Sam Jahara is a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist and Tavistock certified Executive Coach with a private practice in Brighton, South-East England. She became a psychotherapist as a result of coming to terms with several aspects of her upbringing, mainly linked with cultural identity as well as being raised by parents who were involved in a cult. Sam grew up primarily in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil but moved around a lot because of her parent’s involvement with their guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (later renamed Osho). From age 6 she lived in communes dotted across Europe, including the UK, and life was chaotic and unsettling. After leaving the cult in her late 20s, she spent many years trying to make sense of her profound experiences of lack of belonging and a sense of identity, stemming from being both an immigrant and an ex-cult member. As with many cults, children are usually seen as objects, a hindrance, or treated as little adults. Abuse and neglect are common through the encouragement of separation of parents and children. Now in her late 40s, she is still making sense of some of these experiences and using her training and knowledge to continue to understand cults, cult leaders, and what makes people follow them.

In this insightful conversation, the two therapists examine the impact that neglectful parents can have on the development of children through the lens of Sam's own perspective of being raised in an Osho commune as a young child. Together, Rachel and Sam go on to discuss the cultural identity issues that are often present in people who were raised in cults and how it relates also to those who had unstable living conditions as children. Sam offers a thoughtful analysis of her parents' motives in joining Osho's cultic community and opens up about the emotional complexities inherent in her relationships with her family today.

Before You Go: Rachel further examines her concept of a spiritual placebo, explaining it can decieve followers into sacrificing the power of their own autonomy and makes them vulnerable to dependence on a guru figure.

Links:

https://www.brightonandhovepsychotherapy.com

https://www.instagram.com/brightonhovepsychotherapy/

https://twitter.com/brightonpsych

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYz7Fl2DxxATFLmN-RFRIsQ

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samjahara/

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