Introduction

Lessons in Awareness

This site contains research material, ex-member testimonials, and personal writings originally sent to the group Training in Power, Seattle, Washington, which I belonged to for over 12 years. This material was first sent to the Boards (US, Canada and Germany) of Training in Power, and later to students with the intent of exposing thought control and abuse. Efforts to deal with abuse within the group did not produce results.

The charismatic founder of this structure of empowerment has claimed to be the only one who has the knowledge of true empowerment on this planet. As such, she has arbitrary control over her students, because no one else knows their next step or what they are ready to learn within her structure but her. She uses her power to create exalted states of consciousness, then uses anger, guilt, shame, humiliation, praise or flattery in her coursework and personal contact with students.

Ex-members recover from intense programming they didn't realize they had until they left her influence. The damage done to trauma and abuse survivors over the years has been documented by many counselors, who are beginning to network and recognize the fallout symptoms of Training in Power. How do people get caught in this web? Training in Power diversely appeals to those seeking help to empower themselves or those wanting to contribute meaningfully to healing the Earth.

There are students of Training in Power who defend its teacher and teachings, and there are ex-students who say harm is being done. Much like the ongoing Scientology battle explored on this site, the ones who defend Training in Power are right because there is value. The ones who say it is harmful are also right, for there is harm done, and the harm far outweighs the good in the long run. Students caught in the training's belief system believe any harm done is just part of what needs to be done; the ends justify the means. Some students are even convinced there is no abuse and believe what they are told: that they are there by their own free will.

Within Training in Power students are told first, foremost and repeatedly from Level 1 that they are participating by their own free will. When a student does leave however, it is said often in various ways by upper levels or within course classes that those who leave are just not smart enough to get the information, they are under 'attack'; they are in resistance; they are falling in vibration. Remaining students soon become conditioned to feel that if they leave they are failures. This is one example of how thought control works.

The controls are subtle in early levels, embedded in truth with reasonable sounding emotional words such as healing, freedom, truth and coming to know "who you really are". Early courses prepare and condition students with 'carrots' to want to get to upper levels. By the time students do reach upper levels (I believe there are now 16+ levels), they are held as emotionally captive as if they were behind bars; the bars are psychological and emotional. These students are committed and loyal, believing they are doing profound work, but have the robotic suppression and expression so typical of 'followers' written about in cult literature.

Ex-members of this group, and there are many, look back on financial loss, broken families, emotional trauma, and the need to de-program years of thought control. There are feelings of betrayal, lost years, and shock when the controls are finally seen and conditioning recognized. I say finally recognized, because only with distance from the group does the full realization of the programming surface.

Although the stated purpose of Training in Power, A Spiritual Journey of Service is personal and planetary healing and empowerment, the symptoms and years of fallout of its members tell a different story. The material on this site is offered to those who are willing to examine these issues for themselves. This work is not meant to be the truth to anyone, it is meant to bring up questions in the reader and to be an adjunct to the reader's own inner and outer research.

Respectful Regards and Safe Travels,

January 2007

A Therapist's Evaluation of Training in Power

ELAINE HOPKINS, D.H.P.

HYPNOTHERAPY, PSYCHOTHERAPY

TEL: 250- 675-4641

Email: elabria@telus.net

RE: TRAINING IN POWER

Hello:

I have been asked to review the training in power teachings, including a video and CD.

I have found that much of the course material is fear based, very negative and dangerous.

Faye is using hypnosis and auto suggestion in the course material. She calls her hypnosis scripts, meditations when in fact they are guided meditations. The only reason a person would continue with guided meditations for a long time would be to control the thought

process of the people involved. When you teach a beginning class of meditation you would start with a guided mediation to show the student how to begin, at most you would do this for two or three times, then the student would take himself off on their own.

Mediation is a personal exercise. Prayer is when you talk to God. Meditation is when God talks to you, so when you, the teacher are constantly controlling the meditation, it's no longer the student's meditation, the teacher is the one in control.

Throughout the course material it is evident that Faye is in control, she suggests that the world is a scary and dangerous place, you must be on guard or "they will take you out". In the video Faye talks about power transference, she claims it is very dangerous and there has been a high mortality rate this year because of the "way we are teaching level three this year". She refers to always being under attack, she goes on to say, "I can smell death" It must be exhausting to always be on guard , to do battle, to be fearful.

In my opinion Faye Fitzgerald is teaching paranoia, she preys on people who are not fulfilled in his or her life, anyone who has not found the sense of meaning we all desire will naturally have an acute fear of death. Efforts based on fear will produce limited results. Have you ever watched a game where one team plays to win and the other team plays not to lose? It's hard to have fun, to experience love and joy when you are motivated by fear. Fear creates stress, stress causes a depletion of energy, all our energy focuses on the stressor (everyone is out to get you), low energy compromises the immune system which is then unable to ward off disease.

This program teaches participants that there are enemies out there ready to get you. It's very stressful to be on guard all the time. Instead of promoting a love of life, gratitude for all that is good in a person's life and encouraging people to enjoy the moments which would promote good health and happiness, Faye instead promotes fear and distrust. The implication is that she is the truth and without her you will almost certainly die, but she is going to save you all.

Jesus asked people not to worship him, but to follow his example.

If you have any questions regarding this matter please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Elaine Hopkins