When people become involved in destructive cults/sects/high demand/extremist groups, they experience undue influence and pressures that influence both their cognitive beliefs and their emotional states. This article will focus on common emotions that have been observed among former members of these groups. My observations are based on more than two decades of experience as a psychologist working in a specialty clinical practice, RETIRN, the Re-entry Information and Referral Network, (www.retirn.com), which I co-founded in the United States of America with Dr. Steve K. D. Eichel and Ms. Roberta Eisenberg in 1983, and RETIRN/UK, which I co-founded in the United Kingdom with Dr. Roderick Marshall in 2004.

Manipulation of emotional states is a common feature of cult recruitment. Typically, an individual is subjected to both positive and negative emotions of high intensity. Upon joining a group, individuals may be exposed to what appears to be unconditional love and acceptance. However, they are soon exposed to powerful techniques that over time can produce a sense of personal shame and worthlessness. People are manipulated to isolate themselves from former family members and friends, as a system is created where the group is portrayed as being superior. People are regressed to more childlike states by an induced sense of dependency on the group leader(s) or other members, while fears are inculcated about dire consequences about leaving the group, possibly including insanity or death.

What can we expect to find when individuals exit a cultic environment? Former members suffered tremendous guilt, especially in situations in which relatives had become ill or died during a period of estrangement. Additional guilt feelings were felt in regard to people whom they recruited into the cult. Upon reentry to the society at large, exmembers experienced feelings of alienation, as they often had to hide their cult experience from potential employers, romantic partners, etc. in order not be rejected. Feelings of intense shame and embarrassment over having been manipulated were exhibited, as were feelings of anger toward the leaders. Confusion about identity issues, sensitivity to criticism, difficulty making decisions, and dissociation were commonly observed. Grief was a prominent emotion for the loss of time and opportunities.

Counselling and psychotherapy can be helpful to former members in helping them to understand and normalize the dynamics of cultic recruitment and environment, and to understand and manage the concomitant emotions. In marked contrast to the cultic experience which focused on meeting the leader's goals and needs, the psychotherapuetic relationship should be client-centered. Former members can expect to be assisted to gather information and foster self-awareness so that they can make their own informed and critically reasoned decisions. A common obstacle to forming a psychotherapeutic relationship is that they may resist the therapist's efforts to maintain healthy psychotherapeutic boundaries, which may incorrectly be perceived as being uncaring compared to the heightened pseudointimacy experienced in the group. When the therapist helps the cultists to process these types of feelings, the groundwork toward other positive, realistic, and mutually fulfilling relationships is laid.