While TO4TS is on a break, check out this revisit of a past favourite episode (#086 When Self-Help Goes Horribly Wrong and How To Prevent It). I will return early 2023 with Season 4!!!

What led to the death of 3 individuals seeking to better their life and looking for enlightenment at a James Arthur Ray 5-day event?

Ray was made famous by the movie The Secret and being featured several times on the Oprah Winfrey show.

Together with Kirby Brown’s mother Ginny, a licensed clinical social worker and her sister Jean, we discuss the perfect storm that led to that tragedy, their mission to stop it from ever happening to anyone else and how self-help can be done safely. 

We cover:

+ How strong minded people can fall victim to the self-help industry.

+ Tools and dirty tactics used by the self-help industry.

+ What may have contributed to James Ray’s situation. 

+ How to not collapse after grief. 

+ The legal system is not yet equipped to advocate for the families of [Self-help gone wrong] victims.

+ How to find self-help organisations that have pledged to do no harm and signed [The Promise].

+ What has changed for them in how they perceive life after Kirby’s passing. 

*Content note: this episode contains sensitive content, discretion is advised*

You can find Seek Safely at: https://www.seeksafely.org/  

The list of red flags: https://www.seeksafely.org/consumers/ 

The book https://www.seeksafely.org/this-sweet-life-book/ 

Social @seeksafely  

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Mentioned in this episode: Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment podcast 

If you have been affected and need to talk to someone below are some helplines:

UK: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/crisis-services/helplines-listening-services/ 

Europe: https://www.mhe-sme.org/library/helplines/ 

USA: 

American Foundation of Suicide Prevention

Suicide and Depression Awareness for Student

NAMI Resources on Suicide Prevention

NAMI Resources on Suicide Risk

National Suicide Prevention Hotline - 1-800-273- 8255

Crisis Textline - Text HOME to 741741