Lifespring has been characterized as a form of "[[Large Group Awareness Training]]" in several sources.<ref name="dumerton">{{cite journal | last = DuMerton| first = C.| title = Tragic Optimism and Choices|publisher = [[Trinity Western University]] |date=July 2004}}</ref><ref name="zeig">{{cite book| last = Zeig | first = Jeffrey K.| title = The Evolution of Psychotherapy: The Third Conference | publisher = Psychology Press | year = 1997 | pages = 352, 357|isbn = 0-87630-813-2}}<br>"Training or T-groups, sensitivity training, and encounter groups spread and were followed by commercially sold large group awareness training programs, such as est, Lifespring and other programs."</ref><ref name="handbook">{{cite book

| last = Burlingame | first = Gary M.| title = Handbook of Group Psychotherapy: An Empirical and Clinical Synthesis | publisher = John Wiley and Sons | year = 1994 |pages = 528, 532, 535, 539, 549, 550, 555, 556, 581, 583|isbn = 0-471-55592-4}}</ref><ref name="SingerLalich1996">[[Margaret Singer]] and [[Janja Lalich]]. [[Cults in our Midst (book)]], 1995, pp. 42–43. {{ISBN|0-7879-0051-6}}.</ref><ref name="intruding">[http://caic.org.au/psyther/lgat/singer.htm Intruding into the Workplace], Dr [[Margaret Singer]], excerpted from [[Cults in our Midst (book)]], 1995.</ref><ref name="csj">[http://www.csj.org/infoserv_groups/grp_lgat/grp_lgat_index.htm Large Group Awareness Trainings (LGAT)], ''[[Cultic Studies Review|Cultic Studies Journal]]'', [[International Cultic Studies Association]], retrieved 1/17/2006.</ref><ref name="polaski">[http://www.culteducation.com/reference/landmark/landmark49.html The Mary Polaski "L" Series], Mary Polaski, written 2000, retrieved 1/10/07.</ref><ref name="langone">[http://www.csj.org/rg/rgessays/rgessay_lgate.htm Large Group Awareness Trainings], [[Michael Langone]], ''[[Cultic Studies Review|Cult Observer]]'', Volume 15, No. 1, 1998</ref><ref name="denniscoon">{{cite book | last = Coon | first = Dennis | title = Psychology: A Journey | publisher = Thomson Wadsworth | year = 2004 | pages = 520, 528, 538|isbn = 0-534-63264-5}}<br>"Large-group awareness training refers to programs that claim to increase self-awareness and facilitate constructive personal change. Lifespring, Actualizations, the Forum, and similar commercial programs are examples. Like the smaller groups that preceded them, large-group trainings combine psychological exercises, confrontation, new view-points, and group dynamics to promote personal change."</ref><ref name="tindale">{{cite book | last = Tindale | first = R. Scott|title = Group Processes: Blackwell Handbook of Social Psychology | publisher = Blackwell Publishing | year = 2001 | pages = 630 | isbn = 1-4051-0653-0}}<br>"EST, FORUM and LIFESPRING are all examples of LGATs, for members seek to improve their overall level of satisfaction and interpersonal relations by carrying out such experiential exercises as role-playing, group singing and chanting, and guided group interaction."</ref><ref name="coonintroduction">{{cite book | last = Coon | first = Dennis | title = Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior | publisher = Thomson Wadsworth | year = 2003 | pages = 648, 649, 655| isbn = 0-534-61227-X}}</ref><ref name="evaluating">{{cite book | last = Fisher | first = Jeffrey D. |author2=Silver, Chinsky |author3=Goff, Klar | title = [[Evaluating a Large Group Awareness Training]] | publisher = Springer-Verlag | year = 1990 | pages = 142 | isbn = 0-387-97320-6}}<br>'''Page vii''' — "The research reported in this volume was awarded the American Psychological Association, Division 13, National Consultants to Management Award, August 13, 1989."</ref><ref name="meltonnewage" />

==Lawsuits==

Lawsuits were filed against Lifespring for charges ranging from [[involuntary servitude]] to wrongful death. The suits often claimed that the trainings placed participants under extreme [[stress (medicine)|psychological stress]] in order to elicit change. Lifespring was ordered to pay money to participants who required psychiatric hospitalization and to relatives of members who committed suicide, or otherwise died.<ref name="McAndrews"/>

''[[The Washington Post]]'' published an article about the company in 1987.<ref name="Fisher"/> In it Hanley is quoted as saying, "If a thousand people get benefit from the training, and one person is harmed, I'd can it. I have an absolute commitment for having this training work for every person who takes it."

