Hi, I'm Renee Spencer – writer, researcher, advocate, and cult awareness educator.
My passion for exposing coercive control and cult dynamics comes from lived experience: I lost my daughter to a destructive cult.
That devastating chapter set me on a path of deep investigation — into how people get drawn in, how leaders manipulate trust, and how families can survive the heartbreak. Alongside my background in mental health and psychology, I’ve dedicated myself to understanding the mechanics of undue influence and helping others recognise the signs.
I create resources, publish articles, speak at conferences, and work to make coercive control — especially in religious or spiritual contexts — a public and political issue. This work is a labour of love, and every bit of support helps me keep going.
If my writing has helped you, informed you, or made you feel less alone, consider buying me a coffee. Your support means the world — and it helps me continue this important work.
Thank you for being here.www.recoverfromcoercivecontrol.com