Ariela Sarai: The Lonely Edges of Leaving a High Control Group

04/24/23 • 67 min

Topics:

The pitfalls of good intentions and beautiful causes
The dynamics of high control groups (cults)
How Ariela got brought into this group
The micro-compromises she made
Why and when she decided to leave
Why she stayed for so long
How to distinguish between a healthy stretch and a damaging one
Why her students got great results
What happened when she left
Life after this group
The importance of getting licensed as a life coach

Bio:
Ariela has a BA from Columbia University and an MSW from the University of Pennsylvania. She worked as a therapist until the year 2000, when she began teaching an international self-development course. She took on a leadership role and spent over 20 years leading teams and empowering thousands of people. In 2021, Ariela realized she was in a toxic work environment that would never change, so she left the course and started working as a Personal and Leadership development coach. She specializes in getting to the truth of what's happening so that people can rebuild a healthy culture.
Links to Ariela Sarai
Her Website
Ariela's LinkedIn Profile
Ariela on Sensibly Speaking Podcast

Rachel Bernstein Interview Part 1
Rachel Bernstein Interview Part 2
Rachel Bernstein Interviews Dimitri, Ariela's Son
Ariela on Jon Atack Family & Friends podcast

Resources to Study High Control Groups

Power for All book
Dr. Steven Hassan www.freedomofmind.com
Dr. Janja Lalich https://janjalalich.com
Rachel Bernstein podcast Indoctrination
Sarah and Nippy podcast A Little Bit Culty

Christina's Links:
Your Beautiful Lonely Edges

Topics:

The pitfalls of good intentions and beautiful causes
The dynamics of high control groups (cults)
How Ariela got brought into this group
The micro-compromises she made
Why and when she decided to leave
Why she stayed for so long
How to distinguish between a healthy stretch and a damaging one
Why her students got great results
What happened when she left
Life after this group
The importance of getting licensed as a life coach

Power for All book
Dr. Steven Hassan www.freedomofmind.com
Dr. Janja Lalich https://janjalalich.com
Rachel Bernstein podcast Indoctrination
Sarah and Nippy podcast A Little Bit Culty

Christina's Links:
Your Beautiful Lonely Edges

Previous Episode

Ellie McDonald: The Lonely Edges of a Young Cancer Patient

Topics:

What it’s like to be a young adult with cancer
When your friends just don’t understand what you’re experiencing
How Ellie is living differently after cancer
When you can’t drink coffee
The people she helps now
How mindfulness and connection changed Ellie’s life
The non-profit she started – Tend to You
How gifts can make a difference to cancer patients

Bio: Ellie was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2019 at the age of 24. This diagnosis came completely out of nowhere-she was focusing on her career and being able to pay rent, and suddenly she was a cancer patient! Sitting in a chemotherapy treatment, she thought about all the cancer patients in that building, in the state, in the world...maybe they could benefit from some sort of care package that focused on mindfulness and managing the side effects of treatment. That is how she started Tend to You--a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on providing locally-sourced, high-quality care packages to the cancer community.

Ellie's Links:
Ellie McDonald's Facebook Page
Ellie McDonald's Instagram Feed
Tend to You Website
Ellie's McDonald's LinkedIn Profile

Your Beautiful Lonely Edges Website

Next Episode

Lauren Fritsch: The Lonely Edges of Her Child's Chronic Health Condition

Topics:

How to be hermit nun
Navigating an eating disorder at college with no parental support
Having a child with a chronic health condition that was not properly diagnosed for 3.5 years.
How many doctors responded to her
Doctor doulas
How the public treated her when her daughter had tantrums
Is it behavioral or is it an infection?
When they went to Argentina
Dealing with very unhelpful healing professionals
The support they have for Charlotte and for themselves
The PANDAs community.
The resources for parents.
What COVID did for parents with this condition

Bio:

Lauren Fritsch is an entrepreneur, artist and mom. She created the Joy|Money Matrix, a simple tool that empowers creative entrepreneurs to make strategic decisions that prioritize joy and improve revenue simultaneously. In nearly two decades as a coach, Lauren has worked with billionaires, politicians, Olympians and stay-at-home moms. She believes that we are all more than enough, that people can change, and that art and yoga together could achieve world peace. A Southerner at heart, Lauren and her family left Manhattan during the pandemic and currently live in Buenos Aires.
Links:
Joy Money Matrix
LaurenFritsch.com
Lauren's Facebook Page
Lauren's LinkedIn Profile
Lauren's YouTube Channel
Lauren's Instagram Feed
Joy Money Matrix Quiz
Your Beautiful Lonely Edges