Cult Expert, Exit Counselor, Author, Lecturer - Thought Reform Consultant - AFF Project Outreach Coordinator, Director of Recovery - President, reFOCUS

email: carol2180@aol.com
web site: <http://hometown.aol.com/carol2180/index.htm>
Workshops (email address: recovery@csj.org)
P.O. Box 2180
Flagler Beach, FL 32136
Phone: 904-439-7541 
Fax: 904-439-7537

Carol Giambalvo’s interest in cults and thought reform began in 1978 when her step-daughter began exhibiting a drastic personality change following becoming a devotee in ISKCON. She began researching cults and thought reform and lectured in local high schools, churches and civic organizations. The more information she gathered on the indoctrination processes and thought reform used in cults, the more concerns arose about her involvement in est and The Hunger Project. In 1983, she and her husband, Noel, left their associations with est, The Hunger Project and Sterling Institute and began a personal search for information to aid their recovery process. Since 1984, Carol has done exit counseling C and writing in the field, as well as serving as director with several organization’s boards, organizing and conducting recovery workshops and working with hundreds of people who have walked away from destructive cults. Carol is married to Noel Giambalvo and currently resides in Florida. She is the parent of two adult children, the grandparent of two; and the step-parent of three, with seven grandchildren.

Director/Officer:
National Board of Directors, Cult Awareness Network (CAN) , 1988-91. 
FOCUS (a support group for former cult members which became a committee of CAN in 1993), National Coordinator from 1986-90; Secretary, Board of Directors, 1990-94 
reFOCUS, (a network of referral and support for former members of closed, high demand groups, relationships or cults) A co-founding board member, secretary, 11/94; president, 3/97 to present 
AFF Board of Directors, 1995 to present; member of the Advisory Board, Chairperson of Thought Reform Consulting Committee, Coordinator of Project Outreach; Director of Recovery Programs, Advisory Board of AFF News. 
CAN, New York/New Jersey affiliate (now known as the Cult Information Service),: Cult Information Service, P.O. Box 867, Teaneck, New Jersey 07666 (201) 833-1212 Executive Committee, 1985-91; Board of Directors, 1984-91. 
Lecturer:
Churches, temples, service organizations, high schools and universities (including N.Y.U., Columbia, University of Miami, Florida International University, University of Central Florida, Hofstra) 
Appearances on national television: Morton Downey Jr. Show, Oprah, Canadian Broadcasting Network’s Fifth Estate documentary on The Hunger Project, CBS: For Our Times; Inside Edition, Today Show. 
Many radio interviews, especially during the time of the Waco tragedy 
Interviews and quotes in many newspapers, magazines and journal articles, including Psychiatric Times. 
Awards:
Hall of Fame Award, National Cult Awareness Network, 1991 
1993 Herbert L. Rosedale Humanitarian Award, AFF

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>

www.meadowhaven.org

18 Crooked Lane
Lakeville, MA 02134
Tel: 508.946.5264
email: neirr@comcast.net

MeadowHaven is located off of I-495 south of Boston heading toward Cape Cod.

MeadowHaven exists to provide a refuge for former members of high control, destructive groups to rest, heal, and grow. By understanding their experience in an abusive environment and acquiring the skills necessary for life outside the group, MeadowHaven helps former members recover their ability to be thriving contributors to society. Healing is fostered in the context of healthy community, relationships with other former members with similar experiences, and a supportive staff who understand the processes of thought reform and mind control. We invite you to learn more about MeadowHaven by browsing through our website. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions.

The Staff
Bob and Judy Pardon, Executive & Associate Directors
Caron Maher, Administrative Assistant, Resident House Parent

MeadowHaven's Board of Directors
Rev. Eduardo Andrade, Pastor, Good Shepherd Reformed Episcopal Church, Brockton, MA
Jeff and Sue Whiteacre, Ipswich, MA
Ray and Stephanie Connolly, Former members of an abusive group, Grafton, MA
Peter Marinelli, Lawyer, Cambridge and Wrentham, MA

MeadowHaven's Board of Reference
Rev. Eric Schweitzer, Ph.D., Director, Charis Counseling Center, Middleboro, MA
Craig Branch, Director, Apologetics Resource Center, Birmingham, AL
James Bjornstadt, Ph.D., Professor, Cedarville College, Cedarville, OH
Dan Trathen, Ph.D., Therapist, Denver, CO

P.O. Box 2180
Flagler Beach, FL 32136

www.refocus.org

reFocus, or the recovering Former Cultists Support Network, is an excellent Internet resource of cult-help and recovery information and suppport, providing "recovery resources for folks hurt by their involvement with abusive and controlling organizations and relationships." reFOCUS gives a list of local support locations, including sites in: San Franciso and Sacramento, CA; Denver, CO; St. Petersburg, FL; Boston, MA; Minneapolis, MN; Bozeman, MT; Englewood, Midland Park, and South Orange, NJ; New York, NY; Hebron, OH; and Philadelphia, PA. reFOCUS also provides former member contacts, support organizations, and more.

Colleen Russell, LMFT

Colleen Russell, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, has over 20 years of clinical experience and training in general psychotherapy and areas of emphasis at agencies in San Francisco and Marin, and in private practice.

She has worked with a broad range of clients, and specializes in cult awareness and recovery, authoritarian relationships, post-traumatic stress, and "motherless women".

She also has experience in working with schizophrenia and bi-polar conditions, families of divorce, relationship issues, addictions, meaning of life issues, and transitions. She is also a former member of Eckankar.

She received a M.A. in Clinical Psychology and a B.A. in Psychology with honors from San Francisco State University. She's available for phone consultations or in-office sessions and in addition to individual sessions she facilitates an Ex-Cult Support group held bi-monthly.

On-going Ex-Cult Support Group:
meeting every 2nd and 4th Saturday, from 4:30 PM - 6:00PM in Mill Valley.
Topics covered relate to current and past events, relevant to one's cult experience and include the following:
"Personal Rights", "Cult Characteristics", "Methods of Manipulation," "What Makes One Vulnerable to Cults," "The Cookie-Cutter Messiah," "Extending Ourselves Into Society", "Regaining Trust in Self".
:: An individual session is requested prior to participating in the group.

Colleen Russell
38 Miller Avenue #139
Mill Valley, California, 94941
Phone: (415) 383-7721
Email: crussellmft@earthlink.net 
Website: http://www.colleenrussellmft.com/ 

Cult Expert, Exit Counselor, Media Consultant

email: jszimhart@dejazzd.com
web site: <http://home.dejazzd.com/jszimhart>
telephone: (610) 385-9454

Joe Szimhart is a cult information specialist and thought reform consultant whose work includes education, research, and non-coercive intervention regarding controversial, high-demand groups, psychotherapies, and relationships that use thought reform techniques. He has personally helped many hundreds of people impacted by a wide spectrum of cult activity. Since 1983 he has appeared on dozens of TV and radio programs worldwide and has been consulted by the media regularly, including 20/20, A Current Affair, and others.

The Resource Center for Freedom of Mind is dedicated to respect for human rights, spirituality, and consumer awareness. They endeavor to be a safe place one can turn to for news, information, counseling and other vital resources. They believe that only you have the right to control your mind..