Ginny Brown, Founder SEEKSafely.org 

Ginny is a wife, mother of 4, educator and therapist in private practice serving individuals and families addressing healthy family dynamics. She and her husband George were devastated when their daughter Kirby died in a facsimile of a sweat lodge at a poorly run self-help retreat. They are both social workers, therapists and educators and would learn first hand about the wild west of the personal development space most especially the shocking lack of accountability for practitioners and guard rails for consumers. In an effort to honor their daughter they started SEEK Safely, Inc a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Their mission: “Guiding the Self-Help Community toward a responsible future” is quickly becoming a movement for the safe and ethical practice of self-help and wellness programs.

Jean Brown, Author, Podcaster & SEEK Legislative Advocate

Jean is a writer, mom to 2 young children and lives in Toronto, Canada. She has Bachelors degrees in political science and writing from Loyola University Maryland, and a Master’s in Public Policy and Public Administration from Concordia University in Montreal. Jean lived in Thailand and has traveled extensively, including many treasured memories of with Kirby. Jean co-authored the book This Sweet Life with her mother Ginny, sharing their story of tragedy and healing. Jean now co-hosts the SEEKSafely podcast and is integral in the legislative efforts sponsored by SEEKSafely.org

Anne L. Peterson, Author, Content Creator, Host 

In Anne’s best selling book, Is This a Cult, she shares her personal journey and awakening after devoting over 20 years to the training and development company she believed was transforming lives and to launching the public reemergence of the guru behind the organization, Werner Erhard. After years of rationalizing away red flags, the harm beneath the surface became undeniable. Anne felt she had to blow the whistle. She is ready to declare a better way forward and share the hard-won wisdom from her journey on her new YouTube show & podcast Confronting The Line. Anne has dedicated her current business, iLumn8.Life to hosting programs, products & services that follow the SEEK Safely promise.

Dr Christine Whelan, Professor, Author, SEEK Board Member

Dr. Christine Whelan is a professor, at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where she’s a Clinical Professor of Consumer Science. At Emory University she’s known as the “Purpose Professor,” where she’s supporting the applied and academic integration of the Emory Purpose Project. Dr. Whelan is also a speaker, author and nationally recognized thought leader, helping groups like the DeBruce Foundation, AARP’s Life Reimagined, Jackson National, Hackensack-Meridian Health and others on purpose-focused approaches to health, finances and self-improvement strategies for life’s transitions. She is on the board of SEEK Safely, and an outspoken advocate for the dissemination of research-based advice.

Chris Shelton, MSc, Coercive Control Expert, Show Host & Podcaster

Chris used to be a Scientologist and escaped in 2013. In realizing just how deep the rabbit hole of manipulation and deceit of Scientology was, Chris created videos outlining how Scientology works. He then began talking to psychologists, sociologists and former cult survivors across the spectrum as part of his own recovery.

This led to completing a Masters degree in the Psychology of Coercive Control. Coercion and abusive practices are routine in far too many religious and self-help practices. His YouTube channel and Podcast is an effort to warn, educate and help others navigate their post cult healing.

Jon Atack, Author, Researcher, YouTuber/Podcaster

Jon Atack is a leading expert on authoritarian cult groups and a best-selling author with over forty years of research and advocacy. His influential book Let’s Sell These People a Piece of Blue Sky remains the only comprehensive history of Scientology, and his more recent Opening Our Minds explores how cultic influence operates across society—from pseudo-religions and therapy cults to gangs, grooming, and modern slavery.

He has worked with hundreds of former members and is widely recognized for making complex psychological concepts accessible through his lectures, writings, and popular YouTube channel and podcast. Supported by scholars across disciplines, Jon continues to shed light on the psychology of undue influence. In his spare time, he hybridizes tomatoes, plays drums, and paints.

Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle, Trauma Specialist, Podcaster, SEEKSafely Board President

Dr. Doyle entered the psychology field because of his interest in self-help and personal growth. He earned his Doctor of Psychology degree in 2008 and has been in private practice since 2011. Dr. Doyle’s clinical work has focused on inpatient and outpatient treatment of complex trauma, particularly adults who were abused or traumatized as children. He has presented multiple times at the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and the American Psychological Association. Dr Glenn is passionate about making effective, safe, empowering psychological and behavioral tools available to as many people as possible and uses his social media @drdoylesays to reach a wider audience. He joined the SEEK board in 2019 and become Board President in 2021.

Rachel Bernstein, LMFT, MSEd, Podcaster, Cult Education Expert

Rachel Bernstein is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Cult Specialist. Her areas of expertise include family and relationship counseling in addition to cult intervention, cult recovery, and re-acclimation expert. Rachel is also the host of a weekly podcast covering cults, manipulators, and protecting yourself from systems of control.

Each week she sits down with former cult members, intervention experts, and people who have left narcissistic and controlling relationships of all kinds to hear their stories and discuss their past experiences.

Gerette Buglion, Educator, Author & Cultic Recovery Advocate

Gerette is an author, educator, and advocate dedicated to helping others understand and recover from the subtle dynamics of cultic influence. Her acclaimed memoir, An Everyday Cult (2021), offers a rare and nuanced look at how intelligent, well-intentioned people can become entangled in controlling environments—and how they can reclaim their freedom.

As the founder of Living Cult Free, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Gerette now channels her experience into supporting survivor storytelling and advancing education that empowers individuals and communities to move from manipulation toward awareness, authenticity, and empowerment.