Directory
You don't have to do this alone.
Finding a cult-literate therapist or consultant can take time. This list is a starting point, not a complete directory. Verify credentials, availability, and fit before booking.
We do not have an opinion on any specific group; we focus on recovery, education, understanding and healing.
Therapists and consultants by region
Inclusion here is not an endorsement by After or by any listed clinician or researcher. Contact the clinician directly to confirm they are licensed, accepting clients, and a good match for your situation.
Australia
National
- Website →
Cult Information and Family Support (CIFS) Australia
Australia (national)
Peer support, information, and referrals for families and former members
Volunteer-run network with resources and support meetings across Australia.
- Website →
Raphaël Aron
Melbourne, Victoria (works nationally)
Counselling and mediation for former members and families of high-control groups
Director of Cult Consulting Australia; author of Cults: Too Good to Be True.
Canada
National
- Website →
Center for Research on Cults and New Religions (Canada referrals)
Canada
Academic and clinical referrals for cult-related concerns
Cross-border referral support via Info-Cult's bilingual network.
Quebec
- Website →
Info-Cult / Info-Secte
Montreal
Information, referrals, and support for former members and families
Multilingual resource centre directed by Michael Kropveld; serves all of Canada.
United Kingdom
England
- Website →
Dr. Alexandra Stein
London
Cult recovery, attachment trauma, training and consultation
Author of Terror, Love and Brainwashing.
- Website →
Dr. Rod Dubrow-Marshall & Dr. Linda Dubrow-Marshall
UK
Clinical psychology, cultic abuse, coercive control, expert consultation
Co-authors and researchers on cultic influence; work with former members, families, and legal professionals.
- Website →
Gillie Jenkinson
UK
Therapy, supervision, training for cultic and spiritual abuse recovery
Author of Walking Free from the Trauma of Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse.
Richard James Turner — To Think Again
UK
Exit counselling; autism and undue influence
Autistic cult survivor and exit counsellor with an MSc in the Psychology of Coercive Control, working at the intersection of autism and undue influence.
United States
California
Dr. Cathleen Mann
California
Cult recovery consultation, clinical guidance for former members
Author of Cult Recovery: A Clinician's Guide.
Dr. Doni Whitsett
California
Clinical social work, cult recovery, therapist training
Author of The Therapist's Guide to Cults; trains clinicians in post-cult work.
- Website →
Rachel Bernstein, MFT
Los Angeles area
Individual therapy, family communication, cult recovery
Host of the IndoctriNation podcast; extensive experience with former members and their families.
- Website →
Cherie Concepcion, LMFT, C-IAYT
Oceanside, California (also virtual in CA)
NARM-trained trauma therapy, complex trauma, coercive-control and cult recovery, somatic and depth-oriented work
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and NARM® practitioner; depth-psychology training (Pacifica).
Arizona
- Website →
Dr. Natalie Fabert
Scottsdale, Arizona (also virtual)
Trauma-informed therapy, professional consultation, and continuing education for cult and coercive-control recovery
Licensed psychologist; Director of Continuing Education at the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion; Associate Teaching Professor at Arizona State University.
Massachusetts
- Website →
Dr. Steven Hassan
Boston area
Exit counseling, Strategic Interaction Approach, BITE model consultation
Freedom of Mind Resource Center; best known for intervention and post-cult recovery coaching.
New York
- Website →
Daniel Shaw, LCSW
New York City
Psychoanalysis, traumatic narcissism, cult recovery
Author of Traumatic Narcissism: Relational Systems of Subjugation.
- Website →
Dr. Erin Falconer
New York
Neuroscience-informed psychoeducation, dissociation, and cult-control recovery
Psychoeducation consultants; scheduling available online.
- Website →
Jacqueline Johnson, DSW, LCSW-R
Newburgh, NY (also Savannah, GA area; virtual available)
Clinical social work, cult and coercive-control recovery, second-generation adult (SGA) issues, forensic assessment and organizational consultation
Former Executive Director of ICSA; second-generation adult with expertise in born-and-raised-in former member recovery.
