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Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center

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Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center
Company typenon-profit 501(c)(3) corporation in the United States.
Industryresidential counseling center
GenrePsychology
Founded1986
FounderPaul R. Martin, Ph.D.
HeadquartersAlbany, Ohio,
 United States
Key people
Paul R. Martin, CEO

Barbara Martin
Larry Pile

Ron Burks
Servicestreatment of individuals exposed to abusive religious groups, organizations, and cults
WebsiteWellspring Retreat and Resource Center

Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center is a residential counseling center specializing in the treatment of individuals who they evaluate as having suffered in abusive religious groups, cults, domestic violence, clergy and therapist abuse, and manipulative relationships involving mind-control, brainwashing, psychological, emotional, mental, or spiritual abuse. [1] Founded in 1986 by Dr. Paul R. Martin and his wife Barbara, and located in Albany, Ohio, it is one of few facilities of its kind in the world.[1][2] Wellspring is also a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.[3]

Services

Wellspring has been a place of recovery for over 900 survivors and ex-members who have left abusive groups and relationships. This includes over 100 former members of the International Church of Christ, the largest group, as well as members of Scientology and Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church [4][5] It also offers educational, consulting, and family support services. Several of its staff members are published authors, and Wellspring is also an informational resource to national and international media to raise awareness about coercive persuasion and its treatment.[1][6][7]

Wellspring has been praised by cult researcher Dr. Ronald Enroth, in his best-selling book Churches That Abuse, as well as in the follow-up book, Recovering From Churches That Abuse.[8][9] In the latter he wrote, in part:

Wellspring exists because recovering emotionally, restoring a loving relationship with God, and re-entering society are not easily accomplished on one's own. The accounts in this book reveal how tortuous the path to recovery can be without professional, caring help. The tragedy is that for the victims of spiritual abuse, the options are disappointingly few. Not many programs are especially equipped, as Wellspring is, to treat victims of spiritual abuse.[9]

Staff

Prominent staff include Dr. Martin, executive director and CEO, Mrs. Martin, and Larry Pile, cult researcher and archivist, all former members of Great Commission International, now known as Great Commission Association. Other staff include Stephen Martin; Ron Burks, associate clinical director, who has appeared on a segment of The Montel Williams Show as an expert; and Liz Wells, a former PBS television personality who gave her life to a cult before her recovery at Wellspring.[6][10]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center". Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  2. ^ Corrie Callaghan (February 25, 1999). "Center Assists Cult Survivors". The Ohio State University Post. Retrieved 2007-03-17. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) [dead link]
  3. ^ Larry Pile. "Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center - profile". Cultic Studies Journal. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  4. ^ "Organizations List Cult-Help". Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  5. ^ David W. Martin (May 10, 2001). "The Jesus Pyramid". The Cleveland Scene. Retrieved 2007-04-30. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Raised in a Cult". The Montel Williams Show. Season 10. February 28, 2002. CBS Paramount. {{cite episode}}: External link in |transcripturl= (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |transcripturl= ignored (|transcript-url= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Jim Phillips (November 24, 2004). "Counselor fights for freedom of cult victims 'one mind at a time'". The Athens News. Retrieved 2007-03-17. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Enroth, Ronald (1992). Churches That Abuse. Zondervan Publishing House. ISBN 0-310-53290-6.
  9. ^ a b Enroth, Ronald (1994). Recovering From Churches That Abuse. Zondervan Publishing House. p. 33. ISBN 0-310-39870-3.
  10. ^ "MyOwnMind - Cult Recovery and Support Groups". Retrieved 2007-03-17.

See also

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