Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
ICSA Conference 2025 - Montreal, QC
-
Integrative Therapeutic and Systemic Approaches to Cult Recovery: TraumaInformed Healing and Family/Community Support Models
-
Sharon Doni
-
Abstract: The Israeli Center for Cult Victims, the only organization of its kind in the country, has developed a multifaceted approach over the past decade to support individuals affected by cults and their families. In this lecture, I will outline some of the center's core tools and strategies, drawing on real-life case studies and examples to illustrate the challenges and solutions encountered in this critical work. Despite Israel's relatively small population of under 10 million, over 150 active cults have been documented. As the sole national resource dedicated to cult victims and their families, the Center has developed a holistic "360-degree" approach to address a wide range of needs, from mental health support and legal counsel to assistance navigating social benefits, guidance through judicial processes, and efforts to dismantle harmful cult structures. Throughout the presentation, I will share key real-world scenarios, including: How the Center approaches the initial interaction with cult victims, ensuring their immediate safety and emotional support. -A case in which a cult leader was discovered operating within a statesupervised shelter for at-risk youth, and the steps taken to address this serious issue; the protocols followed when criminal acts related to cults are reported, and the challenges of navigating the legal system in these cases; the various services that cult victims and their families require, and the importance of offering flexible, tailored support to meet their diverse needs; the Center’s response when Goel Ratzon, the leader of a notorious polygamous cult, was not convicted of enslavement despite widespread evidence of abuse. These examples will illustrate the complexities of working with cult victims, and highlight the Center’s best practices for providing comprehensive, compassionate, and effective support. I will also discuss how these strategies can be adapted in different cultural and legal contexts to maximize their impact.
ICSA Conference 2025 - Montreal, QC
-
Integrative Therapeutic and Systemic Approaches to Cult Recovery: TraumaInformed Healing and Family/Community Support Models
-
Sharon Doni
-
Abstract: The Israeli Center for Cult Victims, the only organization of its kind in the country, has developed a multifaceted approach over the past decade to support individuals affected by cults and their families. In this lecture, I will outline some of the center's core tools and strategies, drawing on real-life case studies and examples to illustrate the challenges and solutions encountered in this critical work. Despite Israel's relatively small population of under 10 million, over 150 active cults have been documented. As the sole national resource dedicated to cult victims and their families, the Center has developed a holistic "360-degree" approach to address a wide range of needs, from mental health support and legal counsel to assistance navigating social benefits, guidance through judicial processes, and efforts to dismantle harmful cult structures. Throughout the presentation, I will share key real-world scenarios, including: How the Center approaches the initial interaction with cult victims, ensuring their immediate safety and emotional support. -A case in which a cult leader was discovered operating within a statesupervised shelter for at-risk youth, and the steps taken to address this serious issue; the protocols followed when criminal acts related to cults are reported, and the challenges of navigating the legal system in these cases; the various services that cult victims and their families require, and the importance of offering flexible, tailored support to meet their diverse needs; the Center’s response when Goel Ratzon, the leader of a notorious polygamous cult, was not convicted of enslavement despite widespread evidence of abuse. These examples will illustrate the complexities of working with cult victims, and highlight the Center’s best practices for providing comprehensive, compassionate, and effective support. I will also discuss how these strategies can be adapted in different cultural and legal contexts to maximize their impact.
