Yeh, they were trained in the same 'school of thought'.
*** Argh... why do I keep seeing parallels between BDSM and this whole damn industry?
Because, in case you haven't noticed (no sarcasm intended) we live in a culture that is basically very violent. There are exceptions, but this culture as a whole, still believes and sets social policy based on the thinking that the way to change anything they define as 'anti-social' behavior is through punishment. More recently they like to think it is disordered brain chemistry for which drugs are the cure. Might throw in a little punishment for good measure, if the 'crime' calls for it. This same belief is demonstrated throughout most religious text, inspite of Jesus' comments to the contrary. I guess humans have slightly progressed- its rare to hear of a parent 'slaying' a defiant child.
But, although they may not physically kill them, modern parents are very successful in killing their kids spirit, killing their hope, killing their enthusiasm for life. It's a sad state of affairs.
As for the workshops, here's my take on it, and I've attended my share over the years. Some good, some pathetic.
There is benefit in revisiting past traumas and checking out what beliefs one might have adopted from those experiences- beliefs that are controlling one's thoughts and actions- usually in an undesirable way (undesirable to the person). If one is physically abused as a child, it stands to reason that they might adopt the belief that they are unworthy and that physical abuse is 'normal' and 'acceptable'. That is how they were conditioned (brainwashed, if you will). This person would be much more likely to accept domestic violence and would not view it as abuse, even though it hurt and they disliked it. On some level they feel they 'deserve' it.
When one revisits those past traumas there can be some expression of emotions like crying, shaking, raging, etc. That is good therapy. It allows one to voice their displeasure and resentment about the way they were treated, which was suppressed when the actual trauma ocurred. Then they can move toward contradicting the erroneous messages they adopted.
Now, while that is good therapy in a one-on-one situation; many have tried to re-create that in a group scenerio. It's just not the same, and never will be.
Based on my experience, there is very little actual 'therapy' happening in these large group encounters. There is alot of acting, competition for the best performance, vying for the leaders attention, dependence on the group high, etc. etc.
Group encounters are like a holy-rolling church service. People get together, the 'spirit' starts moving through them and its contageous- wailing and singing the praises. They can feel this high for a few hours or few days after they leave the service, but nothing fundamentally has changed for them.
And... when this type of therapy is 'forced' you end up with people contriving a release. Not therapy. You can not 'act' an emotional release and benefit from it. Emoting on demand is not therapy. It's only therapy when it happens spontaneously in the course of reviewing past traumas. That is the key issue for why these group encounters do not work, imho.
That's how I see the group encounters. No real therapy takes place, just a feel-good high, which makes them more suggestable to the directions given by leader.
I have seen some pretty sick puppies in the position of leader, who don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. But they always have charisma and the ability to 'get the spirit moving'. It's like a pep rally. People keep going back, as with religion, for the high.
All the while, no real change has ocurred. They are still controlled by useless beliefs, they still have difficulty in intimate relationships, they still feel no connection to their kids, they still believe that punishment and torture is 'good therapy' for the 'socially disordered'.
Ever been to a southern baptist revival. If you haven't, look one up and you'll see the same dynamics functioning. People signing and praising to the roof, testifying. And at the end, the preacher will be calling the sinners to come forward and repent. S/he wants them back every Sunday so s/he can shape their thoughts about right/wrong, good/evil, etc. etc. S/he also wants their 10% of the persons income in the plate every week. And s/he will keep them coming back with the 'fear of god'. This group dynamic is very profitable for churches and workshop leaders.
