I’m very sorry to hear about your friend and, of course, I can appreciate your concerns. What I would recommend is this:
1. Read a copy of Steve Hassan’s book Combatting Cult Mind Control. In it you will find great advice about dealing with someone who may be in a coercive situation. First and foremost he recommends not being critical to the affected person about the group – remain a curious and supportive friend.
2. Second, if you can, measure the group your friend is in using either Steve Hassan’s BITE system (you can find more info about that on his web site: http://www.freedomofmind.com) or Dr. Robert Lifton’s 8 Criteria for Thought Reform.
3. Go to Steve Hassan’s site and go the ‘Help for Someone Else’ page. There you will find a section called Evaluating Concerns – this will help to clarify the danger in your friend’s situation.

These steps will get you started. Once you’ve done that you’ll be much more aware and educated about what kind of a situation you’re dealing with and can proceed from there.

I wish you the very best and hope that your friend is safe. Feel free to email me at alexandra@cultalovestory.com if you have any other questions.

Warmly,
Alexandra

I’m worried one of my friends has been sucked in by a group. I don’t know if its a cult or not, but she’s not behaving in the characteristic way she used to since she started attending emotional healing workshops and sanctuaries.I might be jumping the gun, but a little voice tells me that something is wrong and I’m not sure what to do about it. What advice can you give me?