An Account of Psychotherapeutic Work with Ex-Cult/Cult Members using the Three-Step-Model

The category, "Religious or Spiritual Problem" can be found in the DSM-IV: V62.89 (Z71.8) under "Additional Conditions that May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention" with the following short description: "This category can be used when the focus of clinical attention is a religious or spiritual problem. Examples include distressing experiences that involve loss or questioning of faith, problems associated with conversion to a new faith, or questioning of spiritual values that may not necessarily be related to an organized church or religious institution". Normally the "loss or the questioning of faith" correlate with the withdrawal from a religious community, such as an alleged sect, a new religious movement, a totalitarian group or a cult. In the following, it will be shown how an effective, short individual therapy consultation (5-20 sessions) with ex-cult/cult members could result in practice.