Hassan - Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs

Praise for

Freedom of Mind

Steven Hassan isone of our most eloquent defenders of freedom of the mind. For decades he haslabored mightily on behalf of the majesty of the human spirit. His good workhas brought psychological and spiritual relief to countless victims andfamilies across the globe that have unknowingly stumbled into the clutches of mindcontrol perpetrators. As a spokesperson for the ordinary individuals right tobe the master of his or her own thoughts and choices, Hassan hassurvived the dangers and threats manufactured by manipulators who havesought to silence his courage. His new book will bring special hope for currentvictims, but it should be read by anyone who values the privacy and sanctity ofhis or her own personality.

AlanW. Scheflin, Professor of Law; Santa Clara University, Coauthor of The MindManipulators and Memory, Trauma Treatment, and the Law; Recipient ofsixteen awards in the fields of mental health and human rights.

When I wasgrowing up with a guru in the house, I wish I had access to someone like SteveHassan. He just knows more about this than anyone else. He is wise,compassionate, fair and effective. I loved this new book. Read it and listen tohim!

JeffreyMoussaieff Masson, Author of When Elephants Weep,Against Therapy andMy Fathers Guru

Theessence of Steve Hassans work is the liberation of the human potential in allof us. Can anyone of us be really free when others are enslaved? Stevesemphatic no to this agonizing question makes Freedom of Mind a vibranttool for so many of us in the helping professions. As a rabbi and teacher, I amalways inspired by Steve Hassans integrity and determination. Let it continuefor many years.

MosheWaldoks, Ph.D. Rabbi, Temple Beth Zion, Brookline, MA and Authorof The Big Book of Jewish Humor

WithFreedom of Mind, Steve Hassan has provided a reasoned, principled, andhighly readable approach to attacking a serious social problem. We need thisbook!

RobertB. Cialdini, Ph.D. Author ofInfluence, Founder of Influenceatwork.com

WhenSteve Hassan was still a high ranking member in the Unification Church, Iparticipated in an unsuccessful voluntary deprogramming of my daughter,Barbara. For two days the team leader pounded at the cult member and her group.Deliberately, he insulted them using bathroom language on the theory that thecult member would snap. We failed. As she returned to her group the cultistremarked, Where was the love? If the team leader and the cult member had hadthe opportunity to read Hassans Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones LeaveControlling People, Cults and Beliefs, the results might have been quitedifferent. Hassan has skillfully condensed his more than 36 years of experiencein liberating members of destructive groups into a valuable workbook forcounselors, cult members and their families, and mental health professionals.His formula, the Strategic Interactive Approach, stresses love, respect,freedom of choice, customized planned action fitted to the individual with thefamily as key participants, psychotherapy, and applied social psychology.

ArthurA. Dole, Ph.D, ABPP. Emeritus Professor, Former Member Board of DirectorsInternational Cultic Studies Association

Freedomof Mind is a compassionate and intelligent guide for anyone who has everbeen caught up in a cult or cult-like organization. Hassan offers perceptiveand non-coercive guidance to family and friends of those whose idealism orvulnerability has led them to become cult members. Further, the book providesvaluable insights into the control and manipulation that can occur in abusivepersonal relationships such as those experienced by battered women. It is avital tool for professionals and laypersons alike.

PeterR. Breggin, M.D. Author of Psychiatric Drug Withdrawaland MedicationMadness: The Role of Psychiatric Drugs in Cases of Violence, Suicide and Crime

Threedecades ago, Steve was the most significant innovator of exit-counseling. Hisfirst book was the best general introduction to the subject, but rather thanresting on his laurels, he continued to expand his thinking, to our greatbenefit. This book represents an even better approach to indoctrination andexploitative persuasion. Steve is one of a handful of true experts on theterrible problems posed by destructive groups. It has been my good fortune toknow him these many years and I can attest that his integrity and courage areunswerving, despite the extreme pressures of such work. Anyone who has beeninvolved should put aside the prejudices instilled by their group and read thisbook. For that matter, as every life is now touched by fanaticism, everyoneshould read and discuss the compelling ideas that Steve puts forward here.

JonAtack, Author A Piece of Blue Sky; Voodoo Child (Slight Return);and Waking Reason (work in progress)

Atthe time I left the headquarters of Jehovahs Witnesses in New York, afterhaving worked for $14 a month for 6 years, I was able through much innersoul-searching to extricate myself on my own. Had I possessed the informationin Freedom of Mind more than likely it would have greatly shortened theamount of time spent still searching for answers. When you are the one beingmanipulated by controlling leadership, you are least likely to understand themotives behind that leadership, as it is carefully cloaked behind doctrine,fear and guilt. Steves SIA approach can give loved ones guidance on how tocommunicate effectively to people in cults like the Jehovahs Witnesses. Thebook may also be so helpful to those in destructive groups who are starting toquestion. No one can shortcut the process significantly and recover withoutfear of returning to the group, or of being caught up in another high-controlgroup.

RandallWatters, Author of Thus Saith Jehovahs Witnesses.

Congratulations,Steve! You have a unique guidebook here that should help free many people fromthe bondage of mind control. It will give hope and motivation to their manyrelatives and friends who feel helpless and hopeless and are desperate todiscover some means of reaching their loved one. I remember the dark depressivecloud of despair that settled on me when I first heard of my son Petersinvolvement in Scientology. What a tremendous relief it was when his wife MaryJo reassured us that he had responded positively to your counseling and had re-enteredthe real world.

Itis good that you affirm consistently the importance of an individuals faith you make it clear that no Christian should fear that your methods or techniqueswould impact the cult members religious faith negatively. You are unselfishlysharing what you know with others, and encouraging them to try it. The Moonieswould have undoubtedly left you alone, had they any idea what yourindoctrination would eventually lead to! God works in mysterious ways.

JoyceFarrell, Mother of ex-Scientologist

We'veknown Steve Hassan personally, and his work, for over 25 years. Many times wehave talked and shared information about particular gurus and cults as we arealigned in believing that healthy spirituality requires personal integrity andsocial responsibility. In 1989 we asked for his feedback on our booklet ongurus. He was so impressed that he said we should expand it into a book. Theresulting book, The Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power (1993),has become a classic in helping free people from authoritarian teachers andgroups. Steve Hassan has been at the forefront of investigating cults, cultbehavior, and successfully deprogramming many of those ensnared. He has shownthe very real dangers that cults bring to individuals and society. His dedicationto freeing people from insidious mind control has been his focus for 36 years.So we are pleased to support him and his new book Freedom of Mind: HelpingLoved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs