Gill Harvey is a therapeutic counsellor/psychotherapist, supervisor, researcher, and trainer from the UK, working mainly in private practice. Her specialist interest is in working with those affected by strict religious groups and/or cults and providing clinical supervision for therapists who work in this area. Gill also provides qualitative research supervision for Master’s and Doctoral students.

• Part I: The introduction.- Chapter 1 Introduction.- Chapter 2 Definitional challenges and contextual information.- Part II: The method of inquiry.- Chapter 3 The research project.- Chapter 4 A sense of belonging that can be found within religious families and communities.- Chapter 5 The gaining of knowledge about religious matters from a young age, and foundational beliefs and practices enabling resilience.- Chapter 6 The ‘them and us’ culture and imposed ‘all or nothing’ rigid rules.- Chapter 7 Power, control, and authoritarian fearmongering.- Chapter 8 The impact on mental health, wellbeing, and spirituality in adulthood.- Chapter 9 Healing and recovery.- Chapter 10 Implications for counsellors, psychotherapists, and other related professionals.- Chapter 11 Further implications.- Chapter 12 Concluding thoughts.

Gill Harvey is a therapeutic counsellor/psychotherapist, supervisor, researcher, and trainer from the UK, working mainly in private practice. Her specialist interest is in working with those affected by strict religious groups and/or cults and providing clinical supervision for therapists who work in this area. Gill also provides qualitative research supervision for Master’s and Doctoral students.

• Part I: The introduction.- Chapter 1 Introduction.- Chapter 2 Definitional challenges and contextual information.- Part II: The method of inquiry.- Chapter 3 The research project.- Chapter 4 A sense of belonging that can be found within religious families and communities.- Chapter 5 The gaining of knowledge about religious matters from a young age, and foundational beliefs and practices enabling resilience.- Chapter 6 The ‘them and us’ culture and imposed ‘all or nothing’ rigid rules.- Chapter 7 Power, control, and authoritarian fearmongering.- Chapter 8 The impact on mental health, wellbeing, and spirituality in adulthood.- Chapter 9 Healing and recovery.- Chapter 10 Implications for counsellors, psychotherapists, and other related professionals.- Chapter 11 Further implications.- Chapter 12 Concluding thoughts.

Gill Harvey is a therapeutic counsellor/psychotherapist, supervisor, researcher, and trainer from the UK, working mainly in private practice. Her specialist interest is in working with those affected by strict religious groups and/or cults and providing clinical supervision for therapists who work in this area. Gill also provides qualitative research supervision for Master’s and Doctoral students.

• Part I: The introduction.- Chapter 1 Introduction.- Chapter 2 Definitional challenges and contextual information.- Part II: The method of inquiry.- Chapter 3 The research project.- Chapter 4 A sense of belonging that can be found within religious families and communities.- Chapter 5 The gaining of knowledge about religious matters from a young age, and foundational beliefs and practices enabling resilience.- Chapter 6 The ‘them and us’ culture and imposed ‘all or nothing’ rigid rules.- Chapter 7 Power, control, and authoritarian fearmongering.- Chapter 8 The impact on mental health, wellbeing, and spirituality in adulthood.- Chapter 9 Healing and recovery.- Chapter 10 Implications for counsellors, psychotherapists, and other related professionals.- Chapter 11 Further implications.- Chapter 12 Concluding thoughts.