Transformation Skeptic

About TS

I have a personal interest in the highly controversial subject of personal development group seminars after having two separate ruined friendships because of them, in two different cities. I watched one close friend transform into someone I no longer knew or understood with The Choice Center in Las Vegas. And the other friend launched a subtle yet surprising recruiting pitch for The Legacy Center in Raleigh when I was going through a difficult and emotional time. I didn’t make the connection between the two centers right away. Both of these friends tried to recruit me, and neither could tell me what actually happened during the courses, other than it was something I had to experience. Once I did make the connection I began some internet research and uncovered disturbing stories of people who had similar experiences as myself. And some stories that are much much worse.

Of course there are testimonials from people who are glad they took the courses. But it’s the fact that there are hidden lawsuit settlements for victims of serious nervous breakdowns and psychotic episodes due to these courses. As well as families of victims who had committed suicide as a result. Not only that, but people have become homicidal during or after their experience. These facts clearly illustrate that there is an unknown percentage of participants that are guaranteed to experience severely negative effects during or after participation. How is this allowed?

I found that there are a multitude of world wide centers with a similar premise and structure as the aforementioned centers. Largely based on est (Werner Erhard) which is partially derived from Scientology.

In my preliminary research I also compiled a list of books to seek out at my local library. One of them was Margaret Thaler Singer’s “Cults In Our Midst: The Hidden Menace In Our Everyday Lives” (1995).  The inside jacket profoundly reads:

“Most people believe that cult members are mentally unbalanced or are misfits who live in remote places, like the doomed devotees of Jim jones and David Koresh. We take comfort in the fact that the influences of cults are far removed from our everyday lives.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Over the past two decades, in the United States alone, an estimated twenty million people have joined cults. Today, three to five thousand cults are working to recruit new members. At any point in time, two-and-a-half to three million Americans are active cult members. Often a cult is disguised as a legitimate business or organization: a restaurant, self-help group, psychotherapy clinic, or leadership training program could be a front for a cult. Anyone- no matter what age or income level- could be susceptible to the covert and seductive nature of a cult. During periods of traumatic life changes, people are especially vulnerable to these masterful manipulators: a college student away from home for the first time, a grief-stricken widow in need of understanding and support, or a businessperson transferred by his or her employer to a new and unfamiliar community.”

Interestingly, the book I checked out at the library was a second edition reprint paperback with its introduction mentioning a glaring omission of a specifically named group in Chapter 9: The Threat of Intimidation. That group launched a $10 million dollar lawsuit against Singer. I sought out and found the first edition hardcover which I am now the proud owner of.

My Mission:
If I can help people be aware of the possible dangers they face, or someone they care about, before joining an LGAT that is what I want to do. If I can contribute to putting an end to government tolerance and future legislation against these predatory con-artists, that is I want to do. I am well aware of intimidation tactics and threats these groups and their well-paid lawyers use towards online forums, journalists and other professionals who dare to criticize them. I am also aware of my rights to free speech. And I have a lot to say.