The Freedom Model
The Freedom Model
The Dangers of Group Think: A Conversation with Rachel Bernstein, LMFT
The Dangers of Group Think: A Conversation with Rachel Bernstein, LMFT
The Dangers of Group Think: A Conversation with Rachel Bernstein, LMFT
Friday 1st August 2025
Explore coercive control in addiction recovery with Rachel Bernstein, LMFT, alongside hosts Mark and Michelle, challenging recovery myths.
48 minutes
informative
challenging
hopeful
empowering
About this podcast
Author:
The Freedom Model
Overview:
Categories:
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Sobriety Toolkit
Family Recovery from Addiction
Sexual Empowerment & Identity
Body & Mind
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Episodes:
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Get the buttons here!Breaking Free from Group Think with Rachel Bernstein
Episode Overview
- Coercive control parallels addiction recovery.
- Rachel Bernstein's journey from therapist to cult expert.
- Importance of mental flexibility and adaptability.
- Challenging prevailing addiction recovery myths.
- Empowerment through The Freedom Model.
It's not that you did something bad; it's just something that you want to do differently.
In this enlightening episode of The Addiction Solution Podcast, hosts Michelle Dunbar and Mark Sheeran delve into the complexities of group think and its dangerous implications, particularly in the realm of addiction recovery. Joined by Rachel Bernstein, a licensed marriage and family therapist and cult expert, the discussion covers the nuanced relationship between coercive control and addiction recovery. Rachel Bernstein shares her fascinating journey from being a therapist to becoming a recognized expert on cults.
Her exposure to problematic groups in Los Angeles sparked her interest in understanding the dynamics between leaders and followers. Bernstein emphasizes the need for individuals to develop mental flexibility, a trait that allows one to adapt and change perspectives based on new information, akin to a scientific approach to life. The conversation challenges traditional recovery models, particularly the misinformation propagated by the Recovery Society.
Michelle and Mark advocate for The Freedom Model, a method that promotes escaping the endless cycle of recovery meetings and rehabilitation. They argue for empowerment and personal choice as antidotes to the constraints of conventional treatment. Rachel and the hosts explore the societal roles cults play, often providing a sense of belonging and identity, but at a potential cost to personal autonomy. They discuss the importance of safeguarding individuals within these groups and the broader implications for those in recovery.
This episode is a call to action for those feeling trapped in conventional recovery models, encouraging listeners to embrace a more open-minded and adaptable approach to overcoming addiction. Rachel Bernstein's insights provide a fresh perspective on empowerment and the importance of challenging established norms. Listeners are invited to explore Rachel Bernstein's podcast, Indoctrination, and learn more about her work at rachelbernsteintherapy.com.
The episode concludes with an invitation to engage with The Freedom Model and consider becoming a coach, further empowering individuals to break free from the recovery trap.