| Author | Message | ||
     Anonymous (216.214.209.51) |
Has anyone had any experiences with this company. I recently discovered their affiliation with est. and have serious doubts about their purpose. Someone near and dear to me is involved with them and becoming more and more in debt to them. Any response would be appreciated. | ||
| Anonymous (209.107.68.193) |
I went to one of their weekends. Be assured that this is a cult. They used cult tactics all weekend. They emotionally and psychologically abused me. They deprived me of sleep. They hide my car so I couldn't leave. And I watched people sign up for a "Year Of More" after having gone through this (For $8,000). Try to get your friend out. | ||
| Anonymous (209.107.68.193) |
Sorry forgot to add that they also tell you not to tell anyone about your "experiences" on the weekend because it is "confidential". I was abused as a child and can tell you that an abuser gives you the same message. | ||
| Karen Terry (24.14.36.89) |
I was on the same weekend as the person who posted the last two messages. It was definitely a weekend with challenges, but those challenges were not abuse. We were told going in -- more than once -- that we would experience moments of upset, but that we could stop at any time. No one asked to be excused, including "Anonymous." The vast majority of people on this weekend thought it was a positive experience. Our cars were never hidden. "Anonymous" could have gone home whenever she wanted, if she'd asked. (I never heard her ask.) We slept about 4 hours a night, for two nights running. That's not tons of sleep, but it's not torture, either. And "Anonymous" could have gone to bed if she'd asked, but I never heard her ask. | ||
| Jenn Stephen (67.104.214.134) |
I did one of the Wright Institute women's weekends several years ago, and it was a powerful and transformative experience. The weekend is cerrtainly challenging, but to describe it as abusive is going quite far. I, too, had a difficult and painful childhood, and the weekend teased up much of my own "unfinished business," which I have been able to heal and resolve over the last several years in large part because of the weekend. Without those insights--which were painful--I would not be the wife, mother and businesswoman I am today. | ||
| Anonymous (67.162.91.163) |
What qualifies as abuse? It's a subjective thing- right? I question why the two women, Karen and Jenn, who had positive experiences with the weekend in question were even on this website to begin with... It seems oddly defensive that they are even taking the time to monitor this chat- and makes me curious if they are trying to validate their own involvement. I want to know when the participants were told they would be experiencing "upset" after they signed on, or before? What is "upsetting?"- (that term seems mild to me, like a stomach ache.) I wonder if someone asked Karen and Jenn to intercede on behalf of the Wright Institute. Just because Karen did not hear Anonymous ask to go to sleep or ask to leave does not mean it didn't happen. Group dymanics are powerful. Coercive persuasion tactics can have just as much imact as stronger "military" or classic coercion methods that involve torture or overt (or implied) threat. Either way- these Wright Inst. people are playing with fire. Are they licensed professionals? I wonder how the higher ups at the Wright Institute respond to critical feedback-- if they even welcome it at all... | ||
| Anonymous (65.123.96.187) |
All I can say is cult, cult, cult. I have lost someone near and dear to me to these wackos. Bob and Judith Wright are professional con artists, preying on people in need. | ||
| Anonymous (65.42.94.239) |
To the poster from April 5th - How are they affiliated with EST? I have been suspicious of this for years. I have been indirectly involved with the Wright Institute for the past 3 years and always had a very strange feeling about it. In fact, I've looked for information about it being a cult more than once. I think the word needs to get out that these people (Judith and Bob) are out to get your money and undying devotion but they do not have your best interest at heart. If they did, would it cost you so much money?? Thankfully, although they tried to recruit me, I never fell victim to their tactics. Unfortunately, I can not say the same for my ex (or my savings account). Also, it is scary when your partner isn't able to tell you what has happened to them the weekend they were away, why there are cuts on their bodies, why their legs are covered in a tar/mud, why they had no sleep from Friday when they left to Sunday at Midnight when they returned home. I could go on for pages with an outsiders view of the Wright cult - from what a person is like directly after the weekend and what happens to a person as they become more involved with the "school." I agree with the above posting: Cult, cult, cult. For those of you who are in the "school" and are visiting this page, you must be questioning the tactics and are unsure if you want to get further involved. Trust your instincts and get out. | ||
| Anonymous (134.67.6.44) |
I cannot say loudly enough that this organization is a cult. I was innocently led to take this weekend and was horrified about what happened. Being a relatively sane, balanced and together person, I keyed in on the cult thing immediately. I protested the sleep deprivation and tried to go to bed but THEY WOULD NOT LET ME. (Message to Karen Terry above -- I did try to escape). I went out one morning and they had the whole place looking for me --because I hadn't followed the rules. I talked back, spoke up and most importantly, followed up with state and federal officials after the weekend. I have to say that it was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. I reported them to the Illinois State Psychologists Licensing Board, and various other ethics committees. When I saw that the Chicago Tribune had included them in an article, I called the editor and told them my story. To the Tribune's credit, they have not interviewed them since -- they took my story very seriously. Judith and Bob are definitely into making as much money as they can, making themselves the center of the person's life and therapy work (always a red flag) and never letting a person get out of "therapy". If you research EST, scientology and other cults, you will see that they have stolen most of their methods from them. | ||
| Anonymous (67.163.74.105) |
I had a very similar experience to those listed above! I had NO IDEA what I was getting in to when I was invited (and paid!) to attend one of these weekends. We were deprived of sufficient sleep, not allowed to communicate with the outside world, and my car keys were taken from me. I was in the middle of rural Wisconsin and I could not leave. And, of course, all details of this weekend were to remain confidential according to Judith. I sadly must agree with the October 18th poster that this was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. I relate my experience only with the hope I can spare others this pain. This group is a cult. They prey upon vulnerable people (a disproportionate number of young women in my group had recently lost a parent;) inculcate themselves in to all aspects of the person's life; encourage people to distance themselves from their "family of origin," i.e., family; drain members both financially and emotionally -- and there's NO END GAME. Just like what I understand of Scientology and other cults, the classes and therapy never end: one is encouraged to keep on paying them in to perpetuity, while recruiting others. (The recruiting continued long after the weekend ended with phone calls, course catalogs, letters, etc.) Thank you, Factnet, for allowing the truth to get out about this dangerous group. | ||
