What we offer
We can offer you the following
Post-Cult CounsellingHVC - both face to face and on the telephone
Extended Recovery Workshops
Ex-Cult Member Support and Education Group
Befriending
Mentoring
Advice
Support adjusting to life outside the cult
Training for counsellors and psychotherapists
Supervision of counsellors and psychotherapists
Post-Cult CounsellingHVC is a unique approach to counselling ex-cult members and survivors of spiritual abuse. It has been developed by Gillie Jenkinson, also Director of Hope Valley Counselling Limited (www.hopevalleycounselling.com), integrating years of clinical experience, Gestalt psychotherapy, pastoral counselling and personal experience as well as the thought reform (sometimes called mind control) model developed by Wellspring Retreat and Resource Centre [www.wellspringretreat.org].
EnCourage provides an 'Agreement for Post-Cult CounsellingHVC' which is mutually agreed at the start of therapy, and sets out the expectations and boundaries for this work. EnCourage also asks clients to fill out a monitoring form in order to evaluate whether therapy has been effective – this is required for funders.
What does Post-Cult CounsellingHVC (PCC) entail in practice?
Gillie's, and others’, research and clinical practice shows that education about how cults gain control, identifying the cult pseudo-personality, and de-briefing any trauma are all vital parts of the PCC.
Your counsellor will listen and where necessary be interactive. He or she will bring his/her experience, understanding of cults and thought reform, and training to bear in order to help you understand your experience more fully. Your counsellor will offer his/her support in order that recovery from any traumatic experiences may take place. She also uses educational tools e.g. books, DVDs and TV programmes.
Therapy usually takes place for an hour either weekly, twice weekly or more. Or...
Time Away in the Peak District
EnCourage offers a more extended therapy time, so, for example individuals or groups can stay locally in the beautiful Peak District [www.peakdistrictonline.co.uk] in a bed and breakfast or a hotel and spend approximately 4 hours (in 2 hour blocks) a day with the counsellor in order to start the process of understanding the cult experience more fully whilst having a break from the pressures of life.
A plan for the few days away is mutually agreed on beforehand or on the first day. The few days away is followed up by therapy either on the telephone or face-to-face. The hourly charge is the same as for other therapy.
We are continually fundraising in order that we can subsidise therapy services. If you know of anyone who would be prepared to contribute to this work please let us know or point them in our direction. Once we have funding we can progress with offering the following services at a subsidised rate (subject to the agreement of the Trustees and established Policies):
If you can afford to pay for these services contact Gillie Jenkinson at info@hopevalleycounselling.com - see website at www.hopevalleycounselling.com.
