Patrick Ryan, a graduate of Maharishi International University (focus in eastern philosophy) former Associate teacher of Transcendental Meditation, has been a cult intervention specialist (thought reform consultant/exit counselor,mediator) since 1984.
Mr. Ryan is the founder and former head of TM-EX, the organization of ex-members of Transcendental Meditation. He established ICSA's online resource (1995-2013), was the editor of AFF News, a news publication for former cult members (1995-1998), has contributed to the Cult Observer, AFF’s book, Recovery From Cults, is co-author of "Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants," and has presented 50 programs about hypnosis, inner-experience, trance-induction techniques, communicating with cult members, conversion, cult intervention, exit counseling, intervention assessment, mediation, religious conflict resolution, thought reform consultation, eastern groups, transcendental meditation and workshops for educators, families, former members and mental health professionals at ICSA workshops/conferences. Mr. Ryan received the AFF Achievement Award (1997) from AFF, the Leo J. Ryan "Distinguished Service Award" (1999) from the Leo J. Ryan Foundation, and a Lifetime Achievement Award (2011) from ICSA.
Mr. Ryan has also facilitated ICSA workshops for ex-members and families (1996-2018) and has lectured extensively on cult-related topics:
- Some of the topics:
- Inner Experience and Conversion
- After the Cult "Coping with Trance States; Hypnosis and Trance"
- Coping with Triggers
- Mental-Health Issues in Cult-Related Interventions
- Leaving and Recovering from Cultic Groups and Relationships
- Communicating with Cult Members
- Restoring Family Connections
- Helping Families Address a Loved One’s Group Involvement
- Among the issues discussed are:
- The ethics of an intervention
- Assessing a family situation
- Determining whether an intervention is appropriate
- Family preparation
- The phases and dynamics of an intervention
- Alternatives to interventions
- Issues confronted after an intervention
- Workshop for Loved Ones: "How to Help a Loved One Affected by a Cult"
- What Can Families Do? Family members concerned about a loved one‘s cult involvement or its aftereffects need to learn how to assess their situations more effectively and how to evaluate strategic options.
- A Mediation Approach to Exit Counseling
- From Deprogramming to Thought Reform Consultation
- Can Cultic Groups Change? The Case of ISKCON
- Evolution and Variation Within a Movement: The Case of ISKCON
- Jehovah’s Witnesses, Former Members and Families
- "Cultic Group Intervention: Exploring internal experiences in Yoga, Qigong and Transcendental Meditation"
- Inside Out — One Group, One Fugitive Swami: Three Different Experiences
- 1999, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
- 2004, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)
- 2005, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, (Spain)
- 2007, University Club, Brussels, (Belgium)
- 2008, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- 2009, Geneva, Switzerland
- 2010, Istituto Madonna del Carmine “Il Carmelo”, Ciampino, Roma, (Italy)
- 2011, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, (Spain)
- 2012, Montreal, Canada
- 2013, London School of Economics
- 2014 University of Southern California
- 2015, Stockholm, Sweden
- 2015, Beijing Union University, Beijing, China
- 2017, Bordeaux France
