The Center for Feeling Therapy was a radical psychotherapy community that existed in Los Angeles between 1971 and 1980. At its peak, it had 350 resident patients and 2,000 members including several branches in other locations.[1] Although lacking the typical religious component, the group has been described as a cult by various sources, including ex-members, researchers, and a judge.[2][3][4][5] The Center was led by Richard "Riggs" Corriere and Joseph Hart, who would ultimately be stripped of their licenses to practice psychology as a result of the fallout from the group's collapse.[6] The rise and fall of the Center has been called the greatest scandal in the history of psychology[7] and led to the biggest psychology-related lawsuit of its time.[6]
The Center was founded by former members of Arthur Janov's Primal Institute who were dissatisfied with what they believed were shortcomings in primal therapy.[8] The Center started as a direct offshoot of primal therapy, but quickly abandoned primal therapy and subsequently went through many theoretical shifts, including an emphasis on dream analysis.
Over time, the Center became cult-like and extremely abusive to its members. The abuse consisted of physical assault,[9] sexual humiliation, verbal assault, financial abuse, excessive demands for ritual, inadequate rest, and enforced physical labor.[10] The physical labor was so severe that some members were permanently injured by it. Patients at the Center were isolated from the outside world and were expected to socialize and work only with other Center patients.[11][12]
After nine years, the members rebelled against the center, leading to its closure in 1980. Some of the former members later sued the founding therapists in what was the largest psychology malpractice suit in California.[13] They were represented by Paul Morantz, who specialized in suing cults. The Los Angeles Times reported that the suit settled in 1986 for around $6,000,000.[14]
^"Cult linked to Val-David spiritualist disbanded after abuse allegations" GEOFF BAKER. The Gazette. Montreal, Que.: Sep 26, 1995. pg. A.1
^Ayella, M.B. Insane Therapy: Portrait of a Psychotherapy Cult, page 141
^Ayella, M.B. Insane Therapy: Portrait of a Psychotherapy Cult, page 153
^Ayella, M.B. Insane Therapy Portrait of a Psychotherapy Cult, pages 11-12
^Singer, Margaret, Cults in Our Midst, Josey-Bass, 2003
^ abTIMNICK, LOIS (1987-09-30). "Psychologists in 'Feeling Therapy' Lose Licenses". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
^Witkowski, Tomasz (2015-01-29). Psychology Gone Wrong: The Dark Sides of Science and Therapy. Universal-Publishers. p. 137. ISBN 9781627345286.
^Mithers, C.L. Therapy Gone Mad, page 55
^Lakin, Martin (1988). Ethical Issues in the Psychotherapies. Oxford University Press. p. 166. ISBN 9780195044461. center for feeling therapy.
^Mithers, C.L. Therapy Gone Mad, page 352
^"ESCAPE FROM THE CENTER FOR FEELING THERAPY (The Cult of Cruelty)".
^"Richard Corriere: Do old cult leaders change or admit wrong–Don't vote for Donald Trump".
^Alexander, George J.; Scheflin, Alan W. (1998). Law and Mental Disorder. Carolina Academic Press. ISBN 9780890899175.
^TIMNICK, LOIS (1986-09-21). "Inquiry Targets Disputed Psychotherapy Methods". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
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