The DialogCentre UK at Work
The DialogCentre UK exists to offer
help to the members and ex-members of groups that we describe as "extremist authoritarian sects". We also seek to help their
families and friends.
Most of the requests for help we
receive divide into four main categories:
- Situations in which the member of an extremist
authoritarian (hereafter "EAS") is in conflict with family or friends outside
the sect issues relating to their involvement, where the parties in the
conflict help to re-establish communications and to reach an
understanding;
- Situations in which the member of an EAS is
unhappy or is concerned about some aspect of the commitment that was required
of them, or where the member wants to discuss experiences in the group with an
Informed outsider for some other reason;
- Situations in which an ex-member of an EAS wants
help with issues or experiences arising from the time spent in the group or
arising from their decision or attempt to leave the group;
- Situations In which the family or friends of a
member or ex-member of an EAS have lost contact or communications with that
member, and need help in attempting to re-establish contact or
communications.
The needs of our enquirers at these
times may range from information to relieve confusion or answer questions (our
most common request), through counselling for the family, to specialized help
for more serious problems.
At the Dialogcentre UK we rely on
research, dialogue, counselling and skills-training to mediate and reconcile
withIn the family, to inform about issues relevant to the circumstance, to
relieve distress or trauma, and to rehabilitate, according to the needs of all
the individuals in each situation. Our service may include referring clients to
medical, psychiatric or legal experts where that is required.
Particularly with reference to members
and ex~members, it is relevant to emphasize three things that the DialogCentre
UK does not do. First, we do not aim automatically to 'remove' anyone from the
group they have joined, although this may happen in the course of events.
Second, we do not seek to proselytize anyone into any faith or persuasion or
organization. Third, we do not participate in any proceedings where the sect
member's or ex-member's presence is not strictly voluntary.
Since some sects teach their members
to suspect outsiders, and some members have had bad experiences with outsiders,
these three points need to be stated in order to reassure the members or
ex-members who come to us that our agenda for our work is their well-being, not
the pursuit of some hidden agenda.
The DialogCentre UK lays special
emphasis on the rehabilitation and aftercare needed by those who have chosen to
leave the EAS of which they were members, without losing sight of the needs of
those who not ready to take that step, or of the families and friends. The
DialogCentre UK is small, and our operations are restricted by size and
resourses. Within our limitations, we aim to serve those who have been affected
by extremist authoritarian sects.
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