Esther Friedman is a licensed mental health counselor, expressive art therapist, songwriter, performer, author, and ex-cult member. In 2006, a cult took advantage of her uncertainty, open-mindedness & open-heartedness. It perpetrated what she now calls Cultic Identity Theft. In 2011, she left and found her voice by embracing, honoring, and protecting those core traits. She says that telling her story through writing saved her sanity. Those vulnerabilities are now her strengths.

Esther shares her journey of involvement in a secretive group that she knew simply as "School" but which has been known by many names, most popularly Odyssey Study Group. She explains how a seemingly innocuous and coincidental meeting in a grocery store was actually a premeditated plan of recruitment by this high-control and deceptive group. Along the way Esther and Rachel exchange insights, they've gained from treating clients who have recently left high control groups.

Before You Go: Rachel explains how ex-members of high control groups have a right to feel anger and how that intensity can be used as a positive motivator toward healing and self-reliance.

Find more about Esther and her work here: https://www.gsrhealingarts.com/

You can sign up for Rachel's webinar series LIVING IN FREEDOM here:

rachelbernsteintherapy.com/webinar.html

Thanks to all of our newest Patreon supporters!!

To help support the show monthly and get bonus episodes, shirts, and tote bags, please visit:

www.patreon.com/indoctrination

Prefer to support the IndoctriNation show with a one-time donation? Use this link:

www.paypal.me/indoctrination

You can help the show for free by leaving a rating on Spotify or Apple/ iTunes. It really helps the visibility of the show!

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands