When you hear the word “cult,” what do you think of? Maybe it’s people drinking koolaid or building a commune back in the 70s. But high control groups exist now, they are everywhere, they are extremely damaging, and no one thinks they are signing up for a cult when they first get involved.

This week, I’m talking with my guest Dr. Quincee about:

1. What a high control group is.
2. Our own personal experiences with religious trauma.
3. Red and green flags to watch out for when joining a group or community.
4. How people get sucked in to a cult and why they stay.
5. The phases of healing and deconstruction after being in a high control group, religion, or cult.
6. Tips for deconstructing on your own, and for supporting a loved one who you think might be involved in a cult or high control group.

Content warning: Religious trauma, cults, and high control group abuse.

About Quincee:
Dr. Quincee Gideon is a psychologist, educator, and trauma expert. She specializes in trauma recovery and post-traumatic growth in her clinical work and education. She is particularly interested in advocating for healthy boundaries, self-discovery and challenging our own inner shame. Over the years, she has developed a specialization in codependency, how trauma impacts the brain and body, cults, and religious trauma.
IG: @drquincee
Website: traumastery.com

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