ICSA e-Newsletter, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2008
The Work of the German Südwest Network
Otto Lomb
Abstract
This paper discusses the history, objectives, and methods
of a network of mental health professionals concerned about cults. The paper is
based on a presentation to the 2007 Annual Conference of International Cultic
Studies Association, which took place in Brussels, Belgium.
Who We Are—The Südwest Network
The main basis for the Südwest Network is the
insight that we cannot work alone. So we decided to establish some kind of a
network in a rather small region in the southwest part of Germany, which allows
us to communicate very closely.
Our network includes individuals who feel obliged to
help people regarding their problems with destructive cults but don't want to be
part of a group of people. They agree to work together with other people, but
not too closely.
Two groups belong to the Netzwerk Südwest.
Ausstieg (Abandoning) is an association of former Jehovah’s Witnesses, and
SINUS is a group of about 60 members in the conurbation of Frankfurt.
A professional advisory centre in Freiburg—Parapsychological
Beratungsstelle—is the only member of the network that is working
professionally and concentrates on a special subject, questions related to
parapsychology.
The local centre is the Odenwälder Wohnhof, a
very special and unique place in which people had the opportunity to live for a
certain time in order to readjust after their time in a destructive cult.
Unfortunately this place had to close down because its financial support ended.
The former leader of this institution, Inge Mamay, is continuing her work in
another capacity.
Working As Professionally As Possible
The following list of “essentials” will help us all be as
professional as possible as we offer help.
Essential 1: How to Become Knowledgeable
Of course, everybody started with some kind of
knowledge, most of us with the experiences we gained in destructive cults by
ourselves or in dealing with other people and their bad experiences. Although
this is a fine starting point, it is not enough.
When we decided to establish a network, we quickly
came to the conclusion that our offerings of help should be as professional as
possible. We carried out extensive further education. We invited well known
specialists and found a way to finance the education.
We met in the Wohnhof for six weekends over a
three-year period to learn as much as possible about the following subjects:
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A general view of the
most important destructive cults;
-
How cults abused
unusual experiences;
-
Psychological
problems;
-
Juridical problems;
-
How to work together
with the politicians.
Between 20 and 30 persons took part in these
meetings. That means that members of our network can refer to a lot of people
who have the skills to help others.
After these three years of training, we decided to
continue with this fundamental work and offer once a year an ongoing education
for our Netzwerk Südwest. Not surprisingly, one of the most important
results of this training is that we unveiled what we did not know.
Therefore we are steadily looking for other specialists and we are keeping in
touch with them on a constant basis.
Essential 2: Knowing People Who Know More Than We Do
This part of our work is very important. Whereas we
are constantly trying to improve our knowledge (see later), we know that as
voluntarily working people we depend on specialists. So we try steadily to find
specialized advisers.
We need three main kinds of specialists:
- Professional advisers. We are staying in
contact with professional advisers. In Germany we have state facilities and
church facilities. The churches in Germany are investing money to establish
professional church advisors. We maintain regular contact with them.
- Psychologists who have experience treating
people leaving a cult.
- Lawyers who have gained experience with
problems relating to cults; for example, to deal with questions of custody
rights.
Another group of specialists is very important for
us: politicians. We invite them, we inform them, and we consult with them
if there are problems. It is very important for us to know them personally.
Essential 3: Steadily “Marketing”
One of our main efforts is to make our offerings of
help known to the public. We do this by:
-
Setting up and
maintaining Websites. It is very important that you or
somebody you know have computer skills. He/she must be able to maintain
Websites and to create key words in a certain way that somebody who is
looking for help will be able to discover your Website fast.
-
Participating in
public events. If it is possible, we take part in public
events in order to inform people that they can find help in our Netzwerk.
So we take part in big events of churches or the state or in central
meetings of self-help groups.
-
Giving information
to the public and institutions, for example, by offering
them our flyers.
-
Presenting our work
in public schools by lecturing. Students or teachers
sometimes request information and/or lectures.
Essential 4: Money
Of course, none of us earns money by helping other
people. But some money is necessary in order to operate. How does one get it?
Not everybody in our network has the possibility of getting money, especially
those who are working alone and are not linked to a group.
-
The group SINUS gets
annual fees from their members. Not very much, but it is at least a small
basis for operating. In any case we are looking steadily for other
possibilities.
-
Sometimes we get
donations from people whom we have helped.
-
The regional
government is helping us by giving money from a fund connected to the
national lottery.
-
Every year we get some
money from a church. The church is also supporting us by offering rooms for
our meetings.
Essential 5: How to Motivate the Volunteers
The people who give their time to help others
sometimes experience various degrees of burnout.
It is important to motivate not only people who were
members of a destructive cult, but also people who are just interested in this
work. Often the former members of cults become tired and just don't want to
continue. If people take part in the work of an association of people who are
not affected directly by personal experiences, there is a bigger chance that
these workers will continue to be involved for a longer period of time.
In any way, as volunteers, take care of your
comrade-in-arms.
-
Give them the feeling
that their depressing experiences may be helpful for others.
-
Organize meetings that
not only deal with the problematic questions but also give opportunities to
laugh. “SINUS,” for example, organizes every year a humorous event during
carnival season.
-
Organize your meetings
in a way that allows time for small talk. The best way is to spend a weekend
together in a place which does not allow you to spend the night in your own
home. To spend an evening together, to have a breakfast together, to have a
walk together—this is indispensable to building relationships. I remember
very well the first meeting we held with some other groups, especially when
we met in the evening in the bar where we could joke and laugh and forget
all the unpleasant experiences most of us had had.
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