Paul R. Martin (1946–2009) was a

psychotherapist Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome pro ...

, licensed clinical

psychologist A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and interpretation of how indi ...

, author, pastor, and director of the

Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center is a Christian countercult movement-affiliated residential counseling center claiming to specialize in the treatment of individuals who they evaluate as "having been abused in relationships, cults, situati ...

in Ohio. He also worked in private practice in

Athens, Ohio Athens is a city and the county seat of Athens County, Ohio. The population was 23,849 at the 2020 census. Located along the Hocking River within Appalachian Ohio about southeast of Columbus, Athens is best known as the home of Ohio Universit ...

. Martin taught psychology, psychopharmacology, and the Biblical basis of behavior for five years at Geneva College, where he was a member of the department of psychology. In his 1994 book ''Cult-Proofing Your Kids'', Martin wrote about his former membership and leadership in the

Great Commission International Great Commission Churches (GCC) is a fellowship of independent evangelical Christian churches. The Great Commission church movement began in the United States in 1970. Other associated organizations include Great Commission Ministries (GCM), Gr ...

(currently called Great Commission Association of Churches). In 1971, he dropped out of graduate school to join the group, when it was known as "The Blitz". He later explained that he left the group when he did not receive an adequate response, after questioning its more controversial methods and tactics.

Career

Martin served as an expert witness in court cases including the Lee Boyd Malvo

sniper A sniper is a military/paramilitary marksman who engages targets from positions of concealment or at distances exceeding the target's detection capabilities. Snipers generally have specialized training and are equipped with high-precision r ...

trial and the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui. Having neither interviewed the defendants nor studied their cases, Martin nonetheless testified in general terms about the mindset of people who have been "indoctrinated".

Published works

Books

* *

Articles and Book chapters

* *"Post-cult Recovery: Assessment and Rehabilitation". (1993). Langone, Michael D. (ed.). '' Recovery from Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse''. New York: W.W. Norton. ISBN 9780393701647.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Paul R. American evangelicals 20th-century American psychologists People of the Christian countercult movement Former evangelicals Former members of Evangelical parachurch organizations Former members of the Great Commission church movement Great Commission church movement people American psychotherapists Researchers of new religious movements and cults 2009 deaths 1946 births Former members of new religious movements