This episode of Cults and the Culting of America features guest Emily Hulen, a massage therapist and trauma coach who grew up in Christian Science and later navigated additional cult-like environments. Emily describes the core beliefs of Christian Science — including the denial of physical reality, rejection of medical care, and heavy reliance on prayer as a means of erasing mortal experience. She shares harrowing examples of untreated medical issues in her family and her own childhood injuries and illnesses that went unaddressed.

Emily traces her early cognitive dissonance, beginning around age ten, as she started comparing Christian Science ideas with Greek mythology and noticing inconsistencies. Her family's reaction to her questioning led to increased control, isolation, and punishment. She also explains overlapping dynamics of a family cult, with her mother acting as a controlling, narcissistic leader.

Emily describes eventually leaving home, the challenges of early adulthood, and the emergence of PTSD symptoms in her romantic relationship. The episode highlights her healing journey through therapy modalities including CBT, DBT, IFS (Internal Family Systems), EMDR, and somatic work. Emily emphasizes how trauma shows up physically, how therapy helped her reclaim a sense of self, and how she now helps others through trauma-informed bodywork and coaching.

Daniella and Scott connect Emily's experiences to broader patterns across cults and high-control systems (including the military), highlighting shared mechanisms such as intense rhetoric, personal blame, dissociation, and thought-terminating clichés. The episode closes with information about Emily's work and her perspective on reclaiming identity after trauma.

Emily's Links:

https://www.holisticechoes.com

Contact: emily@holisticechoes.com

Daniella's Links:

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Christian Science denies physical reality, framing illness, injury, and even death as illusions created by "mortal mind."

• Medical neglect is common within the group; Emily and her family suffered severe, untreated medical conditions as a result.

• Prayer functions as a "window cleaning" practice — not communicating with God, but reaffirming perfection and denying suffering.

• Children are taught to dissociate from physical experiences, creating lifelong structural dissociation patterns.

• Emily began questioning the belief system around age ten, aided by secular homeschooling materials and internet access.

• Her family reacted with increased control, isolation, and policing of thought, including banning books and restricting time outdoors.

• Emily's home also functioned as a family cult, with her mother exerting authoritarian control and exploiting her children's labor.

• Leaving her parents' home sparked PTSD symptoms, especially around conflict, anger, and household dynamics.

• Trauma responses mirror old patterns, such as scanning for danger, over-responsibility, flinching, or misinterpreting neutral situations as threats.

• Therapy — particularly IFS, EMDR, and somatic modalities — helped Emily repair trauma by meeting unmet needs and separating past from present.

• Cult survivors often struggle with self-trust, identity, and fears of being seen as "frauds."

• Daniella and Scott note that cult dynamics and military culture share structural similarities, including high pressure, emotional suppression, and elevated rhetoric.

• Healing involves reclaiming agency, challenging old wiring, and recognizing one's worth and capability.

• Emily now helps others through trauma-focused bodywork and coaching, emphasizing that expertise can come from lived experience and extensive independent study.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background of Emily Hulen
01:55 Understanding Christian Science and Its Impact
05:36 Personal Experiences with Medical Neglect
09:24 Dissociation and Cult Ideology
11:14 Red Flags and Awakening
16:02 Family Dynamics and Leaving the Cult
20:49 The Decline of Christian Science
26:40 Reflections on Healing