Genesis and Destruction

October 11, 2012 1:46 PM

"I went to them for help ... and they wrecked my life." Genesis Associates was an Exton, PA-based counseling practice which crashed and burned in the late 90's, leaving a long, scorchingly-painful trail of destruction in their wake. Founded by Pat Mansmann and Pat Neuhausel ("the Pats"), Genesis employed the then-controversial, now-largely-discredited recovered memory therapy. Genesis therapists also urged patients to "detach" (cut off contact) from their alleged abusers, as well as any individuals to whom they had become "addicted" - including their own children. In a long, harshly-critical article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a former Genesis patient is quoted as saying, "They had me brainwashed ... they get you so worn out, so confused, you can't think straight." The group's use of detachment and "rage therapy" were also prominently featured in the Frontline special "Divided Memories". Genesis was sued by dozens of former patients (1,2,3); at least nine cases were settled out of court. In 1999, Mansmann and Neuhausel surrendered their licenses to practice in Pennsylvania. Unlike their patients', Mansmann and Neuhausel's relationship has remained tight... they're partners in an entity named "WIC Enterprises", they co-own property in Key West (manual search here) and, as of 2008, they were both members of the "National Center for Crisis Management". Their attorney has since been disbarred. The book they co-authored is still available used on Amazon, although, as one would imagine, the reviews aren't great.
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