| srb (srb) New member Username: srb Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 24.13.208.154 |
I so wish I had found this site several years ago!! Bob Wright's School of Exceptional Living is a CULT, CULT, CULT, and he and his wife Judith are greedy and dangerous. My husband got involved with "the school" for 2 years, from '97-'99 and spent probably close to $25,ooo in the process. What little he told me about the many weekends that he went on and ongoing classes (Of course he was sworn to secrecy) sounded like emotional abuse to me, but he swore he was getting something out of it. He is a very loyal person, and felt committed to the process and his group. As all of the emotional stuff that was getting stirred up for him was affecting our marriage, I agreed to several sessions of marital counseling with Bob Wright, to try to understand what my husband was going through. I became increasingly uncomfortable with his abusive tactics, such as demonstrations of how he might work through his emotional baggage with his mother by screaming accusations at her, calling her a selfish bitch, etc. He was also quick to pigeon hole me, and I was accused of all sorts of stereotypes about women on the north shore, and doing only what was easy in my life when I told him that it was difficult for me to spend 3+ hours coming into the city for appointments with 2 small children at home. I decided NOT to work with him anymore, and wrote him an email explaining my feelings, in order to bring closure for myself. What I got in return, from this so-called "professional" was a seething and sarcastic email accusing me of lacking integrity, taking the easy way out, and telling me that I MUST make an appointment with him (at $200/hour) in order to "clean up the mess" that I'd created. When I told him that my husband and I were more comfortable working with a different member of his organization in the suburbs, I was accused of having a "disregard for authority" and lacking in "respect for rules and directions from others" He FORBID me to see the counselor of my choice! He threatened to deal with "the situation" 'unilaterally" if I saw the other counselor again. And after that, my calls and emails to the other counselor were never responded to. I could go on and on, and have documentation of all of the emails. I wrote him several times requesting closure, and and end to the drama, and each time he would respond with his judgments, sarcasm and threats. When he wasn't emailing me, he emailed my husband about "your wife." And I found later that he forwarded many of my emails to other individuals within his organization. All this from an MSW! Ultimately I filed a complaint against his Social Work license with the State of Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Unfortunately, all they ended up doing was slapping his hand, and threatening to pull his license if he was cited again. My only sense of justice was that the issue resulted in running up a massive legal fee for his defense. Somehow he was able to keep the state from indicating on their site that he had ever been disciplined, and I see now that his license has been non-renewed since 2001. He can get away with this as he bills himself as a "coach" rather than a counselor or social worker. This man is an egomaniac and a dictator, and manages to get people to spend massive amounts of money at his school by his charisma, intimidation and bybpraying on insecurities. He definitely uses cult methods to boost his ranks. i consider myself fairly savy, and still got sucked in for a time. The emotional stress that he caused personally and in my marriage was difficult, but I was strong enough to get out. It frightens me to think of the people who are psychologically vulnerable who subject themselves to emotional trashing by the school, yet are dependent upon Bob Wright, so they are made to believe, in order to feel well again. Bravo to the poster of Oct 2004 who reported Bob Wright to the Illinois State Psychologists Licensing Board. Unfortunately, he has the financial means to get out from under any negative disciplinary action that might come his way. And to the April 2004 poster, now you know how the Wrights respond to critical feedback. And are they professionals???!! I think the answer is clear. If anyone on this site has any thoughts as to how to expose this group for who they really are, preying on emotionally vulnerable individuals for financial gain, please post. I would gladly get involved, as I KNOW that these sorts of abusive tactics do real emotional damage, not to mention the possibility of ruining a person financially.}}} }}} | ||
| srb (srb) New member Username: srb Post Number: 2 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 24.13.208.154 |
}}}I so wish I had found this site several years ago!! Bob Wright's School of Exceptional Living is a CULT, CULT, CULT, and he and his wife Judith are greedy and dangerous. My husband got involved with "the school" for 2 years, from '97-'99 and spent probably close to $25,ooo in the process. What little he told me about the many weekends that he went on and ongoing classes (Of course he was sworn to secrecy) sounded like emotional abuse to me, but he swore he was getting something out of it. He is a very loyal person, and felt committed to the process and his group. As all of the emotional stuff that was getting stirred up for him was affecting our marriage, I agreed to several sessions of marital counseling with Bob Wright, to try to understand what my husband was going through. I became increasingly uncomfortable with his abusive tactics, such as demonstrations of how he might work through his emotional baggage with his mother by screaming accusations at her, calling her a selfish bitch, etc. He was also quick to pigeon hole me, and I was accused of all sorts of stereotypes about women on the north shore, and doing only what was easy in my life when I told him that it was difficult for me to spend 3+ hours coming into the city for appointments with 2 small children at home. I decided NOT to work with him anymore, and wrote him an email explaining my feelings, in order to bring closure for myself. What I got in return, from this so-called "professional" was a seething and sarcastic email accusing me of lacking integrity, taking the easy way out, and telling me that I MUST make an appointment with him (at $200/hour) in order to "clean up the mess" that I'd created. When I told him that my husband and I were more comfortable working with a different member of his organization in the suburbs, I was accused of having a "disregard for authority" and lacking in "respect for rules and directions from others" He FORBID me to see the counselor of my choice! He threatened to deal with "the situation" 'unilaterally" if I saw the other counselor again. And after that, my calls and emails to the other counselor were never responded to. I could go on and on, and have documentation of all of the emails. I wrote him several times requesting closure, and and end to the drama, and each time he would respond with his judgments, sarcasm and threats. When he wasn't