Children of God Cult: What They Did to Kids in the Name of Jesus
Is healing possible after growing up in the Children of God cult? A trauma-informed counselor responds — live.
In this 90-minute clinical-pastoral live session, counselor and trauma specialist Elisha breaks down the psychological and spiritual mechanisms behind one of the most extensively documented cases of religious abuse in history — the Children of God cult (later known as The Family of Love and The Family International), founded by David Brandt Berg.
This is not true crime. This is trauma-informed care.
IN THIS LIVE SESSION:
✅ Who was David Berg and how did he build a coercive control system using Christian theology?
✅ What was "The Law of Love" — and how did it function as a theological framework for abuse?
✅ The story of Ricky Rodriguez and what second-generation cult survivors need that first-generation survivors don't
✅ Betrayal blindness: the neuroscience behind why survivors couldn't "just leave"
✅ Theological trauma vs. religious trauma — and why the distinction changes the healing process
✅ The R.E.S.T. Framework applied specifically to cult recovery: Regulate, Experience, Surrender, Trust
✅ A live somatic grounding practice for viewers processing this content in real time
✅ A 7-day embodiment challenge for shame recovery
THIS SESSION IS FOR YOU IF:
→ You or someone you love was part of the Children of God / The Family International
→ You grew up in a high-control religious group and are still finding language for what happened
→ You've been theologically harmed and are rebuilding your relationship with God
→ You work with cult survivors as a counselor, pastor, or support person
→ You watched a documentary on the COG and need a clinical framework — not just a reaction
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
🌿 FREE S.T.A.R.T. Guide (somatic regulation for beginners) → https://canva.link/z7qticmfq7zu5wg
🌐 Restoring You Christian Counseling → https://www.restoringyouchristiancounseling.com/
CONNECT:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elishasspace/
Podcast: https://pod.link/1549964721
Keywords: children of god cult, cult recovery, religious trauma syndrome, david berg, ricky rodriguez, the family international, spiritual abuse recovery, trauma-informed Christian counseling, second generation cult survivors, betrayal blindness, coercive control, high control groups, somatic healing, nervous system regulation, faith and trauma
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Cold Open
00:30 Welcome & Grounding Practice
05:00 Who Was David Berg? Origins of the Children of God
14:00 The Law of Love: Theology as Weapon
20:00 Ricky Rodriguez & Second-Generation Survivors
28:00 Betrayal Blindness: The Neuroscience of Staying
35:00 Theological Autopsy: How Scripture Was Weaponized
44:00 Verse Extraction Without Ethical Architecture
50:00 The R.E.S.T. Framework for Cult Recovery
65:00 Live Q&A
75:00 7-Day Challenge & Closing Prayer
About Elisha's Space: A sanctuary for healing, growth, and authentic conversations hosted by Elisha — counselor, author, and founder of Restoring You Christian Counseling. Bridging clinical psychology with spiritual guidance for people navigating trauma, anxiety, and faith.
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