Ashlen Hilliard, MSc
She/Her
Ashlen is a Cult Intervention Specialist and the founder of People Leave Cults.
Most days, you'll find her helping families with loved ones in cultic or high-control groups or relationships. She also offers psychoeducation services for survivors of coercion, and recently started support groups for cult survivors.
She holds an MSc in the Psychology of Coercive Control and conducted the first exploratory quantitative research on the relationship between reproductive coercion, psychologically abusive environments, and the extent of group identity in a sample of those who have left cultic groups.
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Ashlen's experience in the cult recovery field started on the front lines - helping individuals leave various polygamist communities in the Western US. From there, she went on to be the Director of Events for the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), where she organized workshops, webinars, and conferences for a diverse range of people involved in the cult phenomenon.
Currently, in addition to offerings through People Leave Cults, she volunteers as a co-organizer of the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education (SAFE) Meetup in Portland, Oregon. In May of 2022, she just completed organizing her second conference for survivors and helping professionals in the PNW, bringing people together from all across the country.
She hopes to grow her network and create opportunities for up-and-coming cult specialists. As a member of the queer community, Ashlen is thrilled to be part of the new wave of helping professionals in the cult recovery field.
​"I'm deeply committed to a non-coercive approach to cult intervention that prioritizes empowering both clients and their families to make informed decisions." - Ashlen Hilliard
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