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Exit Counseling and the Decline of
Deprogramming
Stephen A. Kent, Ph.D.
Joseph P. Szimhart
Abstract
An old model of forcibly deprogramming persons from controversial ideological
organizations has given way to progressive, non-coercive models that emphasize
dialogue within voluntary “exit counseling” settings. These non-coercive models
approach counseling events partly as family crises that usually require careful
preparation with relatives and friends. Counselors structure the meetings in
ways that work within the value systems of the groups from which they are trying
to remove their subjects. Moreover, they attempt to empower their subjects by
giving them degrees of autonomy and control as the counseling sessions proceed.
This new generation of exit counselors avoids the questionable and often
forcible practices that deprogrammers undertook in the past. They also are
attempting to regulate their profession by limiting their cooperative work with
other counselors to those who adhere to a code of ethics. Nevertheless,
competition and debate exist among counselors who use slightly different
non-coercive models. This study discusses and positions these developing trends
in exit counseling within the historical and cultural contexts in which forcible
deprogramming first emerged but gradually declined.
Full text available through
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