Robert E. Hirsch

Caged: One Woman's Journey from Cult Abuse to Freedom Robert E. Hirsch

When a clinical psychologist enters his waiting room in 1999 to summon his new client, he notices all the chairs are empty. Suddenly, his eyes fall upon a woman crouched in the corner with her arms wrapped tightly around herself in a protective posture. Dr. Hirsch has just met Anne, a woman who would eventually relay an unforgettable story of incredible abuse and amazing survival as she gathered the courage to escape the darkness of cult abuse.

Within the walls of a strict and isolated religious community that advocated traditional values and social responsibility, another reality lurked. As Dr. Hirsch delves deep into Anne's past, she begins to expose a history of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by leaders of a religious cult who kept children in cages, ruled mysterious deaths accidental, and tragically misused religion to justify the acts. As Dr. Hirsch questions why such incomprehensible acts occurred in the first place, a powerful and trusting relationship ensues between Anne and her therapist, changing both of them forever.

As Anne summons the strength to testify against cult leaders, a captivating story of resilience is revealed, providing wonderful insight into how psychotherapy helped lead one woman out of the darkness and into the light.