Wellspring Retreat & Resource Center is a non-profit residential treatment facility that provides a program of counseling and instruction to victims of
cultic abuse,
religious abuse and/or
mind control.
Wellspring is a residential counseling center specializing in the treatment of individuals who have suffered in abusive groups, whether religious or secular; these are often called cults. Our program is also effective for those who have been in coercive relationships, and those who have experienced professional abuse and/or sexual exploitation from therapists, doctors, clergy, and teachers. We are best known for our intensive two-week, residential program of counseling, education, and care.
- Source: Wellspring Retreat: About Us
Wellspring is a Christian-based retreat center. But [Wellspring counselor Tiffany] Hawkins said staff members let clients bring up the topic of God. They don't want to push spirituality because many clients left situations in which leaders used God to manipulate them.
"Some don't want anything to do with God," she said. "They have been wounded in the name of God."
People come to Wellspring with symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. They spend two weeks there, where counselors do one-on-one meetings and group sessions. The goal is to let former cult members tell their stories and teach them how to think critically again.
- Source: Counselor helps cult survivors, Greeley Tribune (Colorado), July 6, 2003
Most senior staffers, including [Wellspring Founder Directory Paul] Martin, say they are themselves former members of cults. The staff is made up of Christians, but staffers say they respect clients' religious views and don't push Christianity on unwilling clients. They point out that Wellspring is an accredited health-care facility, no one comes there against his will and clients are always free to leave.
- Source: Cult Exit, The Dayton Daily News, May 7, 2000
Recommended
Wellspring Retreat & Resource Center is one of the counseling organizations
recommended by Apologetics Index.
Magazine
Wellspring used to publish an online magazine titled, "Wellspring Journal" (and earlier, "Wellspring Messenger.") The magazine has not been published since the summer of 2000. However, archived issues can be read via the Internet Archive.
Wellspring Journal
News & News Archive
» Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center news Archived by Religion News Blog. See
Database of archived news items2 items archived elsewhere.
Profile
» Profile: Wellspring Retreat & Resource Center an expanded profile published in Cults & Society, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2001. (
Cults & Society was an experimental predecessor to the
Cultic Studies Review, published by the
International Cultic Studies Association. Currently the ICSA publishes
ICSA Today).