Paul R. Martin, Ph.D.

ICSA received is sad to report that Dr. Paul R. Martin passed away after a long illness on Friday, August 14, 2009.  Dr. Martin was one of the leading figures in the cultic studies field.  He contributed immeasurably to the recovery of more than 1,000 former cult members, provided counsel to families, trained professionals, and was a pioneer of clinical research in this field.

You will find personal details in Dr. Martin's obituary.  We wish his family and friends our deepest condolences.

If you would like to share your reflections on Dr. Martin's contributions and your feelings about him, please contact Dr. Michael Langone (mail@icsamail.com), who will consider adding them to our memorial page in honor of Dr. Martin. 

Paul R. Martin, Ph.D., a former member of Great Commission International (currently called Great Commission Association of Churches), was a psychologist and Director of the Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center in Albany, Ohio, a residential rehabilitation center for ex-cult members that has treated over 1000 clients.  Dr. Martin was author of Cult-Proofing Your Kids.  He wrote numerous articles on cults, including several contributions to Cultic Studies Journal, such as, “Pseudo Identity and the Treatment of Personality Change in Victims of Captivity and Cults” (Vol. 13. No. 2).  He was  interviewed by many newspapers and radio and TV stations concerning cults. He served as an expert witness in cult cases around the world, and was the lead expert witness for the Lee Boyd Malvo trial (the Virginia sniper case) and testified in the Zacarious Moussoui case, (the  20th  hijacker) on the process of terrorist recruitment. He was the 2006 ICSA recipient of the Herbert L. Rosedale Award for leadership in preserving and protecting individual freedom. In 1993, he also received the John G. Clark Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Cultic Studies. 

Return to Memorial Page in Honor of Dr. Martin

Return to Dr. Martin's Obituary

Video's by Paul Martin

Reflections from reFOCUS

In our E-library

On this Site

Conference 1997: PA Presenter
Conference 2002: FL Events
Conference 2003: CA Agenda
Conference 2003: CT Agenda
Conference 2004: GA Events Overview
Conference 2005: Madrid Agenda
Conference 2006: CO Conference Handbook with agenda, bios, & abstracts
Conference 2007: Brussels Home - Bruxelles Page d'acceuil
Conference 2007: Congrès Genève, Suisse - Page d'Acceuil
Conference 2008: Philadelphia home
Conference 2009: Conferenza Ginevra, Svizzera- Home
Conference 2009: Geneva, Switzerland - home page, Annual Conference
Langone, Michael: "Deprogramming, Exit Counseling, and Ethics: Clarifying the Confusion" - Cult Observer 10(4), 1993
Martin, Paul R., Ph.D. (Wellspring Retreat & Resource Center) - profile/link
Martin, Paul, Ph.D. et al.: "Post-Cult Symptoms as Measured by the MCMI Before and After Treatment" - abstract
Martin, Paul, Ph.D.: "Pitfalls To Recovery"
Martin, Paul, Ph.D.: "Study Indicates Rehab’s Benefits"
Martin, Paul, Ph.D.: Obituary (August 17, 2009)
Martin, Paul, Ph.D.: Reflections
Martin, Paul, Ph.D.: Videos
West, Louis J. & Martin, P.: "Pseudo-identity and the Treatment of Personality Change in Victims of Captivity and Cults" - abstract

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