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My life story reveals how my innocent quest for meaning was hijacked by a teacher who recognized my deep thirst for spiritual knowledge — awakening insight while simultaneously eroding my capacity for critical thinking.
An Everyday Cult follows my journey through young motherhood into a group that seemed to welcome me but ultimately captured my mind, my heart, my family, and my finances. I share how easily a mind and psyche can be compromised by a controlling leader using techniques that often fly under the radar of human awareness — and I urge readers to wake up to these subtle yet pervasive abuses of power.
In telling my story, I expose the impact of cultic manipulation on daily life — how it seeps into thoughts, emotions, relationships, and identity. Written in an engaging, self-reflective style, An Everyday Cult offers insight into the mechanisms of control common to cults the world over and invites readers to recognize how such dynamics might appear much closer to home than they imagine.
An Everyday Cult is available in audio format, narrated by yours truly!
Listen to the Audio Book:
Well-seasoned and novice writers alike will benefit from this thoughtfully crafted journal and experience the integrative power of writing. As someone who has survived religious and cultic abuse, I know firsthand the complex emotional, psychological, and spiritual impact these experiences can have. After leaving harmful environments, we face unique challenges that are often misunderstood — even by helping professionals.
Writing about my experiences has been a powerfully integrative process, especially when combined with education and good therapy. That’s why I created the Writing to Reckon Journal: to offer survivors an educational and emotionally supportive space in which to process and integrate these experiences. Respected mental health practices encourage the creation of a coherent narrative as a way for trauma survivors to heal. This journal provides exactly that, while also guiding you through the stages of emerging from controlling groups and relationships.
Through writing, I have been able to rebuild self-trust and — bit by bit — reclaim my authentic voice. My hope is that this journal helps you do the same.
NEW WORK:
I am thrilled to be collaborating with Esther Friedman, author, musician, and licensed mental health counselor, on this new work:
The Resilience Revolution
Co-authored with Esther Friedman
This passion project provides practical support and inspiration for survivors - centering on the essential questions:
How do you reclaim your voice, time, energy, finances, identity, and life?
How do you get the cult out of you?
Esther and I have a history of collaborations that include multiple presentations at ICSA - the International Cultic Studies Association annual conferences as well as book readings and “edutainment” events that highlight music and the written word as inspiration for dynamic dialogue that follows.
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More info coming soon