ABSTRACT
This Milestone introduces the reader to the idea that it is helpful and liberating to ‘diagnose’ the group or relationship of which they were a member, based on the premise that without an accurate diagnosis we cannot get the right treatment. The wide range of coercive, cultic and spiritually abusive settings is considered, and the concept of a continuum ranging from ‘safe enough’ through to abusive settings. The Milestone looks in turn at various published definitions and indicators of a ‘cult’, ‘spiritual abuse’ and ‘coercive control’. Worksheets are provided to help the reader to explore and apply these for themself, to diagnose what they were involved in.
