Anonymous wrote:STAY AWAY. Super creepy. I went to an intro event after constant pushing from a friend. Awful. The people are super weird and cultish and all they care about is getting your $$. Stay away.

Have you been to it?

STAY AWAY. Super creepy. I went to an intro event after constant pushing from a friend. Awful. The people are super weird and cultish and all they care about is getting your $$. Stay away.

Barf. I have a friend who did their Forum b/c her fiance pushed her into by extolling how it had changed his life. I don't doubt she got things out of it, but when I was pushed to attend her "graduation" and did some research, I was appalled to find out that it was basically an opportunity for this organization to try and sell (indoctrinate) me into its' programs. My friend and her fiance are now spending tons of money and time attending follow up programs. It sounds like a non-religious form of Scientology IMO, and both creep me out to the Nth degree.

Another vote to stay away from Landmark! It's a money-making machine with cult-like qualities. I think it's especially risky to put yourself in that situation when you're feeling so vulnerable. The last thing you need is pressure right now. The goal is to find safe support!

My advice would be to find a therapist who is truly a good fit. You may not have had a great experience in the past, but ask around for a referral. So much of therapy is finding the right fit from the start.

This board is great for referrals, by the way. Tell people a little about your challenges and goals, and also the location you'd prefer. No doubt people will help with recommendations and more information to help you find a good fit. So many of us have been there and would be happy to help connect you to the right person.

Finally, you may also want to consider a life coach instead of a therapist. While some coaches are a bit light-weight, others are well-trained, perceptive and extremely skilled at helping people break old patterns and create change in their lives. Again, ask around (or on here) for a referral or two, request a free session (most coaches will do them), and don't commit to anything long-term. If a coach won't agree to a pay-as-you-go arrangement (says they only do packages etc.), keep looking for one who will. GL.

I think it's just a course you take - people are quick to call something a cult if it doesn't fit into one of their established categories.

Here's a good review that explains it at length:

http://thirtytwothousanddays.com/blog/2011/02/landmark-forum-cult-scam-or-path-to-enlightenment/

Anonymous wrote:In life people do not mind being enthusiastic about the latest Tarantino film where people die by the hundreds and lots of cool lines are spoken by our favourite celebs of the day but if someone is enthusiastic about a life changing 3 day course well of course it is a cult.

No, there are actually a lot of reasons why I'd call it a cult and they have nothing to do with people being enthusiastic about the course. I have many friends who actually attended the course and so I have formed my opinion after talking to them as well as reading.

Landmark is something that you should stay away from. They are extremely aggressive if you go to any kind of event with a friend and they are in recruiting mode. Even make people feel like they aren't good people if they don't want to take the plunge and sink tons of money into the organization. It is not a healthy way to approach longterm life issues. IT is not an investment in you, it is an investment in Landmark. Find a therapist you can afford (group is sometimes less expensive), yoga, reading, etc. Please protect yourself, your psyche, and your pocketbook and stay away from Landmark.

Anonymous wrote:I've been to the shrink once or twice in my life. i may try again, but i feel like it eats up lots of ti e and resources. i fear the big 40 coming next year, and feel like I haven't done good enough job at changing old harmful patterns. Though I am we'll aware of them...

Have been considering Landmark and want to hear your thoughts and experiences with it.

People say anything on the internet. Ask about Jesus and a few people will call him a douchebag. The Landmark Forum will blow your mind as the expression goes. I highly recommend it to anyone up to having an extraordinary life beyond the drift they have wound up in. In life people do not mind being enthusiastic about the latest Tarantino film where people die by the hundreds and lots of cool lines are spoken by our favourite celebs of the day but if someone is enthusiastic about a life changing 3 day course well of course it is a cult. As long as a person spouts some cynical put down , you know you can trust them and they are free thinkers. What hogwash.

I unabashedly recommend the latest QT film if you want to be thrilled and moved and bathed in violence in the funnest of ways for $15. I unabashedly recommend the landmark forum if you want to have a great life and want to be surprised by yourself for $600. - you will not regret the investment. I did it 30 years ago and to this day I am still discovering how great people can be and how wonderful I can make my life no matter what the circumstances. Just do it.

Note: There is overwhelming points of views on both sides of everything on the www. You get to pick which pile of info you will add importance to.

Yes, a cult looking to take your money.

Do some reading up on it (and est).

I did the Forum in San Francisco my early 20s. It was an experience. I met a couple of cool people. Life changing? Meh. I mean, it was intense and invigorating at that moment, but I was also just going through a lot of life changes. I do think it helped me make some big personal decisions (shortly afterward quit my job and joined Peace Corps). But I think I probably would have done those things anyway - just may have taken me a little bit more time. I didn't really experience it as cultish. But it was a long time ago and in a different part of the country, so things might be different now/here. Anyway, I only did the Forum, not any of the other advanced classes. I think, just like anything, you can get out of it what you want to - I took the good, ignored the "sales" aspect (there was sort of this push to get you to ask friends/family to do it, which I didn't like so I didn't do). I agree you could probably get a similar experience in a different format (e.g., meditation group, yoga, therapy) - but I think it would have to be some sort of retreat to get the intensity of the Forum experience. If you are looking at a long-term life change, then I think you probably do need something more systematic and long-term. But if you are looking for a "jump start" the Forum could be for you.

This is a very entertaining account of a Landmark experience.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/fashion/28Landmark.html?pagewanted=all

OP--Just like there's no quick fix magic bullet to weight loss, the same holds true for personal growth. It takes time and effort. Find a good therapist and do the work.

Anonymous wrote:Aren't they cultish and drain thousands of dollars from your bank account? A modern day Est?

+1

It's definitely a cult like vibe and honestly everyone that I have ever met who has paid for confidence, life changing, money making, spiritual transformation in a weekend ends up being basically the same person in the end. Sure, they offer life changing insights, but it's only insight and few people have the resources to implement the changes that insight offers alone. Like any "mystery school" you must keep paying for more insights, e.g: the next class. You will meet many lost souls in these communities that are looking for a church like experience without going to church and because of this it can take on a cult like vibe. Most people attending will tell you about their experience with other groups and gurus, be is TM, or Tony Robbin...one is left to wonder, why didn't the other group do the trick?

You will be safer joining a Buddhist meditation group (still has cult like devotees, but most worship an intellectual brand of controlled devotion. They generally they only seek small weekly donations and all of the dharma talks are open to everyone).

Psychotherapy is expensive, but the aim is teach you some skills to empower yourself that aren't gimmicks. It is hard work and there are no quick fixes, but it can be totally worth it with a competent and ethical therapist.

Cult.

Aren't they cultish and drain thousands of dollars from your bank account? A modern day Est?

I've been to the shrink once or twice in my life. i may try again, but i feel like it eats up lots of ti e and resources. i fear the big 40 coming next year, and feel like I haven't done good enough job at changing old harmful patterns. Though I am we'll aware of them...

Have been considering Landmark and want to hear your thoughts and experiences with it.