Common dynamics often found in cults include coercive control, isolation, and the belief in a supreme leader.

High-control environments, like abusive relationships, sometimes have cult-like characteristics.

Recognizing the signs of coercive control early can be a protective factor against exploitive circumstances.

When most people reflect on life’s threats, becoming engulfed in a high-control organization is rarely our first thought. Research suggests that around 1 percent of individuals worldwide become involved in groups of psychological abuse (Castaño et al., 2022), also known as cults. Still, the figure is likely a huge underestimate, due to the secrecy, hazards, and stigma associated with disclosure. Beyond this extreme, a significant number of people become involved in coercive relationships, whether with an institution or an abusive individual.

Survivors of these experiences speak of being unaware of their circumstances, given the emotional manipulation intricate in the process (Garcia et al., 2025). Ashleigh Freckleton is one of those survivors.

Eight years ago, she joined a yoga school hoping to find a greater sense of peace, but she found herself trapped overseas. She did not know she had joined what she now considers a cult until circumstances turned frightening. Today, Ashleigh is sharing her story in the three-part AppleTV documentary series, "Twisted Yoga," in an endeavor to educate others.

I met with Ashleigh to better understand her experience and build awareness around emotional exploitation and how we can all protect ourselves.

Situational Vulnerability

Ashleigh became involved in the organization when she was in a state of what she calls "situational vulnerability." She comments, "It was kind of the perfect storm, where I was in a transitional life phase—in my mid-20s, I'd just moved overseas, I'd been through a recent breakup, I was very spiritually open. I'd........

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