Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this episode, Rachel Bernstein speaks with coach Elise Heerde, co-director of the Religious Trauma Collective, about ethical intervention in cult recovery. Heerde distinguishes exit counseling from coercive "deprogramming," arguing that forcibly removing an adult from a group can mirror the same manipulation survivors are trying to escape — unless there's imminent danger requiring police or social services.
She advocates equipping families with education and stability so they remain trusted bridges, describes team-based intervention approaches, and shares her own experience of abuse, systemic cover-up, and the two-year process of reclaiming her ability to choose.
In this episode, Rachel Bernstein speaks with coach Elise Heerde, co-director of the Religious Trauma Collective, about ethical intervention in cult recovery. Heerde distinguishes exit counseling from coercive "deprogramming," arguing that forcibly removing an adult from a group can mirror the same manipulation survivors are trying to escape — unless there's imminent danger requiring police or social services.
She advocates equipping families with education and stability so they remain trusted bridges, describes team-based intervention approaches, and shares her own experience of abuse, systemic cover-up, and the two-year process of reclaiming her ability to choose.
