I went through all the PSI courses, and though I have a low opinion of the integrity of the organization... I DID get a lot out of the seminars. I learned that I feel pretty disconnected from people and that makes me come off as aloof and makes people less likely to want to connect with me.

Hi Keeping the faith,

What are these PSI courses?

Can't speak for keepingthefaith on the PSI courses, but Summit Education's Breaking Through-Part One workshop was great. I got one of the free seats. It ain't cheap! Right now, they've got a "special" going on for Breaking Through-Part Two for $795. It's normally $995. Yikes!

The lecture I found largely redundant to what I already know and am practicing, but the one-on-one interaction with other participants I found really powerful and moving.

It is in the vein of Landmark Education, and an offshoot of EST. The seminars have a notorious reputation, to a large degree it is earned because the people that run these organizations are opportunistic crooks, in my opinion... HOWEVER, the content of the seminars is outstanding and despite my disagreement with the people that own and run these groups, I gained an enormous amount from the work I did with PSI. I left the seminars with a level of confidence I never knew I could have and I never lost it. In fact, the confidence and personal empowerment I gained from the seminars was so powerful, I called out the management on their disreputable business practices. As a result of my actions, PSI (fearing a lawsuit) returned almost $100,000 to everyone in San Diego who had the same complaint I did on their refund policy. I have since been blackballed from the organization, LMAO... but, I never would have had the courage or resourcefulness to pursue legal action against them if they didn't put me in touch with my personal power, Hahahaha.

If you research these organizations, you'll find they are very vague and mysterious about the content of the seminars. For this reason, and the immediate vigor that a lot of the participants experience upon finishing the seminars... they have a reputation for being "cults." That isn't the case at all. My guess is most cults take care of their flock in exchange for fleecing them, while this organization just wants your money and to volunteer your time to increase their seminar sales and profits, and basically... unless you're giving them money or other resources, once you finish the seminars they cut you loose. As long as you know that ahead of time and you don't let them take advantage of you, the seminar work can be life-changing and extremely positive. Most of the seminars include "experiential" work, where... they have you do ropes courses and learn about teamwork and cooperation and trusting, and they have ingenious one-on-one exercises with other seminar members where you learn a lot about yourself like: what beliefs you have based on outdated life experiences that are holding you back, emotional blocks etc. They also have a lot of exercises that allow you to address fear in a safe environment.

keepingthefaith: HAHAHAHAHA!!! They never realized they were creating a monster in you, someone who would seek legal action against them! I love it.

Your last paragraph stated it all. Yep, that is exactly what they do. Cracked me up last night, in my "follow up" visit, how the trainer told me "if money and time are an issue for you in attending these seminars, that's something you might want to take a look at" and "you're playing it safe". Bullshit. He just wanted my money, so he was attempting to claim my soul first.

I found the one-on-one exercises with other group participants the most useful part of the seminar. Made me much, much less pain-avoidant. I realized pain shared is pain lessened. If others gain a similar benefit, great, it's worth the money.

So, you got the hard sale last night, did you? They always have their catch phrases and special language... "playing it safe" "playing a small game" hahaha. One thing about these groups is that they often encourage manic behavior. They psych you up and put pressure on you to "play a bigger game" and suddenly you're taking the world on and spending lots of money and making impulsive decisions because they pressure you to "get out of your box" and all that. I had to talk one guy out of proposing to his girlfriend who was wrong for him during one of the seminars where they sent us off into groups and gave us three hours to change our lives and get out of our boxes... I reminded him that marriage was more than a parlor trick or a dare that some self help seminar pressured you into. I bought tickets for some exotic trip to Central America (but later canceled it, as I paid way too much money for the trip because I didn't have time to research pricing.) Anyway, these seminars can be dangerous as well as helpful. They certainly don't give a rat's behind about the responsibility of the decisions they coax you into while you're trying to follow their instructions to make bold moves. And, they especially don't care if you do anything, and I mean ANYTHING to find money to pay for their seminars. One guy actually married a Polish lady for $3,000 so he could attend one of the seminars and they were just fine with his decision... probably applauded his bold move to "take on his life." Now he is totally screwed financially - and he has to get a divorce, but he can't afford one. Poor fella... got caught up in the pressure. Yeah, don't fall for their manipulations!!! I'm glad you were able to walk away from the pressure.

