“Winners” Would Constantly Put Me in Danger.
Full Circle Survivor Story: 2022
The counselors had knew I was on Probation and URGED me to go out past curfew, commit various felonies, etc. I had seen multiple felonies committed such as shooting fireworks at houses and vehicles all the way to breaking into abandoned buildings and businesses and causing over $50,000 in property damage.
I became a completely different person.
FullCircle Program Survivor Story: 2019 - 2022
I had the epiphany Full Circle was not doing what they said they were doing. Regardless of me knowing that I was in a cult, I stayed.
The Addict and Six Degrees of Separation
Adolescents In Recovery Survivor Story: 2005 - 2009
When I was about three weeks sober, just before my 19th birthday, we discovered Adolescents in Recovery (AIR), an outpatient treatment center for young people that offered group and individual therapy, peer mentoring, and social activities. Little did we know this treatment center was based on an infamous rehab known as PDAP.
Not a Typical Staff Meeting
The Crossroads Program Staff Survivor Story: 2002 - 2010
Truthfully it is hard to share Purpose stories because I don't remember a lot of details. Likely because I walked into every single Purpose SO afraid I just blocked much of it out, while I sat there hoping I would not be the one put on the "hot seat" that night.
The Crossroads Program stays with you forever.
The Crossroads Program Survivor Story: 2016 - 2017
I was in the Crossroads program in Columbia, Missouri from the summer of 2016 to April Fools of 2017. I had known people who went through Crossroads and had really great things to say about it. Intensive outpatient was ideal, because I wanted to continue getting my bachelors degree. I met with the head counselor, who made it immediately seem he understood the way I was feeling.
Rock Bottom Was The Only Answer
Palmer Drug Abuse Program Survivor Story: 2015 - 2016
A majority of PDAP was the "younger group" which was comprised of the ages 12-17 years old, literal children, being told that their experimentation with drugs and alcohol labeled them addicts and hopeless without intervention. Not one bit of harm prevention is taught, just fear mongering that using will inevitably kill you.
Topher Bayless Tells All
A Crossroads Program Survivor and Insight Program Outpatient Counselor tells his story of being a Group member, going to The Meehan Institute of Counselor Training, and becoming an Enthusiastic Sobriety Counselor. Topher spent 12 years in the Enthusiastic Sobriety Cult and has plenty to say about Bob Meehan, mind control and undue influence.
Synanon and Enthusiastic Sobriety
A conversation with David Cherry. He spent 15 years under Enthusiastic Sobriety's undue influence and mind control, which is a cult disguised as a drug treatment program.
The Group is a drug I’m still withdrawing from.
The Cornerstone Program Survivor Story: 2011 - 2013
I remember sitting in the lobby of Cornerstone in January of 2011. Arms crossed like I didn’t want to be there. The truth was, I did, and that was even before I was love-bombed. I was losing friends, I hated my school, and my parents were keeping close tabs on me. Then, when the kids came running through the hallway, so excited to see me, to show me around, to get to know me, to give me cigarettes, my dreams came true. No one was going to take me away.
A Personal Account of the Program’s Approach to Sex and Sexual Orientation
The program not only intrusively dictates the sex lives of their clients, but has proven itself to be particularly unloving toward those who are LGBTQIA+. It is a cultural issue that can not be reduced to a few examples of bad counseling. It is clear that they see no reason whatsoever to change this.
I never found any real solution.
The Insight Program Survivor Story
At 16, I was recommended by a psychiatrist to join The Insight Program. I was told it was a short term support group and it was not mandatory for me to attend. I did not think I needed to go whatsoever, but that was against my will. I was pretty open to joining once I had arrived, because of the amount of kids hanging out and smoking cigarettes. I didn’t even smoke.
Rosy Tint of Nostalgia
The Crossroads Program Survivor Testimony
I long considered my involvement in the Group to have been more personally beneficial than detrimental. On the occasions that I thought back on my time in Crossroads, which became more and more seldom over time, it was almost always with the rosy tint of nostalgia.
Crossroads Survivor Interview
The Crossroads Program Survivor Story: 2016 - 2017
In this episode Kate and Jes sit down and chat with Anna Tripolitis. Anna shares her amazing story of how she escaped a sobriety cult. That’s right; we said cult
Enthusiastic Sobriety Parent
I’m a parent who was involved in an Enthusiastic Sobriety program for six years. I poured all my money, time, money, energy, money, etc., into the program. While I was determined to be that-really-gnarly-program-parent (you know, so my kid wouldn’t DIE) there were incidents from time to time that put worms in my gut.