Training In Power Academy is a high-control spirituality group with similarities to Scientology or NXIVM. It is led by Faye Fitzgerald, a charismatic figure who professes to be a “psychic of psychics” and teaches “vibrational psychology”, despite being un-credentialed in psychology or any relevant field.
Like Scientology, Training In Power is organized into a hierarchy of levels, with the earliest levels starting with with self-care and energy healing, and gradually escalating into more esoteric and bizarre teachings. From the first course, a student will experience love-bombing and are warmly welcomed into the broader Training In Power community. As they continue to take courses, the demands on time, money, and energy increases, and Training In Power instills an all-encompassing world view. Because this indoctrination process is gradual and, like many high-control groups, the initial process can be quite pleasant and even healing, the total replacement of one’s world view and devotion to a single leader is not noticed.
Secrecy
Initially, students are encouraged to keep what they learn secret, framed as just a good spiritual habit, that will keep others from derailing their journey. (This is also the introduction of the separation of themselves from “others” in the world who are not members.) Eventually, this encouragement turns into a requirement, and escalates into students taking a vow of silence about what they learn. Secrecy, unique language, and othering are all common tactics of high-control groups to make leaving the group feel unpalatable or even dangerous.
Threats and Danger
As a student increases in levels, the language used by the leader becomes more militaristic and absolute. It is revealed that the student is in constant danger of attack by invisible forces, and must be vigilant at all times. Constant vigilance is another common tactic of high-control groups, as it keeps a member as laser-focused on the group as possible vs. anything outside of the group. The importance of this vigilance is also escalated, to the point where it is described in life-and-death terms. Leaving the group can now feel not just that it risks losing community and friends, but risks disease and death.
At first, these invisible threats are presented as being to the individual, that the student must protect. Then, the student’s family and community, which the student must protect. Then, the leader, which the student must protect. Then, all of humanity, which the student must protect. Then, the earth and all of its inhabitants, which the student must protect. This escalates not just the importance of the vigilance needed, and the total focus on the teachings of the group, but also the sense of purpose and reward of doing that work. The threats are presented in choreographed “battles” which the leader orchestrates as a self-proclaimed “general”. These battles are not presented as metaphor but as very real dangers with serious consequences. The demands of those events are followed by catharsis of partying.
Why They Stay
Like many, many high-control groups, especially new age spiritualist groups, throughout the process of joining the Training In Power community, many people experience more demonstrations of love and acceptance than they have experienced in any other group / community setting. That, coupled with adopting an all-encompassing world view (the answer to everything), seeing oneself as uniquely and divinely chosen (and therefore very different from other humans) and the all-consuming focus on the work of the group, makes leaving Training In Power eventually seem unfathomable.
This is also reinforced by the leader warning about the dangers of associating with ex-members. It is made clear that if an ex-member keeps quiet about any negative experiences they experienced, they may be safe to associate with. However, if they have negative things to say about the group or the leader, then they should be regarded as having fallen in “vibration”, or having succumbed to attack (a parallel example of what you might find in Christianity with someone being “controlled or influenced by Satan” or “possessed by demons). Those begrudging individuals then, having lost “power”, are attempting to pull power vampirically from current members, and thus they must be avoided and contact cut off with them. This is again a very common tactic with high-control groups.
What Can I Do?
Because of the nature of indoctrination, and the replacement of one’s world view, convincing someone to leave a high-control group can be extremely difficult. With your loved one, it’s best to avoid being directly confrontational. A great guide can be found from Psychology Today, “The Definitive Guide to Helping People Trapped in a Cult.”
Another thing that might help is reading letters from ex-members of Training In Power, and understanding why and how they left.