According to the ''Post,'' however, by 1987 Hanley and other Lifespring executives had known for more than a decade that some people sustained serious injuries from its training. As evidence, the ''Post'' cited:

* A deposition in which a former Lifespring vice president said that in 1977 there was a discussion among company executives about participants who suffered ill effects and that such people were referred to as "casualties," "wackos" and "basket cases"

* Talk among top company officials about how to make the trainings less harsh while maintaining their effectiveness

* Dozens of incident reports submitted to Hanley in the late-1970s and early-1980s by Lifespring staff about participants who variously became panicky, incapable of making decisions, or incoherent and nervous. Others landed in psychiatric wards, had visions, regressed to the womb, or became deeply depressed

* Six participants who died.<ref name="Fisher"/>

==Criticism==

The ''Post'' also reported in the same article that Hanley had been convicted of six counts of felony mail fraud in 1969, and was given a five-year suspended sentence.<ref name="Fisher"/>

Soon after the conviction, Hanley joined [[Holiday Magic]]. The Wisconsin Justice Department sued him and others over a pyramid scheme involving the company. Hanley paid the state $1,750 to settle the case, but told the ''Post'' that he did so only to avoid the costs of hiring a lawyer, not because he had done anything wrong.<ref name="Fisher"/>

In 1980, a federal judge rejected Hanley's request to have the felony conviction removed from his record. His request for a presidential pardon was also denied.<ref name="Fisher"/>

In 1990 [[KARE-TV]] (Channel 11, Minneapolis-St. Paul) ran a segment called "Mind Games?" that Lifespring claimed was deceptive and sensationalized.<ref name="KARE"/>

''The Skeptic'', a newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics, reported in 1989 on criticism from a participant and former staff volunteer who said the trainings were too stressful and disruptive, and that the program was "an urban cult".<ref name="skeptics" />

One prominent critic of Lifespring is [[Virginia Thomas]], wife of [[Supreme Court Justice]] [[Clarence Thomas]]. Mrs. Thomas asserted in an interview with the ''Post'' that she chose to seek counseling after her decision to stop participating in Lifespring. In order to avoid phone calls from fellow Lifespring members, urging her to remain in the course, she chose to hide in another part of the United States. One explanation for the criticisms and actions taken by roughly eight percent of all Lifespring graduates comes from clinical psychologist and Lifespring graduate Bronson Levin. Levin said, "people who are not prepared for the intense emotional experience of Lifespring or who have hidden traumas tend to become overwhelmed as childhood memories come thundering back to them during training." Virginia Thomas went on to speak on panels and organized [[Anti-Cult Movement|anti-cult workshops]] for congressional staffers in 1986 and 1988.<ref name="blumenfeld">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/cult/lifespring/main.htm "The Nominee's Soul Mate,"] [[The Washington Post]], Laura Blumenfeld, September 10, 1991; Page F01</ref>

==Spinoffs==

While Lifespring no longer delivers training, 75 independent companies offer replicas or training employing many of the company's methods, in the United States and in nine other countries, according to Hanley.<ref>

[http://www.lifespringnow.com/pages/ctrs.htm Lifespring Now], retrieved 7/4/14.</ref> These include "Discovery" in Texas and in Southern California, and "WorldWorks", also in Southern California.

"Mastery In Transformational Training", in [[Marina del Rey]], is one out of five of the 75 independent companies that have established a formal relationship with John Hanley, Sr. by purchasing an official license.

"Choice Center" in Las Vegas, Nevada, bases its methods on the Lifespring model.

"Gratitude Trainings in Charlotte, NC and Florida" bases its methods on the Lifespring model.

“Next Level Trainings” in Columbus, OH and also in Philadelpha, PA, bases its methods on the Lifespring model and has mentioned its influence in the trainings.

[[Peter Pomerantsev]] examines a Russian version of the training program, ''Roza Mira'' ({{lang-ru|Роза Мира}}; "The Rose of the World"), in his 2014 book ''Nothing is True and Everything is Possible''. However, ''Roza Mira'' is largely based on the 1958 book of the same name by [[Daniil Andreyev]], based on "mystic visions" he experienced while imprisoned for anti-Soviet propaganda.

==See also==

* [[List of Large Group Awareness Training organizations]]

== References ==

{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==

*[http://www.culteducation.com/group/1026-lifespring/12660-pathology-as-personal-growth-a-participant-observation-study-of-lifespring-training.html Janice Haaken, Ph.D. and Richard Adams, Ph.D.: "Pathology as 'Personal Growth': A Participant-Observation Study of Lifespring Training" in ''Psychiatry'', Vol 46, August 1983]

*John Hanley: ''Lifespring: Getting Yourself from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be'' Simon and Schuster 1989 {{ISBN|0-671-72508-4}}

*Marty Primeau, [https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/1988/august/when-weird-things-happen-to-gullible-people/ "When Weird Things Happen To Gullible People], ''D Magazine'', August 1988 (detailed account of a Lifespring seminar)

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