Scientology Help Resources

8 Steps out of Scientology
24 hour newsgroup discussion of Scientology news events and questions
What to do when a friend or loved-one joins a cult
The story of how people sometimes leave Scientology
Get help from former cult members NOW
Recovery from Scientology
A Questionnaire for Ex-Scientologists
Find loved ones 'lost' in Scientology and Dianetics

Hanna and Jerry Whitfield
Exit Counselors, Former Members

location: 119 SE 43rd Lane
Cape Corral, FL 33904
telephone: (941) 945-4118
fax: (941) 945-2799

Hana and Jerry Whitfield are exit counselors and thought reform consultants specializing in Scientology and Dianetics. They have done extensive research and education on the subjects of thought reform, mind control, manipulation, trance, hypnosis, and civil and human rights abuses. They adhere to the "Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants" as published in Cultic Studies Journal (American Family Foundation, vol. 13, no. 1, 1996) and as found on this web page: http://members.aol.com/carol2180/ethical.htm. Jerry was a member of Scientology for 10 years; Hana was a member for 20 years. Accounts of Hana’s Scientology experience are covered in the following books: Captive Hearts, Captive Minds by Madeline Tobias and Janja Lalich; L. Ron Hubbard: Messiah or Madman? By Bent Corydon; and Barefaced Messiah by Russell Miller.
Steve Hassan

Cult Expert, Cult Counselor, Media Consultant, Author, Former Member

web site: <http://www.freedomofmind.com>
E-Mail: center@freedomofmind.com
location: P.O. Box 45223
Somerville, MA 02145-0002
telephone: (617) 628-9918

Steve Hassan is author of Combatting Cult Mind Control, the number one best-selling guide to recovery from destructive cults. He recently wrote Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves, which is considered to be the "state of the art" guide to understanding how to undo mind control programming. Hassan holds a master's degree in counseling psychology from Cambridge College and has been involved in educating the public about destructive cults in America for over twenty-five years. A former cult member and licensed mental health counselor, thousands of people have sought out Hassan for advice, counseling, and support. He runs the Freedom of Mind Resource Center, a counseling and publishing organization.
Free Video of Steve Hassan:

Constructing Social Reality: Many factors contribute to our interpretation of reality. This program demonstrates how understanding the psychological processes that govern our behavior may help us to become more empathetic and independent members of society. With Steven Hassan, M.Ed., of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center and Dr. Robert Cialdini of Arizona State University.
Priscilla Coates

Cult Expert

location: Glendale, CA
telephone: (818) 244-3794

Priscilla Coates is a former executive director of the Cult Awareness Network. She is well-informed on a wide range of cultic groups, is familiar with Scientology, and recently has been researching Heaven's Gate.
Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center
email: info@wellspringretreat.org
web site: wellspringretreat.org
location: PO Box 67
Albany, OH 45710
telephone: (614) 698-6277
Contact: Dr. Paul Martin, psychologist and executive director
Ron Burks, associate clinical director
Larry Pile, cult researcher

Wellspring is a residential treatment facility for persons traumataized through abusive relationships and cultic organizations, the only such facility in the world. Wellspring has been a place of recovery for hundreds of survivors and ex-members of abusive groups and relationships.
Watchman Fellowship
web site: www.watchman.org
location: Birmingham, AL
telephone: (205) 871-2858
Contact: Craig Branch, regional director and vice president

Watchman Fellowship is a Christian organization, whose mission is "to both reach out to those lost in the darkness of the cults and equip Christians to engage in this vital ministry.... [by] educating the community, equipping the church, evangelizing the cults." Watchman works from a Christian perspective with both religious and secular communities in the areas of cult education, prevention, and intervention as well as research, analysis, and counseling of former cult members and families of cult members.
Janja Lalich

Researcher, Author, Cult Expert, Former Member of a Political Cult

Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology
California State University, Chico
Chico, CA 95929-0445
Tel: 530-898-5542
Fax: 530-898-4571
email: jlalich@csuchico.edu

Janja Lalich has a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems and a Master's Degree in Human Development. She is currently teaching full-time at California State University, Chico, but also serves as a resource to families, members, and former members; professionals such as laywers, educators, psychologists and social workers; and to the media. She most recently appeared on "Meet the Press," and has lectured at universities and other forums across the country. A former member of a political cult, she has focused her research on cultic political movements as well as other types of extremist groups, and has an overall interest in charismatic commitment and control. She is also co-author with Margaret Singer of Cults in Our Midst and Crazy Therapies (both published by Jossey-Bass), and with Madeleine Tobias of Captive Hearts, Captive Minds: Freedom and Recovery from Cults and Abusive Relationships (Hunter House Publishers). She was Guest Editor of a special issue of the Cultic Studies Journal, entitled "Women Under the Influence: A Study of Women's Lives in Totalist Groups." See:
<http://www.csj.org/infoserv_profile/lalich_janja.htm>
<http://www.csj.org/rg/rgbooks/rgbk_womenunderinfl.htm>
<http://www.rickross.com/reference/heavensgate/gate25.html>
<http://www.anandainfo.com/untitled1.html>
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN%3D0787902667/104-7484833-1575943>
<http://www.hunterhouse.com/authorshow.asp?bid=85>
<http://www.cultobserver.com/guestcolumn/coguest135.htm>
<http://www.omnimag.com/archives/chats/ls050197.html>