7. Be Patient and Consistent
• Leaving a cult is a process. It can take years.
• Continue offering love, support, and an open door without pressuring them.

6. Appeal to Their Original Values
• Many cult members joined for noble reasons (e.g., seeking truth, community, or a sense of purpose).
• Find ways to align their pre-cult values with reasons to question the group (e.g., “I remember how much you valued kindness.).

5. Encourage Small Acts of Independence
• Suggest harmless, personal decisions that are slightly outside the cult’s influence (e.g., reading a book that isn’t cult-approved, reconnecting with an old friend).
• These small steps help rebuild autonomy.

4. Strengthen Their Critical Thinking Skills
• Cults often use black-and-white thinking. Encourage nuance by discussing topics unrelated to the cult
• Introduce the concept of loaded language (words that have different meanings inside vs. outside the group) and discuss how language shapes beliefs.

3. Provide a Non-Threatening Alternative Perspective
• Share stories of former members who left, but in a non-judgmental way.
• Introduce them to documentaries or books about thought control and manipulation (e.g., Steven Hassan’s Combatting Cult Mind Control).

2. Ask Open-Ended Questions
• Help them think critically by asking questions rather than making statements. For example:
• “What drew you to this group in the first place?”
• “Have you noticed any changes in how you think or feel since joining?”

1. Maintain a Relationship Without Judgment
• Cults often create an “us vs. them” mentality, so if you openly criticize the group, they may cut you off.
• Instead, express care, love, and interest in their life without attacking their beliefs.

Hang in there buddy. We need you!