emailing me, he emailed my husband about "your wife." And I found later that he forwarded many of my emails to other individuals within his organization. All this from an MSW! Ultimately I filed a complaint against his Social Work license with the State of Illinois Department of Professional Regulation. Unfortunately, all they ended up doing was slapping his hand, and threatening to pull his license if he was cited again. My only sense of justice was that the issue resulted in running up a massive legal fee for his defense. Somehow he was able to keep the state from indicating on their site that he had ever been disciplined, and I see now that his license has been non-renewed since 2001. He can get away with this as he bills himself as a "coach" rather than a counselor or social worker. This man is an egomaniac and a dictator, and manages to get people to spend massive amounts of money at his school by his charisma, intimidation and bybpraying on insecurities. He definitely uses cult methods to boost his ranks. i consider myself fairly savy, and still got sucked in for a time. The emotional stress that he caused personally and in my marriage was difficult, but I was strong enough to get out. It frightens me to think of the people who are psychologically vulnerable who subject themselves to emotional trashing by the school, yet are dependent upon Bob Wright, so they are made to believe, in order to feel well again. Bravo to the poster of Oct 2004 who reported Bob Wright to the Illinois State Psychologists Licensing Board. Unfortunately, he has the financial means to get out from under any negative disciplinary action that might come his way. And to the April 2004 poster, now you know how the Wrights respond to critical feedback. And are they professionals???!! I think the answer is clear. If anyone on this site has any thoughts as to how to expose this group for who they really are, preying on emotionally vulnerable individuals for financial gain, please post. I would gladly get involved, as I KNOW that these sorts of abusive tactics do real emotional damage, not to mention the possibility of ruining a person financially.}}} }}} | ||
| stanvsmith (stanvsmith) New member Username: stanvsmith Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 68.22.218.102 |
Folks, I have been a consumer at the Institute for a number of years. I was never denied the answer to any question I ever asked, I was never denied any request for sleep or any other need I had. As any valuable and serious training, the workshops and trainings are challenging - they would not be worth it if they were not. I have done much personal growth work at many places in my 58 years and find the Wrights and the Institute to be of the highest integrity. That doesn't mean everyone will like their approach, but the complaints above are just plain balderdash. | ||
| wright_institute (wright_institute) New member Username: wright_institute Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 216.159.239.2 |
From: The Wright Institute We believe that many of the statements and assertions posted here represent a collection of defamatory untrue statements of facts, distorted and misrepresented facts, some truth, and some opinions which are based on the foregoing. We vigorously disagree with many of the statements. The Wright Institute has prepared a more detailed response to these allegations. If you would like to hear the actual facts about this situation and our perspective of the statements, please visit our website at www.wrightlearning.com/response/response.html. We will be happy to respond to any inquiry that is sent through that website. (Message edited by wright_institute on February 02, 2005) (Message edited by wright_institute on June 28, 2005) | ||
| samadams (samadams) New member Username: samadams Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 68.22.218.102 |
I am a student who did work at the institute. I liked the work very much and learned a lot. I asked my two best friends to do a seminar there and they thought it was great. It seems that there are a few "anonymous" people who are upset. It looks like someone voted over and over again so the negative posts would get high stars and those who found the institute beneficial would get low stars - the ratings look rigged. I am sure within a few days this post will get down to one star. Oh, well. Given the hundreds and hundreds of students that the institute has served over the years, I suppose a few upset people is the norm. But for everyone I have met there, they think its a great place. Cult? Hardly. There is no restriction on your freedom to act or believe as you wish. Is that a cult? | ||
| goodlife (goodlife) New member Username: goodlife Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 216.80.112.56 |
samadams - your ip address is the same as stanvsmith coincidence? I don't think so.... | ||
| stanvsmith (stanvsmith) New member Username: stanvsmith Post Number: 2 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 68.22.218.102 |
Goodlife - My son in college uses the same computer when he is at home. He and his friends found the work very valuable. So have many others, including my daughter. Not everyone stays with the work over time, but the overwhelmingly large majority say they found it highly valuable and have recommended it to others, as have I. | ||
| mjw (mjw) New member Username: mjw Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2005 Posted From: 69.216.242.82 |
In response to the posting by the Wright Institute and their website, I would like to make a few rebuttals based on my experience with the organization. “We warn participants in advance about the long hours and intensity of experience and we have put a money back guarantee in place for anyone who does not feel the weekend was worth the price. Participants also sign a form that acknowledges that they will be undertaking an intensive experience. It is possible that the people making the accusations on this website might not have been a good fit for those particular trainings.” I don’t think anyone would anticipate that a participant at a Women’s Retreat would only be allowed 2-3 hours of sleep. I was NEVER told anything other than “this experience may be challenging”. I assumed that this experience would be much like one of those corporate retreats were the participants may participate in some introspective activities and perhaps some physically challenging obstacle courses. There certainly WAS NOT a candid disclosure of what this week-end would entail made to me at any time and I don’t believe that a waiver form doesn’t necessarily mean that you are fore-warned from what it to come. After all, waivers are so routine (I never went to camp as a child without a waiver form signed) that I believe most reasonable individuals will assume the waiver is to protect against lawsuits for spraining an ankle or such. The waiver makes mention of discussing your limitations with your doctor or therapist before the retreat but if the participant isn’t fully informed of the actual activities that are going to take place how is it reasonably possible for them to do so in a reliable manner. I know that all the questions I asked before-hand were answered very vaguely or in what I feel was a misleading way. For example, when I asked before signing the section about not revealing information about the week-end what the purpose of the form was, I was told it was to protect personal information of the