Ashlen Hilliard, MSc

Ashlen Weltz (Hilliard), MSc (she/her) is a Cult Intervention Specialist and the founder of People Leave Cults. She has been featured on NewsNation, HuffPost, BET+, and more!

As a Cult Intervention Specialist, Ashlen collaborates with a team of experts to offer guidance and support to families with loved ones entangled in cult-like groups or relationships. She works closely with these families to craft tailored intervention and recovery strategies. Ashlen firmly believes in a non-coercive approach that empowers clients and their families to make informed decisions.

 

Ashlen graduated with her MSc in the Psychology of Coercive Control in early 2022 with Distinction 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 [soon to be published in the International Journal
of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation].

Prior to founding People Leave Cults, Ashlen gained valuable experience in the cult recovery field by working directly with individuals seeking to leave polygamist communities in the Western United States. She later assumed the role of Director of Events for the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), successfully organizing workshops, webinars, and conferences to
cater to the diverse needs of professionals and individuals affected by the cult phenomenon.

Ashlen has also been a volunteer co-organizer of the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education (SAFE) Meetups in Portland, Oregon since 2020. She recently organized her second conference for survivors and helping professionals in the Pacific Northwest, which successfully connected individuals from all across the country in May 2024.

 

Ashlen has exciting plans for the future of People Leave Cults, as she continues to explore ways to meet the diverse needs of those affected by coercive environments. 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.