Thank you for visiting EnCourage Survivors of Cults and Abuse Website.
Sadly, we are winding down our activities and the trustees are considering closing EnCourage in early 2025.
Resources
EnCourage was set up in order to offer support to those who have left a cult, abusive group, one on one cult or been spiritually abused (called former members). This includes first generation (joined or recruited) and second/third generation (born and or raised). Sadly, we are winding down our activities and the trustees are considering closing EnCourage in early 2025.
There are a number of different resources that might be interesting for you to explore:
‘Walking Free from the Trauma of Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse: A Workbook for Recovery and Growth’
Resources on the Hope Valley Counselling Website
The Family Survival Trust facilitate an online support group out of London
The Family Survival Trust
ICSA - International Cultic Studies Association
Spiritual Abuse Resources
Steven Hassan
Information, videos and books
Rosanne Henry
Great information on her website
Dare to Doubt
Support leaving a religion and affiliated issues
Bonnie Zieman
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bonnie-Zieman/e/B00XROE7JG%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Janja Lalich
Great information and research plus videos etc.
Marlene Winell
Rachel Bernstein
https://www.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/
Check out her podcast Indoctrination https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67JLTD22dSnVadqXKcYPcA
Daniel Shaw
Cult 101 Recovery
Faith to Faithless
https://www.faithtofaithless.com/
Take Back your Life: Recovery from cults and abusive relationships by Lalich and Tobias (3rd Edition)
On recovery [also an audio book]
Terror, Love & Brainwashing by Alexandra Stein (please note a Second Edition will be published very soon)
[talks about the trauma bonding that leaders take advantage of]
Escaping Utopia: Growing up in a cult, getting out and starting over by Lalich and McLaren
https://www.amazon.com/Escaping-Utopia-Growing-Getting-Starting/dp/1138239747/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1535004806&sr=1-1&keywords=escaping+utopia&dpID=51XVmSkUN8L&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch
Trauma resource - The Body Keeps The Score by van der Kolk
www.janinafisher.com and her Workbook https://www.amazon.co.uk/Transforming-Living-Legacy-Trauma-Therapists/dp/1683733487/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=janina+fisher&qid=1613631574&s=books&sr=1-1
Please note that the DISCLAIMER on the EnCourage website is also applicable to all links in this email and it is up to you to check out the links
EnCourage is not affiliated with any of these organisations.
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The History of EnCourage
Some years after leaving the cult in which they had been raised, Christine and Jörg Mathis realised there was a real need to support other former cult members many of whom were either destitute or in need emotionally.
As a result they offered befriending, counselling and practical assistance to those struggling with the mechanics of life outside a cult.
They established the Clearwaters Open Doors Trust in 2004 as a fund-raising vehicle for this work, hoping in due course to establish a separate retreat centre. However, they did not have time to promote it as they had hoped.
Gillie Jenkinson had a similar vision for former cult members and Christine and Jörg agreed she would be a good person to take the Trust forward. Gillie offered to co-ordinate the re-launch of the Trust under new Trustees and with expanded aims.
As Clearwaters Open Door Trust was named after a local landmark it was decided that a less personal name would be used.
In 2009 the Charity Commission agreed that the Trust be renamed ‘EnCourage Survivors of Cults and Abuse’ and the aims were expanded (see above).
Christine Mathis-Rimes
We at EnCourage are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Christine Mathis-Rimes who founded EnCourage along with her surviving husband Jörg.
Christine was a truly beautiful person, generous and kind, and she counselled and helped many who left the Brudderhof Communities sometimes even providing a home for those who were shunned and disenfranchised. You can read of her life story in her book ‘A Cruel Sanctuary’ (below) – it is fascinating, heart-breaking at times, and ultimately positive.
She will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her (and it was hard not to love her at first meeting – I certainly did).
Gillie Jenkinson Coordinator for EnCourage and the Trustees.
February 2021
Book: Cruel Sanctuary
We are proud to announce that the founder of EnCourage, Christine Mathis, has published her life story in a book entitled: Cruel Sanctuary: A young woman's battle to escape from a fanatical religious sect.
Check it out on Amazon.
Who are we?
Gillie Jenkinson is Coordinator of, and an Approved Service Provider for, EnCourage.
Gillie is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and a Registered Member of BACP. She specialises in working with former members of cults, abusive or high demand groups, abusive relationships, one-on-one cults and spiritual abuse. You can read more about what she offers at www.hopevalleycounselling.com
There are three Trustees who are registered with the Charity Commission whose names are:
Mr Oswald Billings
Ms Christina Eagles
Mr Nicholas Cliffe