other participants. Later at the end of the week-end I was reminded that I had signed a form stating I would not tell anyone about the specifics of MY experiences on the week-end and that if anyone asked to only say they were positive. Never mind that they were not positive experiences in my mind. “At our Women's Essential Training and Men's Basic training, the 2 most intensive trainings we offer, the trainings do have sessions which go late into the evening so the participants receive less sleep than they are accustomed to for those two evenings. We try to pack in as much training as possible in three days. The curriculum we cover is the equivalent of what other organizations might cover in a weeklong training. At any time, a participant can choose to not attend part of the training and go to bed and some do.” Late into the evening is a bit of an understatement. Early into the morning would be more appropriate. At least that is how I think of going to bed at 3 or 4 in the morning. Whenever someone would start nodding off on the week-end I went on, the doors would be opened letting the cold air in so people would wake up. Also while physical pressure was not applied not to go to your bed there was definite psychological pressure applied. Statements such as “you’re tuning out to your surroundings, when you fall asleep it’s a form of avoiding engaging, don’t you want to participate fully”, and so on would be stated. Also many of the participants rooms were located in a house in the dark woods and the flash-lights to guide your way were located with an institute member. “At the Women's Essential Training and the Men's Basic training, we ask people to leave their keys in their car when they register. The reason is because they go through an experiential course that is located where we would normally park the cars. After the experience is completed, our volunteer assistants park all the cars for everyone and shuttle the participant's bags to the buildings where they will be staying. Because the parking lots are small, we park the cars two levels deep in some areas-just like a valet at a restaurant or hotel. The keys are placed in one accessible and visible place on the counter in the office. At any time a participant can pick up their keys and leave.” I will admit, it was nice of the men present on the week-end to take my bags to my room after they had rummaged through my bags, told me I had the underwear of a grandmother, and inform me that my wardrobe was lacking in style during the “experiential” course to which they are referring. Of course that was after I had been instructed to run as fast as I could with my luggage to the point of the baggage collection and yelled at by another man that I didn’t do a good enough job. This was also after I was instructed to drive a car at full speed down a very narrow and windy gravel road and then back it up again all while being berated by a man I didn’t know with such gems as “you’d make a terrible mother, you can’t even park a car, and I hope if you ever have children they’re taken away since you’re so incompetent.” This was followed by having to arm wrestle a man and being berated because you as a woman with less muscle mass were not able to beat the man, trying to find your way through the woods in the complete dark with a very poor map and no flashlight, and ending with being paraded in front of three men in a very cold room in your bathing suit. Yes, this is not what “challenging” implied to me. As for the cars, my keys were given back to me, but when I asked where my car was parked I could not get a clear answer. Also when I did find my car it was parked in so had I wanted to leave at any time it would have been impossible to do so. Also, I’m not sure how the Institute can say you can leave at any time since the building I was staying in was locked at night. I know this because one of the women coming back from kitchen duty early in the morning was not able to get into the building without finding one of the assistants who had a key. So clearly it would have been impossible for me to just leave at any time, especially without having to confront a staff member which after going through the “experiential” course I didn’t want to do. After that point, I wasn’t really sure what these people were capable of (since I believed them to be clearly capable of emotional and psychological damage) and I just wanted to fly under the radar and get out safe at the end of the week-end. I will also say that after going to bed at 4 am on Saturday I began to become more than a little concerned about how long this event was going to run on Sunday. I point blank asked a staff member what time we would be done on Sunday (I told her I was concerned about the lack of sleep and having to work Monday, especially given that I had to drive back from Wisconsin to Chicago) and she told me 6 pm. We were not dismissed until close to 11 pm. I would just like to state that I feel it is very irresponsible to have a group of women with only approximately 6 hours of sleep over approximately 60 hours driving. I know I was certainly concerned about my ability to drive and so called my husband so he could talk to me on the way home to make sure I would stay awake. I also had to pull over and take a nap at a gas station. They also tell you not to tell anyone about your "experiences" on the weekend because it is "confidential" Again, this relates to the Men’s Basic Training and Woman’s Essential weekend trainings. We do ask people not to tell others about the actual experiential course or exercises they do. We don’t feel the point of the weekend is the actual logistics of the training but what people are learning. In some ways, it is easier to focus on the actual exercises rather than share the deeper discoveries they have made about themselves. It can be riskier to tell someone you care about them or you are angry with them than to tell the about the logistics of a training. We do inform people at the training that if they prefer to know about the actual experiences before going through the course, they can ask and we will tell them. It is their choice. I think the real reason that the Institute doesn’t want people to know about the “actual experiential course or exercises” is because rational people wouldn’t pay money to undergo these experiences if they knew what they were beforehand. The only way to get people to sign up for more of this training is by breaking them down mentally and physically to the point that they are no longer functioning as the normally would. Once the individual’s belief systems are broken down and they are so tired they can’t possibly think as they normally would it’s much easier to get them to put down that non-refundable deposit. As for the second statement, at the “training” I went to I was told repeatedly that it was better if I did not know what the actual experiences were before undergoing them. I was highly discouraged from asking these questions every time I asked. They also said once at the beginning that you could stop any exercise by asking during the exercise. The times I did ask to stop an exercise I was highly discouraged from doing so or flat out ignored. So it did not seem to me that there was a real actual choice. In the future, we may publish the exact details of these trainings just to avoid having people manipulating things out of context. We have not decided about that yet. I think that this is the most responsible thing that