This online workshop offers a concise, compassionate introduction to the psychology of cultic relationships, and introduces Focusing as a path for cult recovery.
Cultic harm does not arise from individual deficiency or naivety. It develops through specific relational and psychological conditions that can shape anyone’s experience. While often associated with groups or religious movements, these dynamics can also be present in intimate relationships, political environments, families, and therapeutic settings.
Drawing on Alexandra Stein’s work on attachment in cultic systems, the workshop introduces the core psychological conditions that make cultic influence possible — isolation, engulfment, and terror without solution — and explores how they interfere with a person’s capacity for self-trust, coherent meaning-making, and relational safety.
Alongside this perspective, the workshop offers an introduction to Focusing, a way of listening to the body’s wisdom developed by Eugene Gendlin. Participants are invited to explore Focusing as a voluntary way of reconnecting with inner signals after they have been muted, overridden, or displaced by an external authority, belief system, or group dynamic. The emphasis remains on autonomy, pacing, and respect for personal boundaries.
The workshop includes:
Clear psychoeducation on cultic dynamics
A brief, guided introduction to Focusing
Participants will leave with:
A clearer understanding of why cultic experiences can happen to anyone and how they can be so destabilizing
A direct, embodied experience of Focusing as a cult recovery tool
This is a group workshop delivered on zoom. It stands alone as an educational and experiential introduction, and also serves as a preview of the longer course.
It is not about replacing one belief system with another, but about restoring the capacity to listen inwardly — and to relate from there.
This workshop is being delivered by Ella VanGaya. Ella is a PUPA Focusing Trainee with Coordinator Annette Dubreuil.
This online workshop will be delivered live virtually on Zoom and use breakout rooms for sharing experiences. The workshop will also be recorded and made available later to participants. The recording will also be made available to PUPA Trainees (in the Certification program). Given the workshop format, if you choose, you can remain unseen and unheard for the main session portion, and use video or audio for the breakout room practice. View the full recording policy.
Date and Time of live workshop: Friday, February 13th, 2026 1-2:30 pm Eastern Time
Format: Online via Zoom
Who is this workshop for? This workshop is for people approaching cult recovery from many positions — personal, professional, relational, or simply out of interest – and is suitable for both inexperienced and experienced Focusers.
Ways to participate:
Recording only
Live participation, including asking questions and breakout room practice (go to live registrationpage).
Contact:
Please contact Ella VanGaya at authenticselffocusing@gmail.com with any questions.
Sliding scale pricing:
This workshop has sliding scale pricing, offering multiple price points to make it more accessible and reduce financial barriers for people with different levels of income. Please view the sliding scale fees page for more details and codes.
Full fee: Live workshop with breakout room practice: US$29 OR Recording only $19
25% off: US$21.75/14.25
50% off: US$14.50/9.50
70% off: US$8.70/5.70
80% off: US$5.80/3.80
90% off: US$2.90/1.90
This online workshop offers a concise, compassionate introduction to the psychology of cultic relationships, and introduces Focusing as a path for cult recovery.
Cultic harm does not arise from individual deficiency or naivety. It develops through specific relational and psychological conditions that can shape anyone’s experience. While often associated with groups or religious movements, these dynamics can also be present in intimate relationships, political environments, families, and therapeutic settings.
Drawing on Alexandra Stein’s work on attachment in cultic systems, the workshop introduces the core psychological conditions that make cultic influence possible — isolation, engulfment, and terror without solution — and explores how they interfere with a person’s capacity for self-trust, coherent meaning-making, and relational safety.
Alongside this perspective, the workshop offers an introduction to Focusing, a way of listening to the body’s wisdom developed by Eugene Gendlin. Participants are invited to explore Focusing as a voluntary way of reconnecting with inner signals after they have been muted, overridden, or displaced by an external authority, belief system, or group dynamic. The emphasis remains on autonomy, pacing, and respect for personal boundaries.
The workshop includes:
Clear psychoeducation on cultic dynamics
A brief, guided introduction to Focusing
Participants will leave with:
A clearer understanding of why cultic experiences can happen to anyone and how they can be so destabilizing
A direct, embodied experience of Focusing as a cult recovery tool
This is a group workshop delivered on zoom. It stands alone as an educational and experiential introduction, and also serves as a preview of the longer course.
It is not about replacing one belief system with another, but about restoring the capacity to listen inwardly — and to relate from there.
This workshop is being delivered by Ella VanGaya. Ella is a PUPA Focusing Trainee with Coordinator Annette Dubreuil.
This online workshop will be delivered live virtually on Zoom and use breakout rooms for sharing experiences. The workshop will also be recorded and made available later to participants. The recording will also be made available to PUPA Trainees (in the Certification program). Given the workshop format, if you choose, you can remain unseen and unheard for the main session portion, and use video or audio for the breakout room practice. View the full recording policy.
Date and Time of live workshop: Friday, February 13th, 2026 1-2:30 pm Eastern Time
Format: Online via Zoom
Who is this workshop for? This workshop is for people approaching cult recovery from many positions — personal, professional, relational, or simply out of interest – and is suitable for both inexperienced and experienced Focusers.
Ways to participate:
Recording only
Live participation, including asking questions and breakout room practice (go to live registrationpage).
Contact:
Please contact Ella VanGaya at authenticselffocusing@gmail.com with any questions.
Sliding scale pricing:
This workshop has sliding scale pricing, offering multiple price points to make it more accessible and reduce financial barriers for people with different levels of income. Please view the sliding scale fees page for more details and codes.
Full fee: Live workshop with breakout room practice: US$29 OR Recording only $19
25% off: US$21.75/14.25
50% off: US$14.50/9.50
70% off: US$8.70/5.70
80% off: US$5.80/3.80
90% off: US$2.90/1.90
PUPA Focusing Trainee Ella VanGaya is an unwavering lover of the Great Mystery.
Ella is generally available for 1:1 Focusing sessions between 9 am and 4 pm PST, Monday through Friday.