*this guy married the Polish lady so she could obtain citizenship and he could finance the next seminar. Makes my stomach gurgle that they endorse behavior like this so they can sell more tickets to their damn seminars.

so is using manipulation and guilt trips part of what you learn at these emotional bootcamps?

What were some of the positives you two took from these? All the replies seem negative lol

Not at all, the manipulations and guilt trips are completely one-directional, LOL. Also, that seminar I mentioned that encouraged manic behavior was not one of the ones I would recommend to anyone, but the other seminars were pretty damn good. Since taking PSY7 and the women's leadership seminar, I've been able to connect with people in a way I never was able to before. Also, it helped me get out of denial about the terrible marriage I was in for 15 years and see past the not so sound reasons I had for staying. Overall, it did a lot of positive things for me, but their unethical business practices was ultimately a deal breaker.

@TTMI Yes! I agree completely, I'm harping waaaaay too much on the negatives. However, before I recommend these types of seminar groups to other people I want to make sure I explain the dangers in no uncertain terms. Although they do a lot of good for many, they also can do terrible harm.

Not sure where to start with the benefits. The biggest was, I realized I needed to do everything to make my marriage work or get a divorce because I was unhappy for the past ten years of my relationship. The seminar took the blinders off, and I couldn't ignore our problems after that. Also, it helped me find the strength to see myself without my husband, which I could never do before.

It helped me find a deeper level of self confidence. After doing this work, my world got much bigger. I could see new possibilities, and I pursued my passions and began to live life to the fullest. After doing "the work" I developed deeper bonds with people and I felt much more connected to the world - no more sitting on the sidelines feeling like an outsider. Sometimes I wish I could give it back, lol, but ever since I took these seminars, people are drawn to me in a way they never were. My ability to build rapport and understand others dramatically improved. My career took off (until the real estate market crashed)... my sales increased and became much more persuasive. For example, I was able to convince the British Embassy to let a homeless Welsh man I met to return home without his passport. I wouldn't take no for an answer, lol. I took it to the top levels and convinced them to meet this guy to interview him for a temporary emergency passport. I coached this guy and got him cleaned up, drove him to the embassy in LA and...48 hours later he was home with his mother in Whales and she called to thank me for getting her son home. :-) Never would have had the balls to do something like that without these crazy seminars, lmao.

There's so much these seminars show you about yourself and, if you're willing to grow, they provide a great environment for self discovery and they show you how to take your life on in a new way. Everyone gets something different, it depends where you are, and what you need. A lot of the exercises did nothing for me, but were breakthroughs for other people. And, the exercises that changed my life did nothing for some others. One of the friends I met was so inspired by the seminar that she found the strength to confront her parents and take her child back. She had come from a strict conservative Indian family and when she got pregnant out of wedlock her parents took her kid away, saying she was unfit to raise her son without a husband. Anyway, she got her son back and she's a great mom. She also quit working for the pharmacy job she hated and opened her own pharmacy, which is very profitable.

There are quite a few amazing success stories, I think you get the idea. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of people who quit their jobs only to start their dream business and lose their life savings in its failure. There are also a lot of people who are mentally unstable and attend the seminars and are catapulted into full blown mania. So... it could be great or it could be the worst thing ever, depending on your situation. That's why I like to warn warn warn people about the risks and the downsides first.

Very well-stated and well-balanced perspective there in the last 4 paragraphs, keeping!

do you think that theres a way, path, organization that could do this for people that is also honourable and a role model for a type of success that doesnt require all the negatives...something that also embodies integrity?

Good evening everyone,
Thank you so much Keepingthefaith and koolman for that in depth view of these seminars. I think I will pass on them for now, as I am one of those people that love excitement and I may end up selling my three grown children for a great, die for seminar. : )

@Justine... I gave a lot of thought to your question... are there any EST style seminars that are not predatory organizations? I haven't heard of any, if they do exist. Those seminars are like the dysfunctional relationships you've been in that really helped you grow, but caused you tons of grief. LOL. Sorry I don't have any recommendations for you. I wish I did.

@smiles... I like your honesty! I get caught up in things too, passion is a wonderful asset.