Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults, and Beliefs

Steven Hassan, PhD

Jun 2022 · Freedom of Mind Press

About this ebook

In the post 911 world, people are more susceptible than ever to charismatic figures who offer simple, black v. white, us v. them, good v. evil, formulaic solutions. The rise of the Internet; increasingly sophisticated knowledge about how to influence and manipulate others; and the growing vulnerabilities of people across the planet—make for a dangerous, potentially devastating combination. Steven Hassan’s new book Freedom of Mind provides the knowledge and awareness needed to help yourself and loved ones avoid or escape from such dangerous people and situations. This must-read volume is a significantly updated and revised edition of Hassan’s groundbreaking Releasing the Bonds (2000). People who read and benefitted from that book—and also his earlier book, Combatting Cult Mind Control (1989)—will want to read Hassan’s latest. It provides an up-to-the-minute guide to the reality of ‘undue influence’—the preferred term for mind control—in the post 9/11 era. Unstable Global Environment Enhances Dangers of Unethical Control The world has changed greatly in the last decade. The rise of the Internet, the emergence of global terrorism and of dangerous totalistic ideologies, and the shifts in global markets—these and other changes have created new opportunities for unscrupulous individuals, groups, and institutions to exert unethical control over others. Freedom of Mind exposes the techniques and methods that individuals, cults, and institutions of all types—religious, business, therapeutic, educational, governmental—use to undo a person’s capacity to think and act independently. Individuals More Vulnerable than Ever The Internet is now the primary vehicle for recruitment and indoctrination. It is also a means for spreading sophisticated information about social psychology, hypnosis, and other techniques of social control, which are being used—in ways both effective and dangerous—by ‘influence professionals.’ Meanwhile, people are becoming increasingly vulnerable. Sleep-deprived, overweight and looking to improve themselves, overloaded with often frightening images and information; anxious about the current economic decline, climate change, and government corruption on all levels. People are more susceptible than ever to charismatic figures who offer simple, black v. white, us v. them, good v. evil, formulaic solutions. These factors—the rise of the Internet; increasingly sophisticated knowledge about how to influence and manipulate others; and the growing vulnerabilities of people across the planet—make for a dangerous, potentially devastating combination. Freedom of Mind Provides Help for Yourself, a Loved One, or a Friend Hassan’s new book, Freedom of Mind, aims to fill the gap. It identifies and explains how to identify and evaluate potentially dangerous groups and individuals. Hassan details his groundbreaking approach, the ‘Strategic Interactive Approach,’ which can be used to help a loved one leave such a situation. Step-by-step, Hassan shows you how to: evaluate the situation; interact with dual identities; develop communication strategies using phone calls, letter writing and visits; understand and utilize cult beliefs and tactics; use reality-testing and other techniques to promote freedom of mind. He emphasizes the value of meeting with trained consultants to be effectively guided and coached and also to plan and implement effective interventions. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is knowledge and awareness.

About the author

Steven A. Hassan, PhD, MA, MEd, LMHC, NCC is one of the foremost authorities on cults and mind control. He has been involved in educating the public about mind control, brainwashing, and destructive cults since 1976. He holds a Master's degree in counseling psychology from Cambridge College, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). Steven received a Master's in 2020 from Fielding Graduate University. He later earned a doctorate in the Organizational Development and Change (ODC)program at Fielding's School of Leadership Studies. Hassan did a TEDxBeaconStreet talk in 2018 entitled: Is Technology Controlling Your Mind? He was a participant in the "Dismantling QAnon" TEDXMidAtlantic program in 2020.

Steven has written four books that have received extensive praise from former cult members, families of former members, clergy, cult experts, and psychologists. Simon and Schuster published his latest book, The Cult of Trump: A Leading Cult Expert Explains How The President Uses Mind Control. Hassan read the audiobook. Kirkus Reviews gave a positive review.

His previous books are Combating Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best-selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults (1988, 1990, 2015, 2018), Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves (2000), and Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults & Beliefs, (2012, 2013). Audible published Combating Cult Mind Control in August 2018.

Steven Hassan has also developed a cutting-edge curriculum called Endingthegame.com which aids sex trafficking victims to understand pimp/trafficker mind control indoctrination and leave the commercial cult. He was invited to a closed Aspen Institute meeting to discuss ISIS in August 2015.

Hassan's insightful perspective and expert commentary have made him a definitive source, for hundreds of national, international and local media outlets including CNN, Fox, 60 Minutes, Dateline, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, People Magazine, Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, The Today Show, Night Line, and Good Morning America.

Hassan is the founder of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center Inc. www.freedomofmind.com and Freedom From Undue Influence, a division of the non-profit Dare Association, Inc. www.freedomfromundueinfluence.org

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Find us on:

TEDX talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPXBtsR44N0&feature=youtu.be

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FOMInc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/freedomfromundueinfluence/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultExpert

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenhassan

YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/cultcast

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/freedomofmind

Blogs: https://freedomofmind.com/blog/