Get help
You don't need to be sure it's a cult to ask for help. These services listen without judging and won't tell you what to believe.
In immediate danger? Call 999 (UK), 911 (US) or 112 (EU and many other countries).
Thinking about suicide or self-harm? UK & Ireland: Samaritans, free, 24/7 on 116 123. US: call or text 988. Canada: call or text 988. Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14. Elsewhere: findahelpline.com.
What to expect when you get in touch
Most services let you stay anonymous. You don't have to name your group or decide anything. You can just describe what's happening and ask what they think. Calls to UK numbers starting 0800 or 0808 are free from mobiles and landlines. If you're worried about your phone bill being checked, ask the service whether its number shows up on bills.
We have no connection to any service listed and receive nothing for listing them. Services change, so check opening hours on their own websites. Inclusion here isn't an endorsement of every view a service holds.
United Kingdom
Faith to Faithless (Humanists UK)
Free, confidential helpline for adults who have left, or are leaving, high-control religious groups of any faith. Calls don't appear on itemised bills.
The Family Survival Trust
UK charity supporting people affected by coercive control in cults and extremist groups, and their families. Runs an online family support group.
thirtyone:eight
Christian safeguarding charity with a helpline for anyone worried about abuse, including spiritual abuse, in a church or faith setting. A good option if you want to keep your faith but are worried about your group.
Refuge: National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Free, 24/7, for anyone experiencing abuse or coercive control by a partner or family member, including in a "cult of one".
Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline
24/7, confidential, for forced labour, unpaid "volunteering", or being made to work or live under control.
Childline / NSPCC
Children and young people can call Childline free on 0800 1111. Adults worried about a child: NSPCC 0808 800 5000.
Rape Crisis England & Wales
Free 24/7 support line for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse, including within groups.
United States
Recovering from Religion
Free, confidential peer-support line and chat for anyone questioning or leaving a faith or high-control religious group.
Secular Therapy Project
Free directory of vetted therapists who use evidence-based, secular approaches. Many work with religious trauma and high-control group recovery. Available in many countries.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
24/7 support for abuse and coercive control in relationships.
1-800-799-7233 · text START to 88788 · thehotline.org
National Human Trafficking Hotline
24/7, confidential, for forced labour or sexual exploitation, including inside groups.
1-888-373-7888 · text 233733
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988, 24/7.
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-422-4453, 24/7.
Political & violent extremism
For people being drawn into, or trying to leave, extremist movements, and for their families. These services are confidential. To be clear about their focus: Parents for Peace works with every ideology, while Life After Hate and Exit UK grew out of work with the far right. If your concern is another kind of extremism, Parents for Peace or a general counsellor is the best first call.
Parents for Peace (US)
Free, confidential helpline for families worried about a loved one's radicalisation, whatever the ideology.
Life After Hate / ExitUSA (US)
Support from social workers and former extremists for people who want to leave violent extremism, and their families.
Exit UK (UK)
Former far-right members helping people leave extremist groups, with family support.
International
International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)
Long-standing research and support network. Resources for former members, people born and raised in groups, families and professionals, plus a directory of support groups and therapists worldwide.
Open Minds Foundation
Education charity on coercive control and manipulation, with recovery resources and a campaign against mandated shunning.
Info-Cult / Info-Secte (Canada)
Bilingual (English/French) information and support, including a family and friends group.
Legal help
Citizens Advice (UK)
Free, confidential advice on housing, money, debt, work and family law, and a first step towards a solicitor or legal aid.
Rights of Women (UK)
Free legal advice lines for women on family law, child arrangements and abuse.
LawHelp.org (US)
Directory of free legal aid organisations by state, including custody, housing and protective orders.
Finding a counsellor
Look for someone experienced in coercive control, trauma or religious trauma. It's fine to ask directly: "Have you worked with people leaving high-control groups?" In the UK, the BACP directory lets you search by specialism. ICSA and the Secular Therapy Project also list specialists.
If your faith matters to you, you don't have to give it up to get help. Ask for a counsellor who will respect your beliefs while helping you look at how you were treated. ICSA's professional directory includes faith-sensitive practitioners, and many faith communities have independent safeguarding bodies you can contact outside your own group.