top of page
Renee Spencer
Editor
Admin
Mental Health Practitioner | Counsellor | Educator
More actions
Profile
Join date: May 23, 2024
About
Renee Spencer is an educator, researcher, and cult awareness advocate with university qualifications in psychology and mental health. After losing her daughter to a Christian cult and experiencing firsthand the manipulative tactics of New Age spiritual groups, she became deeply committed to helping others recognise and resist coercive control. Her work blends lived experience with academic insight to empower others and prevent further victims.
B.Ed (Sec), M.MH, (Art Therapy), GradDipPsych
Overview
First Name
Renee
Posts (136)
Dec 10, 2025 ∙ 11 min
Beyond Semantics: The Flaws of Cult Apologists & ‘New Religious Movements’ Scholarship
Survivors repeatedly describe how these groups initially present as welcoming, supportive, or even beneficial. They speak about positive experiences that drew them in—friendly peers, shared interests, or community support. What distinguishes high-control groups is what happens next: the coercion escalates. Gradually, members experience manipulation, pressure to conform, isolation from family, and exploitation.
33
0
Jul 3, 2025 ∙ 3 min
Coercive Control vs. Trauma: Understanding Renée's Cult Rankings
When people see my cult ranking system, they sometimes assume it’s a trauma scale. It’s not. My rubric doesn’t measure the emotional pain a group causes—though many do cause immense suffering. Instead, it measures coercive control: the tactics groups use to limit a person’s agency, autonomy, and freedom.
80
0
Jul 2, 2025 ∙ 5 min
Rethinking Cult Exit Strategies in the Face of Psychopathy
So, I’ve been stepping into the spotlight lately, sharing what it’s like to be a parent who has watched their child get pulled into a...
24
0
bottom of page