INFO: we have received filmed material of Wayne Allen Geis' group sessions, which will be uploaded soon. The identity of students will be protected. Wayne Allen Geis will be exposed.
updated on 6 November 2008 .....
Does your leader (Mentor) have a criminal record, a legacy of allegations against him or a history of misconduct? If there are allegations of misconduct against your leader, the responsible follower must seek out the negative information and the sources of that information to evaluate the truth. If a leader claims to be celibate and allegations are made that the leader engaged in inappropriate sex, this is an extreme violation of integrity. It must be investigated vigorously.
It is never appropriate for teachers, therapists, or spiritual masters to take advantage of a power differential over followers. This is especially true in the area of sexuality.
It is grossly unethical to engage in sexual relations with someone who has placed their trust in as a teacher/advisor/master. Many followers are incredibly vulnerable to this and unable to resist sexual intimacy. Anyone should be able to say "no."
The potential harm when there is sexual exploitation by professionals and others in position of power has been well documented. The effects have been indentified as a distinct syndrome with at least ten major harmful aspects presenting in acute, delayed, or chronic form:
1. AMBIVALENCE: feelings of anger and fear combined with a desire for, clinging to, and wishing to protect the abuser.
2. GUILT: feelings of having betrayed the abuser, which come from having exposed the abuse or discussed it with another. Victims become convinced that they were responsible for and take the blame for the abuse.
3. EMPTINESS and ISOLATION: the abuser is given so much power that seperation diminishes the abused person's sense of self. Without this magical person, life seems to lose meaning.
4. SEXUAL CONFUSION: sexual thoughts, feelings, sensations, and impulses that are contradictory and conflicted. Abusers usually exploit this sexual confusion.
5. IMPAIRED ABILITY TO TRUST: victims doubt their ability to trust others or their own judgement.
6. IDENTITY AND ROLE REVERSAL: the victim is manipulated into taking care of the abuser. Sexualisation of the relationship sometimes begins with the abuser talking about his problems to gain sympathy, which is then used to manipulate and exploit the victim.
7. EMOTIONAL LABILITY OR DYSCONTROL: intense, chaotic, and unpredictable emotions are experienced and expressed, from laughter to sobbing to raging. Sudden and profound depressions may appear just when emotional balance seems to be emerging.
8. SUPRESSED RAGE: like survivors of incest, rape, or physical abuse, victims may have had to deny, supress, or hide their anger. This may result in a deep and powerful rage, which they are unable to act upon, talk about, or even acknowledge for long periods of time.
9. DEPRESSION AND INCREASED SUICIDAL RISK: rage toward the abuser may be turned against the self. Irrational guilt or shame may lead to feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and suicidal thoughts.
10. COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION: attention and concentration may be disturbed by flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, unbidden images, nightmares, and other symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Three Factors can lead to abuse:
1. IDEALIZATION
2. DEPENDENCY
3. FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES
Idealization is encouraged by the charismatic leader so that he is viewed as enlightened, superhuman, and blessed. Members then become dependent on the leader because they see him as all knowing and certain to ensure their psychiological, spiritual, or economic security and growth. Dependency is increased by isolating members from family and friends. Professional boundaries are erased through the leaders increased control. members become increasingly dependent, submissive, and depressed, and exercise less and less control over their own lifes. ______________________________________________________________
This website's goal is to provide information so that people considering studying under Wayne Geis can make an informed decision, as well as to provide information for those who are members, or concerned about members, of his group of adherents. With your help, we hope to build this site into a valuable resource for information, help, and healing resources for people who have been hurt in whatever way by the Geis Process - whether they realise it or not - and for those studying or working to counter the abuses of cults and similar groups.'
Cults are groups or movements exhibiting an excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea or thing. They employ unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control, designed to advance the goals of the group's leaders to the detriment of members, their families or the community. These techniques, popularly known as "brainwashing," "mind-" or "behavioral-control" or "coercive persuasion," include isolating cult members from former friends and family, using special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience, employing powerful group pressures, managing information, forcing members to suspend their individuality or critical judgment, and promoting total dependency on the group and fear of leaving it.
All the above mentioned characteristics defining a cult can be applied to the Wayne Allen School. Former Members said that Wayne Allen's "school" had malignant cult-like attributes. Wayne Allen cut off their appreciation for and reliance on the world, family, and friends. They felt dependent on the Process and Wayne Allen.
"Allen (Geis) twists the meaning of acting school to trap aspiring performers into his control. Using the apparent positive results each one felt at first as bait with promises that an eventual "breakthrough" would occur, the acting coach then inserted phobias to avoid contact with family and outside influences. The "bad energy" would destroy all their gains, was the powerful implication. All eight ex-members told me that Geis refused to allow them to audition once they began the intense therapy with him by implying and outright declaring "you are not ready." He told each one, "You will die without me." Joe Szimhart February 2008
This site is dedicated to all those fighting against manipulative abusive Groups and those hurt or affected by them.
"I know but one Freedom and that is Freedom of the Mind." Antoine De St.Expury
