This was posted to ars in April 06. I actually did this series of steps and it did make a difference.
I joined the Sea Org in 1976 and resigned in 1979. I mostly worked in
the Los Angeles Child Care Org. My time in the EPF was largely spent
helping to renovate the newly purchased Cedars of Lebanon hospital
complex in Hollywood.
When I was a SO member, I did not feel underpaid or exploited.
More than 25 years after leaving, I still do not consider myself fully
recovered but have made a lot of progress.
After researching Scientology and cults I developed a recovery program
for myself. Posted here is the current version of it. (It has gone
through a lot of revisions and may well change in the future.)
I'm not sharing it here with the intent that other former church of
Scientology members should imitate it. I feel each person needs to
personally select their own recovery goals and recovery steps.
The publication most beneficial to recovering from church of
Scientology membership that I am aware of is "Captive Hearts, Captive
Minds," by Madeleine Landau Tobias and Janja Lalich (1994). Reading
the descriptions by recovering cult members gave me more confidence
that I can recover too and practical suggestions on how to make it
happen. (Only one of that book's personal recovery descriptions is by a
former CofS member - Hana Whitfield - the other ones were written
by members of other cults.)
Here are the 14 elements of the current program. The steps were not
executed in numerical order (finish one, then do the next) but were
often simultaneously worked on.
1. Compare the condition of your life now with how you were doing
before your involvement with Scientology. Break it down into
categories. Use Hubbard's eight dynamics if that appeals to you or
use other categories such as health, job satisfaction, relationships,
material and financial abundance, etc. Also note whether you seem to
have lost any abilities that you had prior to becoming involved with
Scientology.
2. Describe what you would consider to be a full recovery from your
experiences with the church of Scientology. Here is the recovery goal
I chose:
To equal and surpass my pre-Scientology levels of prosperity and
contentment
3. Do your best to disconnect from the church of Scientology and any
other oppressive groups or individuals that you may still be connected
to.
4. Learn the truth about L. Ron Hubbard and his church. Compare any
PR lies you learned while in Scientology with the facts.
5. Study the characteristics of cults and cult leaders. Compare the
church of Scientology with other cults.
6. Accelerate your recovery by studying descriptions of how other
former cult members were able to heal their lives.
7. Fully release yourself from the compulsion to agree with or obey
Hubbard. Be able to comfortably revise and ignore LRH policy and tech.
8. Effectively use Scientology concepts to enhance your personal
success.
9. Repair any of your personal relationships damaged by your exposure
to Scientology.
10. Write a detailed description of your experiences in Scientology
and share it with other people.
11. Reinstate having a very enjoyable daily routine that includes
being able to successfully meet your financial and economic needs.
(This is an ability I had before becoming involved with Scientology but
not during the 25 years following my 1979 departure from the Sea Org.)
12. Maintain a personal collection of any Scientology concepts that
still appeal to you (without giving financial support to the church of
Scientology). To help reduce the expense of this, xerox material from
libraries and shop around for used books. Continue your education in
Dianetics, Scientology and their offshoots if you are interested in
doing so.
13. Identify how you were susceptible to being recruited and deceived
by the church of Scientology.
14. Do what you consider to be your fair share to help other former
members of Scientology recover.
= = = = = = =
Additional Comments - Lawsuits
A few former members of the church of Scientology have collected cash
settlements from the CofS as compensation for the abuse they suffered.
I decided not to make the collection of a cash settlement from the CofS
one of my recovery goals, even though I believe Hubbard and his church
clearly committed fraud. My decision was based partly on the nature of
the U.S. legal system, which gives unfair advantages to those who are
wealthy over those who are not. Also, I personally do not feel that
justice is one of the main purposes of the US legal system. In my
opinion, other purposes are more dominant; for example, maximizing
income for lawyers.
Fraud
If the activities and background of Hubbard and his church had been
truthfully represented to me, I would not have spent large sums of
money on auditing or provided three years of labor for a salary
averaging about $12 per week.
What I was told or read: Hubbard did not receive the income generated
by his "churches".
Reality: Hubbard controlled Scientology finances. Money was funneled
into offshore accounts controlled by him.
What I was told or read: CofS is an ethical humanitarian group.
Reality: Scientology's Guardian's Office harassed critics and
former members (Paulette Cooper, for example) under Hubbard's direct
orders. Church members ran an illegal spy operation against the IRS
with Hubbard supervising the operation.
What I was told or read: Personal information that a Scientologist
reveals during auditing sessions is confidential.
Reality: Hubbard ordered staff members to examine PC folders to obtain
information that could be used for blackmail.
What I was told or read: Various lies about Hubbard's background as
given in Scientology books that I studied in the 1970's.
Reality: "The evidence portrays a man who has been virtually a
pathological liar when it comes to his history, background, and
achievements." (Judge Paul Breckenridge, in his 1984 decision on
Church of Scientology of California v. Gerald Armstrong)
Three years in the Sea Org and no meter training. 
