About the Author - RAPHAEL ARON

Director, Gateway Family Counselling Centre Inc.
Director, Cult Counselling Australia

Raphael was born and educated in Australia. Following his completion of high school he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce at Melbourne University continuing on with various courses in psychology, counselling and therapy. He continued on to specialize in studies relating to addictions. He has occupied the positions of President of RADAC (Regional Advisory Drug and Alcohol Council) as well as Public Relations Officer of VAADA (Victorian Alcohol and Drug Agencies)

In 1982 Raphael founded The Jewish Centre, an organization dedicated to assisting families concerned about the influence of cults and sects on their loved ones. In 1986 he established Gesher House, a residential facility for addicts; the facility is located in the Kilmore region of Victoria. In 1991 he established Gateway Family Counselling Centre Inc. offering services in the fields of family counselling, addictions counselling as well as a wide range of educational programs. In 1995, Raphael established Cult Counselling Australia, the only formally constituted organization in Australia which deals with this disturbing phenomenon.

Raphael has counselled hundreds of families in connection with family, marriage, drug and cult-related matters. He has assisted in numerous media reports and documentaries on these issues and has acted in an advisory capacity to various statutory authorities. He has auspiced a government funded pilot study designed to assess the benefits of a family based approach to addictions. Raphael continues to provide expert evidence in court matters. He is well known in the field both locally and internationally.

In the sphere of informal education Raphael has worked closely with a range of schools and educational facilities both in Australia and overseas. Raphael has also served as a consultant to schools in relation to issues of sexual abuse and worked closely with the police authorities in dealing with these matters. He runs training programs for teachers and the school community in relation to addictions, adolescence and parenting issues.

In relation to cults, fringe religious churches and suspect personal development groups, Raphael is the foremost authority in Australia. He appears regularly in the media and has served a consultant to the Australian government in dealing with cult issues. Raphael has written a book on the Australian cult experience. Although a very personal account of his work, the book documents numerous Australian cult-related cases and is a definitive work on the concepts of mind control and psychological manipulation. The book titled “Cults: Too Good To Be True” was published by Harper Collins in 1999.

Later this year, Raphael’s latest book, “Cults, Terror and Mind Control” will be published by Bay Tree Publishing in California.

Raphael is much sought after both in his role as a media spokesperson as well as a public speaker. He regularly addresses student and parent audiences and has run programs in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Israel. He is a dynamic speaker and an outstanding communicator. His experience in a diverse range of socially relevant fields is unique.

Raphael is married to his wife, Shani. They live in Melbourne, Australia and have nine children.

 

PUBLIC SPEAKING,
LECTURES, WORKSHOPS

Raphael conducts a wide range of educational programs in his fields of expertise. The speaking topics and workshops below are examples of this work. Programs can be tailored to suit particular audiences or fill particular needs.

 

SPEAKING TOPICS

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
Facing the challenge of addictions

• Medication vs meditation
• “Have you cleared out your medicine cupboard?”
• Drug and alcohol counselling – personal recollections
• Can you drug-proof your children?
• “But it’s only marijuana…”

PARENTING

• The internet – a two edged sword
• Making our children feel special
• The crucial issue of self-esteem
• The power of negotiation
• The teenage years and parents’ nightmares
• 9/11 and the Tsunami – What Do You Tell the Children?

 

WORKSHOPS

Generally workshops are designed to cater for particular audiences. Other workshops focus on parenting and adolescence. Raphael also runs workshops on his work with victims of cults, fringe religious churches and suspect personal development groups. Workshops run for between two and three hours.

ADDICTIONS WORKSHOP

This workshop addresses the various classes of drugs highlighting the concern about tobacco, alcohol and marijuana. In particular, the minor tranquilizers are discussed as far more of a threat than some of the better-known harder drugs.

There is considerable discussion about the role of parents in preventing addictive behaviour and their ability to empower their children to seek other means of recognition and acceptance.

The peer pressure issue is examined in depth as well as the connection between parents’ ability to impose limits on their children in their early years and potential addictive behaviour in later years.

TEENAGER INTERNET WORKSHOP

For many parents the use of the internet by teenagers has become a major parenting issue. As teenagers become increasingly familiar with the chat room scene, parents are rightfully concerned about the potential influence of strangers on their children. As internet use begins to resemble addictive behaviour parents are forced to reassess the control they are able to exercise over the children. In many senses the internet has created a private and secluded space for children in the home beyond the reach of parents and teachers.

This workshop explores parents’ options in controlling their children’s use of the internet. Parents are advised about the prevalence of pornographic sites, dangerous chat rooms and other pitfalls on the net.

Parents are given practical advice as to how to maximize the positive benefits of the internet whilst at the same time ensuring it does become dangerous tool in the hands of inexperienced teenagers.

 

ENQUIRIES

For further information, please contact Gateway Family Counselling Centre Inc., 03 9527 5151 (international: 613 9527 5151) or liberty@planet.net.au