the institute could do. I obviously do not think people are manipulating things out of context but at least this way those individuals attending these “trainings’ can make a fully informed decision before attending. I also find it curious that while you have published a link to your website addressing people’s concerns listed here that it does not appear that the average person coming across your homepage can come link to this page on your site. It seems to me if you really want to take responsibility, avoid unhappy clients, and make sure only those who in your view may potentially respond to this type of training, that you would want them to be fully informed and to know that there is not a 100% satisfaction rate. Which by the way, after I complained to the Institute I was told that nobody beside me had every complained and after coming across this message board that clearly does not appear to be the case. We do not do 'therapy.' If someone comes to us who needs therapy, we refer them to a therapist and have done so on many occasions. Because of the wide range of courses that we offer, people may participate in a wide range of activities from career to leadership, relationship to personal development. Of course you can not say you are doing “therapy”. This after all is a regulated profession in the state of Illinois and you can not practice psychotherapy without a license. But self-actualization, introspection, examining coping mechanisms and examining feelings of present and past events are all techniques used in psychotherapy. I believe that beating things with soft bats and pillows is also used by psychotherapists as a therapeutic tool. So while you may not call it therapy you are aiming to examine the human psyche which begs the question of why untrained professionals would be offering such services in the context of a women’s or men’s retreat. How can you possibly not see that this could be potentially damaging work to engage in if you are not formally trained? How can you possibly successfully know which individuals are able to handle such an “intense” week-end. Surely filling out a Global Assessment of Functioning Scale is not going to appropriately screen for those who could be emotionally damaged by such a week-end. Even if it is an appropriate tool, surely your staff members who are not licensed psychologists or pyschiatriats are not formally trained in the interpretation of psychological screening tools. And, why are you using psychological screening tools at all if you are not using therapy methods? Certainly asking someone if they are in therapy currently is also not a good barometer of whether they may be susceptible to break-down when exposed to your unorthodox methods of “training”. The Institute likes to emphasize people being responsible and having integrity during the “training” when they lack those very attributes as an organization and seek to minimize the valid complaints of participants who felt that what the participated in was misrepresented to them. I for one, would not have participated in such an event had I truly been informed as to what would take place. Yes, there were, in hindsight, warning signs that I should have picked up on before attending that things were not as they seemed. However, I was referred to this organization by someone I trusted as a friend at the time and therefore ignored those warning signs. It saddens me that not only did I spend a crappy week-end in what I felt to be an abusive and potentially psychologically damaging setting but that I lost a friend as she was not willing to be friends with me unless I continued to work “issues with the Institute” in the context of more of their training. | ||
| goodlife (goodlife) New member Username: goodlife Post Number: 2 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 216.80.112.56 |
Wahoo!!!! You go mjw! | ||
| spaceboy (spaceboy) New member Username: spaceboy Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 68.164.227.36 |
I checked out the Wright institutes web site. Did anyone catch the clip of Judith Writght on Good Morning America? Diane Sawyer calls her "Dr. Wright" like half a dozen times. Judith Wrigth has a Bachelors degree in psychology that doesn't make her a doctor although apparently she plays one on tv. Someone who preaches so much about integrity you'd think they wouold correct this grevious error when millions of people are watching. She seemed content to let it go though, the perception that you are a trained professional and know what you're talking about can't hurt, right? I loved her description of soft addictions too. They "rob you of your time and money", and "need them to feel complete". Kind of sounds like the "training" at the Wright Institute doesn't it? The funny thing was the 3 women that had soft addictions still had them, but they could talk about them now. Bravo Judith. And well done Diane Sawyer for really doing all the proper background research, I guess ratings really are more important. | ||
| wright_institute (wright_institute) New member Username: wright_institute Post Number: 2 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 216.159.239.2 |
(Message edited by wright_institute on June 28, 2005) | ||
| goodlife (goodlife) New member Username: goodlife Post Number: 3 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 216.80.112.56 |
whoa...... | ||
| kind (kind) New member Username: kind Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.8.231.145 |
From personal experience, in my opinion, Bob Wright and his Mens Guild are a twisted and depraved bunch...has anyone filed a criminal complaint or a civil suit? If yes, what was the outcome? Just currious. | ||
| sickofstupidity (sickofstupidity) New member Username: sickofstupidity Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 65.42.84.221 |
I personally haven't or never will be involved with the Wright Institute, but I have seen the damage that it has done to people that I work with, and I feel very bad for all the people that have gone through it. I am glad to see that the people of this forum that posted against it didn't fall into their claws as deep. The company that I work with is hymnotized by this cult, and they encourage you to go to this "retreat". I have been told by co-workers that if a person decides against it, the owners of this business won't "fire" you but will make your time there impossible until you quit. I have experienced arguments during meetings, and a lot of words mentioned on this message board are not new to me, like quotes such as "taking the easy way out" or "avoiding engaging", this also includes insults and really bad responses with absolutely no real content. The company president will take you out to lunch to encourage you to join the Wright Institute, and they act as sales people for it without thinking about what they're doing!!! The biggest problem is that the business is very disorganized and badly taken care of because it's owners are so involved in this cult that they don't focus on their own business. Now, isn't that a reflection of how useless this "retreat" is and how it doesn't help people to grow since owning a business is part of your personal growth? With the responses of the people defending it in this forum and my personal experience, I feel that the Wright Institute is doing a great job at creating human parrot-robots. I don't need to be involved to see that this horrible place reeks of CULT and it saddens me to think that so many people are contributing to the wealth of these mentally sick abusers that prey on people's desire for happiness and self growth. I would just like to see how big is the house OR houses where the Wrights live, and what kind of cars they drive. I think that everyone that feels the way we do should get together and try to bring these bastards down before they damamge more and more innocent victims. | ||
