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Special Guest: Maria Esguerra
Special Guest: Maria Esguerra
Maria Esguerra is a psychologist based in Queensland, Australia who has worked in the specialised area of dual diagnosis and mental health in disability for over a decade, in both the public and private sectors. As well as her work as Director at Assessable, Maria contributes her professional skills to help those exiting cults and in particular SGAs or Second Generation Adults who were born into high-control organisations. She does this work in part due to her own lived experience in the Children of God.
Episode presenting partner:
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Maria Esguerra escaped the Children of God at the age of 22 with her two children who have disabilities. Maria’s firsthand experience drives her passion to support fellow survivors of cults and institutions, advocating for specialised understanding, interventions and access to governmental schemes such as Redress. Maria has actively engaged in media and advocacy efforts to raise awareness about the challenges faced by people escaping coercive environments. She founded a support group for second and multi-generational survivors (also referred to as SGAs or MGAs) from all cults. It addresses the devastating impacts from these groups, including abuse, denial of basic rights and forced labour. Maria is also a psychologist and the founder of Assessable.
EPISODE LINKS
EPISODE LINKS
Maria Esguerra — Linktree
Maria Esguerra — Director at Assessable
Decult profile — Maria's information at the recent Decult Conference
I lived under the so-called 'law of love' and it was terrifying – cult survivor — by Ryan Boswell, 1News, 17 October 2024
CIFS Australia — Cult Information & Family Support
Escaping Utopia — by Janja Lalich & Karla McLaren, Routledge, 2017
The Strange Situation Experiment — more about Mary Ainsworth's work on attachment theory
Erikson's stages of psychosocial development — more about Erik Erikson's work
Make it Meaningful: How to find purpose in life and work — by Debbie Haski-Leventhal, Simon & Schuster, 2023
Walking Free from the Trauma of Coercive, Cultic and Spiritual Abuse: A Workbook for Recovery and Growth — by Gillie Jenkinson, Routledge, 2023
Stop Religious Coercion Australia — Advocacy group started by a former Geelong Revival Centre member
Writing to Reckon — Gerette Buglion's workshops, retreats, journal, and more
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