In this special episode Scott Homan sits down with Austrian cult expert and professional skeptic Ulrike Schiesser as part of our Decult Takeover series, in support of the upcoming Decult Cult Awareness Conference. Ulrike, a psychologist and psychotherapist working at the Federal Office for Cult Affaires (Bundesstelle für Sektenfragen) in Austria, has dedicated her career to understanding and dismantling the psychological manipulation tactics used by high-control groups, cults, and conspiracy-driven communities.
Throughout this conversation, Ulrike shares her vast expertise on how to recognize the subtle yet dangerous signs of cult influence and offers practical advice on how to communicate with loved ones trapped in these environments. She also previews what she'll discuss in more detail at the Decult Cult Awareness Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she'll be a featured speaker.
Highlights of this episode include:
- Ulrike Schiesser's role at the Austrian state-run Federal Office for Cult Affaires and her mission to support cult survivors and their families.
- Practical advice on cult recovery and how to approach conversations with those still inside cults or authoritarian groups.
- Insights into the psychological and sociological aspects of coercive control and how to navigate the complex emotions involved in leaving a cult.
- Ulrike’s experience counseling families dealing with loved ones caught up in conspiracy theories, esotericism, and authoritarian group structures.
As a prominent voice in cult activism across Europe, Ulrike’s work has been celebrated by skeptics and professionals in mental health, making her an essential part of the conversation about cult recovery at the Decult event. Her knowledge provides invaluable tools for individuals struggling to help friends or family members who are under the influence of manipulative, high-control groups.
Whether you’re a mental health professional, a survivor of cult influence, or someone with a loved one in a cult, this conversation will offer key strategies for understanding and approaching these challenging situations.
Decult Cult Awareness Conference: Join Ulrike Schiesser, and other leading experts in cult awareness at the Decult Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, happening on October 19th & 20th!
Get your livestream tickets here:
https://events.humanitix.com/decult-cult-awareness-conference-tickets
#WitnessUnderground #DecultConference #CultAwareness #UlrikeSchiesser #ScottHoman #CultRecovery #MentalHealth #CultExpert #FederalOfficeForCultAffaires #Skeptic #EuropeanSkeptic #CultActivism #FormerCultMembers #ChristchurchActivists #CultConference #ICSA #NewZealandEvent #CultSurvivors #FormerCultMemberSpeaksOut #FormerCultMemberInterview
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-Scott
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