| kind (kind) New member Username: kind Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.8.231.145 |
Amen to Sickofstupidity!! I am a survivor of their "retreat" and I share your concern for all those, both men and women, who have been put through their twisted little program. They deny that they are a cult, yet EVERYTHING about the Wright Institute embodies the elements of a cult. I have spent months in therapy since attending their retreat. I agree...Bob and Judith Wright are sick and need to be shut down. More later. | ||
| kind (kind) New member Username: kind Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.8.231.145 |
I mentioned in my last post that I had been in therapy since my experience with the Wright Institute retreat. It is important to mention that the therapy was necessary NOT because I uncovered some deep dark secret that was holding me back, but because I discovered that I hate Bob Wright and several of his little budddies with every fiber of by being. I found this very disturbing because I have never felt that I had the capacity to kill another human being (or in Bob Wrights case, a protien based life form). I am basically your normal, laid back, easy going guy with a good job, great wife and kids and good friends. I had never been as angry as I was after attending the retreat. What could have possibly made me so angry?...Without going into too much detail, remember seeing the pictures from Abu Garab prison in Iraq on the news? Well, being treated like that can tend to tick someone off like they have never been ticked off before. My hate was manifested in the most disturbing dreams I have ever had. In retrospect, I wish I had acted on my anger right then and there, but it is a little difficult to do when you are outnumbered by a bunch of Bob's psycho-sycophant's. Anyway, back to the dreams. In the first dream that repeated itself for a couple of weeks, I vividly saw myself smashing Bob's face into a car windshield until it was a bloody pulp and chunks of his face were flying in every direction. There were hundreds of other men cheering me on (former students?)as I did this. I would wake up in a cold sweat, horrified at what I was doing in the dream and could not fall back to sleep. In the next dream, The same men are cheering me on as I run Bob through an industrial size meat grinder. Again, I would wake up in a cold sweat, horrified and unable to fall back to sleep. My therapist has assured me that this was just my subconscious acting out and taking revenge for what was done to me on the retreat. He also assured me that I am not a psychotic killer who is planning to act on these dreams. Over time, the dreams have become less violent, but still somewhat disturbing. I have had several dreams of shooting Bob in the head with a high powered rifle. (I don't even own a gun) The last dream I had was about a month ago. In this one, Bob is naked in a deep hole in the ground and I am throwing donut holes at him. I'm not sure what this means exactly, but I am glad that I can sleep through the night now. My therapist feels that I have made great progress towards putting this experience behind me. I have gone from being completly obsessed with taking revenge on Bob to viewing him and his sick little friends as nothing more than a festering, pus filled boil on the butt of humanity. Sooner or later, someone is going to lance it. The people of the Wright Institute are not professional counselors or therapists. In my humble opinion, they are dangerous fringe element of the self-help movement bent on creating their own little culture and society. We are all the sum of our life experiences (good and bad), and we all have our own issues that we deal with on a daily basis. If you have personal problems, seek help from a qualified, licensed professional. If you want to improve your lot in life, find a mentor that you can learn from, observe other successful people and learn from them or invest in REAL education. WHAT EVER YOU DO, STAY AWAY FROM THE WRIGHT INSTITUTE!! DON'T GET SUCKED IN BY THEIR PROMISES, CHARISMA AND CHARM. THEY ARE DANGEROUS & SELF SERVING. AT LEAST THAT'S ONE MAN'S OPINION. | ||
| nakedrats (nakedrats) New member Username: nakedrats Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 68.252.207.147 |
kind, I'm so sorry you had to go through the experience of their retreat. I was lucky I got out of the grips of the Wright Foundation in time, just days before I was supposed to go on the retreat (called "Men's Basic"). My girlfriend saved me from the agony by searching on the Web about the Wright Foundation, and found this site, among others. She was suspicious because of some of the things I mentioned were going on in my "therapy group", run by a counselor (I'm actually not sure what his/her actual degree is). These individuals had been in this group for anywhere from a few to as much as 13 years, and did not seem to have made any significant progress in whatever their issues were. They also seemed almost robotically addicted to the "group process", to the other group members, and to their counselor, who they seemed to almost put up on a pedestal and adore as a pseudo-saint. Yet they were persuasive too, and some of the things we did in there seemed to help me in small ways (not to throw out the baby with the bathwater, I still use a few of the techniques taught me, which seem more "mainstream" psychology...even cults can get lucky). I got persuaded to try the Men's Basic, because it would "change my life" forever. Those who had done it would not tell me what was involved, they just all mouthed the same robotic, "it will change your life forever." Yet these men did not seem very successful in handling their issues. They are kind of pathetic, in fact, in that they seem to have been stripped of any sense of humor, sense of irony, or any kind of real discernment at all. None gave me any real evidence of the "huge" change that had come into their life. They take themselves ultra-seriously, and focus more than is healthy on blaming siblings and parents for your current state. The group pushes you to reveal every aspect of your personal life, and you are admonished if it's later found out "you held something back." Your loyalty is to the group, so they take it very personally if they are not "included" in your life. This includes feeling like I would have to get their approval for any major decisions I would make. It bordered on group control of your life, from choices of friends, dating, marriage, job, etc. The group experience was, I'm sure, a precursor to total Wright Foundation control of your life. When I read these postings, I asked an old friend who had hinted several times that he had quit the retreat in the middle of it. When I told him my concerns, he spilled the beans and told me horror stories that convinced me to back out. Your mention of Abu Ghraib is very apt, he mentioned being tied up naked and blindfolded in the woods and some kind of small animals being let loose to scurry all over him. When he tried to leave, they made it difficult, but he