Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center
Encyclopedia
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.
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. It also is the only counseling facility recommended by the Christian Research Institute
. Wellspring is also a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.
and Sun Myung Moon's
Unification Church
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.
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. In the latter he wrote, in part:
, 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.
Cults
Cults is a suburb on the western edge of Aberdeen, Scotland. It lies on the banks of the River Dee and marks the eastern boundary of Royal Deeside.Cults, known for its historic granite housing, sits approximately six miles from the coast of the North Sea...
, domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
, clergy and therapist abuse, and manipulative
Psychological manipulation
Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at the other's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative,...
relationships involving mind-control, brainwashing, psychological, emotional, mental, or spiritual abuse.
Founded in 1986 by Dr. Paul R. Martin
Paul R. Martin
Paul R. Martin was a psychotherapist, licensed clinical psychologist, and director of the Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center in Ohio. He also worked in private practice in Athens, Ohio...
and his wife Barbara, and located in Albany, Ohio
Albany, Ohio
Albany is a village in Athens County, Ohio, United States. The population was 808 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Albany is located at ....
, it is one of few facilities of its kind in the world. It also is the only counseling facility recommended by the Christian Research Institute
Christian Research Institute
The Christian Research Institute is an Evangelical Christian apologetics ministry. It was established in October 1960 in the state of New Jersey by Walter Martin . In 1974 Martin relocated the ministry to San Juan Capistrano, California. The ministry's office was relocated in the 1990s near Rancho...
. Wellspring is also a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.
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 ScientologyScientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
and Sun Myung Moon's
Sun Myung Moon
Sun Myung Moon is the Korean founder and leader of the worldwide Unification Church. He is also the founder of many other organizations and projects...
Unification Church
Unification Church
The Unification Church is a new religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. In 1954, the Unification Church was formally and legally established in Seoul, South Korea, as The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity . In 1994, Moon gave the church...
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.
Wellspring has been praised by cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
researcher Dr. Ronald Enroth, in his best-selling book Churches That Abuse
Churches That Abuse
Churches That Abuse, first published in 1991, is a best-selling counterculture apologetic book written by Ronald M. Enroth. The book presents real-life stories of pseudo-Christian churches and organizations deemed spiritually abusive and the effects these groups have had on their members...
, as well as in the follow-up book, Recovering From Churches That Abuse. 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.
Staff
Prominent staff include Dr. MartinPaul R. Martin
Paul R. Martin was a psychotherapist, licensed clinical psychologist, and director of the Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center in Ohio. He also worked in private practice in Athens, Ohio...
, executive director and CEO, Mrs. Martin, and Larry Pile
Larry Pile
Lawrence A. Pile is a cult researcher, archivist, and workshop leader at Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center. He received his bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois and has 5 ½ years experience within "The Blitz Movement" , later writing a book about its history and...
, cult researcher and archivist, all former members of Great Commission International, now known as Great Commission Association
Great Commission Association
The Great Commission church movement is a broad term used to describe the entities associated with an evangelical Christian movement formalized in the USA in 1970. The largest of these organizations today is Great Commission Churches . Other associated organizations include Great Commission...
. Other staff include Stephen Martin; Ron Burks, associate clinical director, who has appeared on a segment of The Montel Williams Show
The Montel Williams Show
The Montel Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Montel Williams. On January 30, 2008 it was announced that The Montel Williams Show would stop production on new episodes at the end of the 2007-2008 television season after seventeen years...
as an expert; and Liz Wells, a former PBS television personality who gave her life to a cult before her recovery at Wellspring.
External links
- Official site, Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center
- Dispelling the Myths by Dr. Paul R. Martin
- The Other Side of Discipleship by Larry Pile
- Thought Reform in Cults and Abusive Relationships by Larry Pile, Ron Burks
- Choosing a Church After a Painful Experience by Larry Pile
- Join Us: The Movie Documentary featuring Wellspring