Dr. Gillie Jenkinson on Thought Reform, Trauma, and Walking Free (Part 2)

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Gillie Jenkinson, we move from her remarkable story into the practical question so many survivors ask: How do you actually recover after leaving a cult? Gillie shares how her own experience escaping a high-control Christian group led her to become one of the world's leading specialists in cult recovery, and why she set out to create ethical, trauma-informed support when almost none existed. We dig into the foundations of her work, from the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) and the pioneering Wellspring Retreat Center to the influence of Dr. Robert Jay Lifton's thought reform model, exploring why understanding coercive control is often the first step toward reclaiming yourself.

We also unpack the common threads Gillie has seen after decades of working with former members of high-control groups, religious cults, and coercive relationships. From identity reconstruction and trauma recovery to the importance of healthy therapeutic boundaries and making sense of what happened, this convo’s packed with hope and hard-earned wisdom for anyone navigating life after undue influence.

Pick up Dr. Gillie Jenkinson’s book, Walking Free from the Trauma of Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse, follow her on Facebook or LinkedIn, and follow Hope Valley Counselling at hopevalleycounselling.com or on Facebook.

Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of religious trauma, coercive control, thought reform, and psychological manipulation.

Also…let it be known that:

The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody’s mad at you, just don’t be a culty fuckwad.

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CREDITS:

Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony Ames

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Audio production: Will Retherford

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Writer: Sandra Nomoto

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Theme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel Asselin

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