got out. They've since changed the policy on giving car keys back, supposedly. He's still getting over the nightmares, years later. I then decided to not only back out of the retreat, but to quit the group also. Oh my, you should have heard the firestorm that unleashed! I got calls from several group members, as well as several calls from the counselor. They were nothing short of browbeating, using many of the same clichés over and over (there's no independent thinking in the bunch): I was coming up against something big in my life, and this was just a way of running away from that; I was not following through on a commitment and this was a pattern in my life...yadda yadda yadda. What was interesting is they each used almost the same exact words! Talk about robot-parrots. Anyway, I'm glad I got away. Oh, before I forget, as a warning I'll also mention PEP (Peer Empowerment Process), which is the retreat that first sucked me into this group. The PEP weekend itself is not that bad, and I still use many of the techniques from it. It's relatively mild, though some of the things you do are a little weird. It would probably mostly be considered mainstream self-help stuff. BUT....the counselor you meet there might try to get you into a group therapy situation (believe me it's like Hotel California, a lot of these people NEVER get out!)....then comes THE RETREAT. So, if anyone tells you about PEP and how it might help you, and that there's no further obligation, they might be right...but is it worth the risk to get involved with these people? | ||
| goodlife (goodlife) New member Username: goodlife Post Number: 4 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 216.80.112.56 |
I would love to hear someone from the Wright Institute comment on the rats and snakes at the Men's Weekend. Anyone? | ||
| kind (kind) New member Username: kind Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 12.196.240.66 |
To Goodlife, I would also like to what the heck that was all about as well. I never saw snakes and rats since I was blind folded. If they were indeed snakes and rats, I am even more disgusted. It wouldn't surprise me though. I have talked to a number of mental health professionals since my experience, and none of them can come up with any idea why they would do such a thing. My theory is that it is yet another technique to soften people up for the big sales pitch at the end of the weekend. What ever the reason, who ever dreamed up that little stunt needs to be locked up. (Maybe with a bunch of rats and snakes) To Nakedrats, I am glad you did not attend. I wish I had seen this site before I went. I know I would have skipped the whole thing. I feel sorry for the people who came to the Wright Institute in a vulnerable state, looking to gain a measure of control over their lives and the problems they have. They are easy targets for the Wright Institute to control both financially and emotionaly. Before they realize what they have gotten into, Bob has them under their his control. To anyone who supports this group, Get out...you have control of your life, leave these nuts behind before they completly ruin your life!! They don't control you and if you stand up for your self, they can't hurt you. If you are reading this and can still think for yourself, move on and start living again!! (Message edited by kind on November 10, 2005) | ||
| kind (kind) New member Username: kind Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.8.231.145 |
Gooflife, On May 14, your message was simply Whoa... I am guessing it was a response to the now edited and deleted message from the Wright Institute that was posted on May 12. Do you recall what it said, and could you please post the content of their post? I am wondering what they said and then retracted. Thanks | ||
| kind (kind) New member Username: kind Post Number: 6 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 12.147.78.34 |
I find it ironic that the Wright Institute can fool around with people’s minds without being regulated or licensed by calling themselves "coaches" rather than therapists. They have proven that they use psychological methods and techniques in their “school” and on their retreats. I am not typically one to call for “more regulation”, but when you are dealing with sensitive, personal and emotional issues, you should be accountable to some governing body. This kind of deception is completely hypocritical as it relates to the garbage that they spew. When they say things like “you have to do the hard work”, or “you are running away from something”, or “you’re not following through with a commitment”, I have to ask, “Why haven’t you done the hard work to be legitimate?” “What are you running away from?” “What is your commitment to the people who come to you?" Could it be that the people of the Wright Institute aren’t willing to do the hard work to be a legitimate organization? It is obvious to me after reading the experiences of others here on FACTnet that they are interested in controlling people and squeezing as much money out of them as they can in the process. The purpose of therapy and counseling is to work through your problems, get better, and move on with your life…not to keep unpeeling layer upon layer of everything that has ever happened to you and analyze it to death. I wonder what happens when their victims run out of money. Do they have financing? The Wrights and their “leaders” talk about love, compassion, growth, etc. Do they ever offer pro bono help? I seriously doubt it. It’s all about money and control for them. Think about these other professions: A psychologist or clinical social worker has to be licensed. A doctor must be licensed. A school teacher has to be licensed. A lawyer has to be licensed. A CPA has to be licensed. A barber has to be licensed. A carpenter has to be licensed. An electrician has to be licensed. An architect has to be licensed. How is it that these professionals can loose their right to practice if they screw up or step outside of the accepted standards of their profession, and the Wright’s seem to be able to do what they want with impunity because they call what they do “coaching”. It makes no sense that they should be able to get away with this. The people of the Wright Institute are nothing more than emotional terrorists and pirates. They prey on the vulnerable and innocent, try to achieve control over people’s lives, take their money and ultimately their souls. | ||
| goodlife (goodlife) New member Username: goodlife Post Number: 5 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 216.80.112.56 |
to kind: there was a post that was deleted some time ago talking about the rats and snakes involved in the Men's Weekend. I don't remember exactly what was posted but it was something about men being tied down naked and rats and snakes were run over their bodies to evoke fear. It sound bizarre and yet who could make that up? But seriously, what can be done to stop them? Are they a true cult? Would the news media be interested in investigating them? Lastly, isn't it interesting that no one from the Wright Institute has responded lately? I would just love to hear them dispute these claims. You'd think they would. | ||
| kind (kind) New member Username: kind Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 70.57.45.225 |
Goodife, What is your experience with the Wright Institute? | ||
| goodlife (goodlife) New member Username: goodlife Post Number: 6 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 216.220.64.72 |
