Ashleigh Freckleton: Surviving a Dangerous Cult

When I first read Ashleigh Freckleton’s story in that Psychology Today piece from April 17th, I’ll admit it hit close to home—not because I’ve ever been to a yoga retreat in London or Romania, but because the way she described that slow creep of doubt turning into dread… it’s something I’ve heard echoed in coffee shops from Wicker Park to Logan Square. Here in Chicago, where folks are always chasing the next thing—whether it’s a new mindfulness app, a breathwork workshop popping up in Fulton Market, or a tantric yoga series advertised on the ‘L’—her experience isn’t just a cautionary tale from overseas. It’s a mirror held up to how easily the search for peace can get hijacked, even in a city that prides itself on being too savvy for that sort of thing.

What stuck with me wasn’t just the trauma she endured—though the web search results make clear how serious it got, with Gregorian Bivolaru’s arrest in France last November on charges of human trafficking, kidnapping, and rape—but how ordinary the beginning felt. She joined Tara Yoga Centre in London in 2018, just another person looking for spiritual enlightenment, the kind of search that’s practically a weekend hobby here in Chicago. Think about it: how many of us have scrolled past Instagram ads for “sacred sexuality” workshops in Pilsen or signed up for a weekend retreat near Starved Rock hoping to “evolve our consciousness”? The TIME article noted how these schools operated under different names—Tara Yoga Centre in London, NATHA in Denmark and Sweden—but were all linked by Bivolaru’s influence. That decentralized, franchise-like model is exactly what lets these groups fly under the radar, presenting as local, independent studios while being part of something far larger and far more controlling.

And let’s talk about the psychology behind it, because that’s where Chicagoans need to pay attention. The Psych Today piece highlighted coercive control, isolation, and the belief in a supreme leader as common dynamics. But it too mentioned something crucial from Garcia et al.’s 2025 research: survivors often don’t realize they’re in a high-control environment because the manipulation is so emotionally intricate. That’s not some faraway cult tactic—it’s the same playbook used in abusive relationships, and honestly, it shows up in subtle ways in wellness spaces everywhere. I’ve seen it: the instructor who subtly discourages you from seeing old friends (“they just don’t get your journey”), the program that requires escalating financial commitment for “advanced teachings,” the way dissent is framed not as disagreement but as a personal failing. In a city where we value straight talk and calling out BS, those red flags can still slip past us when they’re wrapped in incense and promises of transformation.

What makes this especially relevant now isn’t just the Apple TV docuseries Twisted Yoga premiering March 13th—though seeing Freckleton, a former Bachelor Australia contestant, share her story on such a platform absolutely amplifies the warning—but how the lines between legitimate spiritual exploration and exploitative groups keep blurring. The web search results note that around 1% of people worldwide get involved in these psychological abuse groups, per Castaño et al. (2022), but that’s likely a huge underestimate due to secrecy and stigma. Here in Chicago, with our dense network of wellness studios, meditation centers, and alternative healing practitioners—especially in neighborhoods like Andersonville, Edgewater, and the West Loop—we’ve got both incredible resources and potential vulnerabilities. It’s not about rejecting yoga or tantra; it’s about knowing the difference between a teacher who empowers your autonomy and one who slowly erodes it under the guise of guidance.

Given my background in community advocacy and public safety education, if this trend is making you side-eye that new “consciousness expansion” circle meeting in a Ravenswood basement or wonder about the intensity of a workshop promised in Hyde Park, here are the three types of local professionals you need to grasp about—and exactly what to look for when hiring them.

First, seek out trauma-informed therapists specializing in spiritual abuse or coercive control recovery. These aren’t just any counselors; they need specific training in recognizing how high-control groups manipulate attachment, identity, and autonomy—often drawing from frameworks like those cited in the Garcia et al. (2025) study on unawareness in exploitative circumstances. In Chicago, look for providers affiliated with places like the Chicago Trauma Collective or those who list experience with complexes post-cult involvement through networks like the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA), which maintains a referral directory. Key criteria: they should explicitly mention understanding ideological manipulation (not just general trauma), avoid pathologizing spiritual seeking itself, and emphasize rebuilding your internal locus of control—something Freckleton had to reclaim after her initiation process in Romania and Paris gave her PTSD.

Second, connect with cult-awareness educators or consultants who offer workshops for wellness communities. This is proactive, not reactive—think of it like bringing in a fire marshal to check your building’s safety before there’s a blaze. In our context, these professionals assist yoga studios, meditation centers, and holistic fairs develop ethical guidelines, power dynamic awareness, and clear reporting pathways. Ideal candidates will have verifiable experience working with groups affected by figures like Bivolaru (referencing the global network described in the TIME article) or similar high-control environments. Check if they’ve collaborated with institutions like Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine on mental health outreach or presented at events hosted by the Chicago Department of Public Health’s wellness initiatives. They should focus on prevention: teaching staff to recognize isolation tactics, financial exploitation red flags, and how to support members who want to exit without shame.

Third, and critically, establish a relationship with a civil rights attorney experienced in cases involving human trafficking or organized exploitation. While we hope it never comes to this, knowing you have access to legal help that understands the nuances of coercive control—especially when it crosses state or national lines, as Bivolaru’s network did—is vital. In Chicago, prioritize lawyers who’ve worked with organizations like the Salvation Army’s STOP-IT Program (which handles human trafficking cases locally) or have consulted for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office on labor or exploitation matters. They should understand how psychological manipulation can constitute criminal behavior under laws like the Illinois Trafficking of Persons Act, and crucially, they must offer trauma-informed consultation—meaning they won’t re-traumatize you while seeking justice. Look for those who partner with groups like CAASE (Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation) for holistic survivor support.

These aren’t just abstract categories; they’re lifelines grounded in the reality that healing from exploitation requires specialized, local knowledge. And remember: seeking help isn’t an admission of weakness—it’s the ultimate act of reclaiming the autonomy these groups try to steal.

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