Yes, Landmark can give some people some useful skills, but from what I have observed, this comes at the expense of their character and their free will.
At Landmark, they define integrity as doing what you have said that you will do, and often it is. But consider this: What if you have promised to do something, and after rethinking it, you have decided that it is wrong?
In my mind, it takes more integrity and courage to back out and refuse than it takes to follow through, but at Landmark, this would put one "out of integrity."
I am also very turned off by the way that they coach people to not take "no" for an answer. When I was still participating in Landmark, I got numerous phone calls from others who were trying to enroll me in the ILP.
I told them many times, flat out, that I was not interested, but the calls persisted.
When I left the program, I told them that I had discussed this decision with my therapist, and that she had agreed that further participation was not in my highest good. In spite of the fact that they instruct us, in writing, to follow the advice of our doctors and therapists, they continued to call me.
About a month after I left, I got one call, in particular, which really showed their manipulative tendencies. The caller informed me that "my" ILP program would begin the following week. I told her that I had NOT signed up for the ILP. She responded that it was already paid for. I reiterated to her the information about the advice of my therapist, and instructed her to refund the money to whoever had paid it. The calls continued for several months, until I threatened to file a complaint, if they ever called me again.
If you read anything on psychopathy and narcissism, you will see many traits that Landmark actually trains into its participants.
At Landmark, they define integrity as doing what you have said that you will do, and often it is. But consider this: What if you have promised to do something, and after rethinking it, you have decided that it is wrong?
In my mind, it takes more integrity and courage to back out and refuse than it takes to follow through, but at Landmark, this would put one "out of integrity."
I am also very turned off by the way that they coach people to not take "no" for an answer. When I was still participating in Landmark, I got numerous phone calls from others who were trying to enroll me in the ILP.
I told them many times, flat out, that I was not interested, but the calls persisted.
When I left the program, I told them that I had discussed this decision with my therapist, and that she had agreed that further participation was not in my highest good. In spite of the fact that they instruct us, in writing, to follow the advice of our doctors and therapists, they continued to call me.
About a month after I left, I got one call, in particular, which really showed their manipulative tendencies. The caller informed me that "my" ILP program would begin the following week. I told her that I had NOT signed up for the ILP. She responded that it was already paid for. I reiterated to her the information about the advice of my therapist, and instructed her to refund the money to whoever had paid it. The calls continued for several months, until I threatened to file a complaint, if they ever called me again.
If you read anything on psychopathy and narcissism, you will see many traits that Landmark actually trains into its participants.