Hello, my name is Chris Shelton and I am an author, consultant, podcaster, videographer, and former cult member. Welcome to my website. I am here to help.
Consultation
I consult with former cult members as well as the family and friends of those currently stuck in a coercively controlling environment, whether that is in a high control group such as Scientology or an abusive domestic partnership. I am not a licensed therapist or counsellor and I do not provide psychological counselling or therapy. What I do provide is emotional support, education and evidence-based advice on how to deal with the manipulations, abuses and fallout of being in a destructive cult. Often people who have recently left such situations are disoriented, confused or aren’t sure how to acclimate back into the larger world outside of their earlier cult paradigm. This is where I come in, helping to navigate some of the pitfalls of the ex-cult experience so as to help make the transition as smooth and sure as possible.
When a family member or friend appears to be getting wrapped up in a destructive cult, it can be alarming, frightening and even infuriating. However, acting those emotions out in front of the cult member will only drive them further away from their life and into the arms of the cult and no one wants that. I have worked with both family and friends on how to talk to their loved ones, maintain communication with them despite the cult’s oversight and assist them to understand the situation and how to best deal with it. Of course, such situations are always unique to each person and there is very little general advice that applies to all of them. Instead, I work with each person’s individual group and circumstances to help their family or friends in how to best navigate the difficult territory of mind control techniques, thought reform and cultic influence, and hopefully help facilitate their eventual escape from the cult. While there are no guarantees in such work, it is always helpful to improve everyone’s understanding of what is going on and how best to deal with it.
Education
In addition to consulting services, this website is a wealth of information about high control groups and the kind of predatory behavior that anyone can fall victim to. Since leaving Scientology in 2013, I have produced videos and podcasts as well as written work and all of that is linked on the relevant pages. All of my posts are now on the Posts page, which you can get to using the menu above.