Livia Bardin, M.S.W, is
a Licensed Independent
Clinical Social Worker in
the Washington, D.C. Her research
focuses on children in cults
and the needs of people born
and raised in cults who
leave as adults. Her
article, “Recognizing and
working with an underserved
culture: Child protection
and cults,” was recently
published in the Journal
of Public Child Welfare
(Vol. 3, No. 2). Ms. Bardin
holds a Certificate in
Family Therapy from the
Family Therapy Practice
Center in Washington and
is retired from the
private practice of
psychotherapy. She
chairs ICSA's
Social Work Committee, which
is exploring the potential
of case management services
for people who have left
cults. Previously, as chair
of ICSA’sFamily Workshop
Advisory Board,
she presented
ICSA-sponsored workshops for
family and friends of cult
members. Ms. Bardin has
provided trainings on
cult-related issues for
mental health professionals
in the Washington area and
is the author of
Coping with Cult
Involvement: A Handbook for
Families and Friends of
cult members. In 2007, she
conducted a training in St.
George, Utah, Breaking
Down Barriers and Empowering
People in Isolated
Communities, for
professionals working with
members of polygamous
communities and other
interested persons.
She is currently working on
Starting Out: A reference
guide to mainstream America,
an online manual of
information on daily living
for people who have left
cults.
(liviabardin@verizon.net)
