“Guiding the self-help community towards a responsible future ”
~ SEEKSafely.org
SEEK Safely was born of a tragedy and has become a movement. A collaboration of consumers and practitioners creating a demand for a safer and more ethical self-help space.
As we learn more and more about the exploitation, abuse and all ‘round culty happenings in the wild wild west of self improvement and wellness industries, many are looking for a way forward that not only avoids these problems but shows us ALL how to do it all better.
Ready for some Self Empowerment through Education & Knowledge??!!
Why it matters ...
In this short video Dr Glenn Patrick Doyle, Director of SEEK Safely, shares his stake in the evolution of the self-help & wellness industry and why having a bigger vision about your area of interest or practice REALLY matters.
The Summit Features ...
We are gathered to provide real time insights and tools for consumers & practitioners alike AND because we feel that through our coming together, we demonstrate the demand for safer more ethical self-help space for ALL!
The Summit featured LIVE discussion sessions with some of the most inspiring & knowledgable folks in the field.
- Ginny & Jean Brown - Founders of SEEKSafely.org
- Dr Glenn Doyle - Board President of SEEK Safely and @drdoylesays
- Rachel Bernstein - Cult Education expert and Host of IndoctriNATION podcast
- Sarah Edmondson & Anthony "Nippy" Ames - Hosts of A Little Bit Culty podcast
- Dr Christine Whelan - "Purpose Professor" at Emory University & SEEK Board member
- Chris Shelton - Scientology survivor and Host of Speaking of Cults
- Anne Peterson - Author of Is This A Cult & Host of Confronting the Line
This event is being hosted to raise funds for and support SEEKSafely.org
How it Works ...
Contribute and LEARN. A TICKET gets you access to all the RECORDINGS and GIFTS.
EVENT SESSIONS -
EVERY TICKET GIVES YOU ACCESS TO THE SESSION RECORDINGS, GIFTS AND SUPPORTS THE MISSION!
To kick things off, Founder, Ginny Brown, will introduce the SEEK organization, its past, present and future, as well as, bring us up to date on recent legislative efforts.
Jean Brown, daughter of Ginny & George, sister of Kirby and SEEKSafely podcaster will give us a tour of the The SEEK Safely Empowerment Compass a tool designed to support consumers in navigating their way through growth and development choices.
All ticket holders will receive the newly developed Compass Workbook so you can create YOUR personal safe seeking compass.
Dr Glenn, therapist and trauma expert alongside Rachel Bernstein, LMFT and cult educator will discuss how to know if we are in an unsafe (aka Culty) environment. This can happen within one-to-one relationships, social or learning groups or even the workplace. Learn about the deconstruction (aka understanding what the heck happened) and healing (aka recover our autonomy) from these kinds of relationships.
Dr. Christine, Emory University Prof and SEEK Board member will moderate a discussion with NXIVM survivors and whistleblowers Sara Edmondson & Anthony "Nippy" Ames AND Ginny and Jean Brown, all who have experienced the worst and come through it. They will discuss what they have learned and what they see as needed and wanted for the self-help space to be safer and healthier for consumers and practitioners alike.
Anne Peterson, author and Landmark whistleblower with Chris Shelton, Scientology survivor and coercive control expert, will discuss how practitioners CAN share their knowledge and wisdom WITHOUT all the Culty manipulation and control.
We will wrap the day with acknowledgments and some action items about things we can do support a safer and more ethical self-development and wellness industries.
Join the Movement!
Guiding the self-help community towards a responsible future
EVERY A TICKET - SUPPORTS THE MISSION
"Kirby’s search to find the deeper meaning in life and a deeper purpose for herself was a huge part of who she was. We want to be Kirby’s voice to keep others safe from physical, emotional and financial harm. When someone is seeking to expand themselves, they should not lose their money, their time or their life!"
~ The Brown Family
A ticket to this Summit supports not only SEEKSafely.org it represents a demand for and movement towards a safer and more ethical personal development & wellness industry.
Your Ticket Includes:
- Access to ZOOM Sessions LIVE
- All Session Recordings
- FREE iLumn8.Life Marketplace membership
- PDF outlining what are the RED Flags and Green Flags
- SEEK Compass Empowerment Workbook
- FREE Writing to Reckon class w/ Gerette Buglion
- FREE eBook - The Difference: 10 Steps to Writing a Book That Matters
- Discounts on 2025 SEEK offerings by iLumn8 (Safe Practitioner Workshop, Empowerment Compass Workshop)
Ticket Price: $129
This is a fundraising event to support the SEEKSafely.Org being hosted by iLumn8.Life. Your ticket cost supports iLumn8.Life in providing the production and program management with a portion being contributed to SEEKSafely.org.
The Contributors ...
You can support the Summit contributors by SUBSCRIBING to their podcasts.
Get to Know the Presenters ...
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
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.
Sarah Edmondson, Podcaster, Author, NXIVM Whistleblower
Sarah Edmondson is a Canadian actress and voice over artist who has starred in many films and television series. In 2005, she got involved in NXIVM, a personal and professional development company that promised to provide the tools and insight Sarah needed to reach her potential. After 12 years and some harrowing experiences, it became clear she was in Cult. Learn the story in The Vow, a critically acclaimed HBO documentary series on NXIVM. Now with the launch of “A Little Bit Culty,” Sarah and her co-host/husband Anthony “Nippy” Ames are keeping the conversation going by discussing the healing process with the help of experts and fellow survivors.
Anthony"Nippy"Ames, Podcaster, Actor, Truth Teller
As an actor and former college athlete, Anthony “Nippy” Ames was drawn to NXIVM’s goals program and met his now wife, “A Little Bit Culty” co-host Sarah Edmondson there. But when he learned that the company was, in fact, a dangerous cult, he wasted no time in doing exactly what needed to be done: helping burn its carefully constructed public image to the ground. Nippy isn’t planning on going quiet anytime soon. As Executive Producer of the “A Little Bit Culty” podcast, Nippy has come full circle back to what he was born to do: performing, creating, and truth telling. He’s proving to be an emerging voice in the conversation around what it means to be an upstanding man, husband, and father today.
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.
Anne L. Peterson, Author, Content Creator, Event Producer
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.