to promote. I would be very weary of an attorney named Martin Boyd and a so called LPC who is not professionally trained in clinical by the name of Laurie Mitchell as they are individuals who don't promote 2 sides of an issue properly or fairly. If others in the training view you as negative energy it defeats your purpose this happened to me over another individual who's cousin I knew but they didn't know. The way the setting is I felt very uncomfortable to express my concerns and I noticed this person's wife asked them whether he was lying and they accused me of promoting and or jeapordizing the secrets of the room. Even when I disclosed to said privately that my conversation with their wife was only about whether they were someone I knew who was what I thought was their last cousin based on last name and genetics. Of course I commented off the cuff to others in the class only my side of the story and was ridiculed. Then in addition when they say that money is not an issue if you overpress your classmates they can be offended because some people can't afford the walk. My roommate felt that way about me and I had to explain to him due to misunderstandings and multiple messages that in fact it was the organization that encouraged me to "SURRENDER" and ask other classmates for financial help as an option and they do stress that I would advise against such behavior. I was able before I walked out of the walk to convince this individual that in fact I did not seek to shake this person for money. When I explained to them NOT TO SELL their antique family guns but rather another unncessary gun the funds achieved would not have been enough to help me when he had his expenses. This gentleman understood the misunderstanding to his credit after 20 minutes of conversation which occurred during a 2 hour break where most of it was spent ONLY WITH OTHER MEMBERS and NOT WITH THE ABILITY TO CONTACT FAMILY OR TAKE CARE OF OTHER PERSONAL THINGS. I think based on this experience that during the training itself that privacy is not present there is an over application of requiring or strongly encouraging after the day's training to spend all free time with those in the training. Again that to me even as verbose as I am I still want my privacy especially when many of the things you hear about other people humble you and can also depress you further. So a real break from that from the people in that room is recommended. If you join this please keep these points in mind and outside the room keep a healthy moderate distance from other members of the room. Also make sure that your name is not dragged through the mud the way mine was. Frankly, this organization is in my opinion is away from its roots and would be more suitable if some of these issues were resolved AND It returned to its roots by having some one who is in fact not an LPC but rather a PHD in Psychology who is clinically trained in addition to being trained with their methods. If they strongly view you as a threat they will not let you at least defend an attack made at you. Its so irritating because Mr. Boyd is in fact a criminal lawyer of all people you know that everyone is innocent till proven guilty and he and Mitchell made my life very difficult and they also did that to another individual. They act like judge jury and prosecutor and that is not fair and that does indicate in mind in addition of what I spoken about Cult tendencies.
HOWEVER, given the actual specific definition it is not a cult. But I can see how many here can feel that way given my experience. My advice do not seek help from this organization UNLESS they obtain a Licensed PHD Clinical Psychologists so their methods can be regulated by the State.