Pennsylvania
- Website →
Dr. Steve Eichel
Philadelphia area
Clinical psychology, cultic abuse, undue influence consultation
Former president of ICSA; works with former members and legal cases.
Georgia
- Website →
Jacqueline Johnson, DSW, LCSW-R
Savannah, GA area (also Newburgh, NY; virtual available)
Clinical social work, cult and coercive-control recovery, second-generation adult (SGA) issues, forensic assessment and organizational consultation
Former Executive Director of ICSA; second-generation adult with expertise in born-and-raised-in former member recovery.
Texas
- Website →
Anna Clark Miller, LPC, LPC-S, LMHC-S, NCC
Texas (also licensed in additional states)
Religious-trauma and coercive-control-informed therapy, clinical supervision, trainings
Founder of Empathy Paradigm; provides therapy, a clinician directory, and training resources for religious-trauma and high-control group recovery.
Art therapy (nationwide)
Natalee Bigger Stockdale, MA, ATR-BC, LPCC, NCC
United States
Art therapy for complex trauma and cult recovery
Board-certified art therapist and licensed clinical counselor.
International directories
Worldwide
- Website →
ICSA Therapist & Helper Directory
International
Searchable directory of professionals with cult-recovery experience
The most comprehensive starting point if you don't see your region listed here.
- Website →
The Aftermath Foundation
International
Recovery resources, education grants, community connection, referrals
Practical support for former members of high-control groups.
Organizations and resources
Independent organizations, directories, and education projects. Inclusion is not an endorsement, and none of these organizations endorse or are affiliated with After.
Recovery education and directories
Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion
Founded by Dr. Janja Lalich; survivor-centered recovery courses, professional training, and consultation led by the Lalich Center team.
Survivor-focused psychoeducation, articles, a video library, and intervention support.
Curated directory of cult-recovery organizations and recommended reading.
Archive on specific groups plus a directory of recovery professionals.
Religious-trauma nonprofit with a clinician directory and virtual support groups.
Trains and lists therapists certified in religious-trauma and cult-recovery work.
Religious trauma and spiritual abuse
Marlene Winell's organization; Religious Trauma Syndrome and structured recovery.
Peer support and a helpline for people questioning or leaving religion.
Resource hub organizing help by belief system and need.
Religious-trauma resources, a therapist directory, trainings, and clinical tools (led by Anna Clark Miller, LPC-S).
The Religious Trauma Collective
Registry of religious-trauma practitioners, support groups, and resource lists.
Meditation-related and contemplative harm
Nonprofit (founded by Dr. Willoughby Britton, Brown University) offering research-based support, consultations, and groups for people harmed by meditation or contemplative practices and by coercive or unhealthy spiritual communities.
Undue influence and education
Freedom of Mind Resource Center
Steven Hassan's site; the BITE Model and guidance for families and former members.
Education on undue influence and coercive control.
Anke Richter's cult-awareness project.
Peer support and community
reFOCUS — Recovering Former Cultists' Support Network (legacy)
Longtime peer-support network for former members, associated with the late Carol Giambalvo. The organization and its website are no longer active, but its educational materials shaped much of the field; a summary of its post-cult trauma syndrome work is preserved on the Recovery page.
Survivor storytelling and education.
Montreal-based bilingual information and support centre.
SAFE — Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education
Portland, OR community forum and annual conference for survivors of spiritual abuse and coercive control, and the professionals who support them.
Dr. Erin Falconer's support groups
Support groups for people affected by coercive control, from After.'s founder's practice.
More from Dr. Falconer's practice
Additional resources from Dr. Falconer's practice
Further reading, tools, and resources.
If you don't find someone nearby
- Many cult-literate therapists work online across state or national lines. Licensing rules vary, so ask whether they can legally see you where you live.
- Start with the ICSA e-library for the most up-to-date international listings.
- In crisis, you do not need the perfect cult specialist first. A competent trauma clinician who can stabilize sleep, safety, and suicidality is the right first call.