It is hard for me to admit that I have attended several Wright events. It's hard for me to say that I was taken for a ride. I really wish that there wasn't that weak point that they were able to tap into. Thankfully, I was eventually able to step out. But, sadly to this day, one of my closest friends is still majorly involved and to be honest, it is a strain on our relationship. So, that is my story. (Message edited by goodlife on January 27, 2006) | ||
| zombiejr (zombiejr) New member Username: zombiejr Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 65.123.96.186 |
I'm the one who posted on June 2, 2004. Still have not spoken to the family member in question that we lost to those wackos. Have seen this person at several weddings but that's all. It's been three years with almost no contact. Start to wonder if my sibling is gone forever with no chance of coming back. | ||
| jessica6 New member Username: jessica6 Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 4.252.24.153 |
I was associated with a company that has *very* strong ties to the Wright Institute. I never felt pressure to become a member of Wright itself, but it seemed unnecessary, because the company itself was basically an extension of Wright. Most of the employees were also teachers or life coaches there. They appeared to employ the same philosophies and use the same tactics. It was all very disturbing; I wanted to quit after my first day. But I stayed. In a remarkably short amount of time, they had (almost) convinced me that I needed to withstand the abuse and breaking down in order to grow. They also made me feel strangely dependent on and attached to the Group. All in all, it was a very strange experience and I'm very glad to be out. I can only imagine how difficult it is to be a part of Wright itself. | ||
| kind New member Username: kind Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 70.58.19.217 |
So...anyone interested in taking Bob and Judith down? I haven't seen any posts for nearly a year...maybe they have gotten the message and changed their ways. | ||
| goodlife New member Username: goodlife Post Number: 7 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 24.148.37.108 |
they are still out there and as pathetic as ever. Judith is a life coach for the radio station WTMX in Chicago now. I wonder if someone should call in and alert them to this site and what they have gotten themselves into. | ||
| goodlife New member Username: goodlife Post Number: 8 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 24.148.37.108 |
they are still out there and as pathetic as ever. Judith is a life coach for the radio station WTMX in Chicago now. I wonder if someone should call in and alert them to this site and what they have gotten themselves into. | ||
| kind New member Username: kind Post Number: 9 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 12.196.240.66 |
Goodlife, Is Judith on the air or is WTMX a client? I could not find her listed on the stations web site. Are you still in contact with your friend who is majorly involved with the Wright's? Does this person work for them? I also know people who are majorly involved, but have not spoken to them in over a year. I am concerned for them. The last time we spoke, they totally defended the Wrights. I am still struggling with what happened to me at their "retreat". | ||
| finallydone New member Username: finallydone Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2007 Posted From: 76.210.0.70 |
I have had similar experiences with the Institute. I find it horrible that this is going on and nothing has been done to stop it. Whats worse, they are now trying to open a graduate program. Does anyone think the state would interested in what really goes on there? | ||
| deepcover New member Username: deepcover Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2007 Posted From: 159.10.4.170 |
Do you think the opening of a graduate program is primarily in order to receive govt/banking student loan money? Does the opening of an accredited school help/hurt in that sort of thing. Also, could someone please speak to the following: (1) What can one expect from the One Decision Weekend Training? (2) What can one expect from the Summer Week-Long Intensive Training? Thanks people! | ||
| deepcover New member Username: deepcover Post Number: 2 Registered: 6-2007 Posted From: 159.10.4.170 |
FYI - Here if you want to comment: http://www.ibhe.org/academic%20affairs/NOI07/Feb/0207_wright.pdf | ||
| toomuch New member Username: toomuch Post Number: 1 Registered: 7-2007 Posted From: 64.107.153.120 |
I'm disgusted by what I'm reading. I was looking at applying for a job there, but after reading this and the comments on Craig's List, I'm a little scared. Thats not the kind of place that I want to have my personal information. | ||
| integritygirl New member Username: integritygirl Post Number: 1 Registered: 7-2007 Posted From: 76.223.100.79 |
To the "Jenn Stephen" post of April 20, 2004 copied below in case it is deletaed says the women's weekend is a powerful and transformative experience and helped her to become the "businesswoman she is today". But check it out - she's on the damn Wright Institute payroll as faculty someone posted above about a school opening looks like faculty is already in place: http://www.wrightexcellence.com/team.php ---------------------------------------- Jenn Stephen (67.104.214.134) Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 7:53 am: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I did one of the Wright Institute women's weekends several years ago, and it was a powerful and transformative experience. The weekend is cerrtainly challenging, but to describe it as abusive is going quite far. I, too, had a difficult and painful childhood, and the weekend teased up much of my own "unfinished business," which I have been able to heal and resolve over the last several years in large part because of the weekend. Without those insights--which were painful--I would not be the wife, mother and businesswoman I am today. (Message edited by IntegrityGirl on July 17, 2007) | ||
| kind New member Username: kind Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.8.237.91 |
If you have not already seen this, rickross.com has an interesting thread about the Wright Institute. There is also a lots of information about LGAT's and cults. You can copy and paste the following into your browser: http://forum.rickross.com/viewtopic.php?p=40605&sid=5769d17944b4185d6f18df0a8cabfa33 From what I have read there, it sounds like the Wrights are slick con artists. It would not surprise me to find out that thier motivation for opening an accredited graduate program is for the money. I wonder what a person does with a graduate degree from the Wright Institute? Perhaps they learn new ways to con people out of thir money, or better yet, new ways to hummiliate and browbeat people in their quest to dominate their followers lives. I have experienced their tactics first hand and have seen the total domination of the Wright Institute in the lives of people I care about. Of course, they no longer want anything to do with me bacause I don't buy into their "inspired" and "transformed" (bullshit) thinking. It makes me ill when I think about how many lives have been altered or ruined because of the Wright Institute. The bizarre thing is that these people don't realize that they have been manipulated by these dangerous people. |
