About Antidote

Our mission is to eliminate Psychological Manipulation on the individual, community, and societal levels. We create freely available frameworks and resources to prevent Psychological Manipulation and support affected individuals.
Our vision is to create a world free from the harm caused by Psychological Manipulation.
Values and Culture
We hold an unwavering commitment to preserving the dignity of every individual we support. Our survivor-focused approach ensures that our language, methods, and interactions are consent-based and rooted in respect for personal agency. We recognize the profound impact of Psychological Manipulation and are dedicated to helping individuals reclaim their sense of self with their dignity intact.
Our work is trauma-informed, designed to prioritize privacy and honor the experiences of those we serve, meeting them where they are and providing tools that empower them to move forward on their terms.
Dignity is a value that shapes how we engage with individuals, families, and communities, ensuring that every step of the journey is marked by respect and compassion.
We believe in the power of individual agency and the importance of autonomy—both for the people we serve and within our organization. We foster a supportive environment where everyone is encouraged to take personal accountability and express their unique perspectives without fear of judgment. Empowerment is at the core of our mission: we help individuals think for themselves, protect their minds, and make decisions that align with their values.
We are committed to creating space for diverse voices and ideas, knowing that a variety of perspectives strengthens our impact. While we work as a unified front, we value healthy dissent and encourage open, non-judgmental dialogue, even when conversations are challenging.
Internally, we strive for a flexible and empowering work culture where team members feel trusted and respected. We avoid micromanagement, providing the tools and support necessary for people to thrive independently while contributing meaningfully to our shared goals.
Antidote’s commitment to agency and autonomy extends to dismantling stigma and creating environments—both internal and external—where freedom, diversity, and empowerment are not just values but lived experiences.
We are clear about our motives, ensuring that our intentions and actions are aligned with our commitment to the people and communities we serve.
We’re not afraid to engage in difficult but crucial conversations, because addressing uncomfortable truths is essential to creating meaningful change. Whether we’re sharing our perspective on Psychological Manipulation or solutions we propose, we will always strive to make our point of view clear.
At Antidote, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that solving complex challenges like Psychological Manipulation requires collective effort, mutual understanding, and shared learning. That’s why we prioritize accessibility, ensuring our work reaches and resonates with diverse communities, from grassroots groups to larger networks.
We are committed to being community-driven, working alongside those we serve to co-create solutions that are meaningful and impactful. By fostering dialogue and listening to lived experiences, we help people understand the issues at hand while continuously growing and learning ourselves.
Our approach values partnerships that amplify voices, bridge gaps, and build connections. Through collaboration, we aim to create a movement to address the dangers of Psychological Manipulation.
We are driven by the belief that meaningful change requires solutions that reach beyond the individual. Informed by public health approaches, we focus on developing scalable models and tools that prevent and address Psychological Manipulation at a population level. Our work is educational and proactive, creating frameworks that empower communities, organizations, and systems to foster resilience and recovery.
While we deeply value individual experiences, our mission is not clinical or case-management focused. Instead, we aim to provide large-scale solutions that equip people everywhere with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves and others. By addressing the root causes of manipulation and scaling effective interventions, we seek to build a future where Psychological Manipulation is recognized, understood, and diminished across society.
Through this approach, Antidote ensures that our impact is not just widespread but sustainable, creating change that extends far beyond our direct reach.
How Antidote Creates Change
At Antidote, we are committed to realizing a vision where Psychological Manipulation is recognized as a critical public health concern and concerted efforts are made globally to mitigate its harmful effects. Psychological Manipulation has dire consequences for individuals and families affected, and both individuals and families need support to remove themselves and recover from manipulative relationships, groups, or environments. Whether we’re talking about a religious cult or an extremist group, we want to expose and address the manipulative tactics that are used to recruit, coerce, or control people. We see a need for solutions that can be scaled to reach thousands and even millions of people and families who are impacted by Psychological Manipulation or at risk, no matter the context. Through our Theory of Change, we outline our strategic framework to achieve our vision.
Our Team

Diane Benscoter
Founder
Leads Antidote’s mission to prevent psychological manipulation through personal experience, education, and public advocacy.

Dr. Kayte Thomas
Director of Learning Innovation and Research Development
Oversees Antidote’s programs using deep expertise in trauma, healing, resilience, and social justice frameworks.
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Dr. Kayte Thomas is a licensed clinical social worker with expertise in trauma and resiliency, gender-based violence, refugee resettlement, and integrative approaches to care. She holds three degrees in social work, including her PhD from Baylor University, with a focus on the ethical integration of faith and practice. Throughout her career, Dr. Thomas has engaged in national and international advocacy campaigns, designed and implemented programs to reduce social vulnerability, conducted social research, influenced policy, and taught at the graduate level. As an anti-oppressive practitioner, she is passionate about social justice and co-creating a safer society for all. She is a survivor of several forms of violence – including psychological – and, to date, is stronger than anything that has tried to harm her. She is grateful to be part of the Antidote team and excited to collaborate on ways to address and mitigate the impact of Psychological Manipulation.

Paul Jensen
Strategic Advisor
Shapes Antidote’s messaging with experience in global public health, communication, and advocacy for mental well-being.
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Paul Jensen supports Antidote’s strategy and communications goals. From 2013 to 2020 he served on the leadership team of the world’s oldest global public health organization, The Union, with operations in more than 100 countries, where he oversaw organizational strategy, messaging, advocacy, and activities to disseminate research. Prior to that, he was Deputy Director of ACTION.org, an international network of public health advocacy organizations. His contributions to the field of public health are profiled in the college textbook Global Health 101, and his analytical work has earned news coverage from more than 100 media outlets worldwide, including the NY Times, the Financial Times, the Washington Post, BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, Reuters and others. He grew up in a high-demand church and has spoken on his experiences in conferences and podcast interviews, including the International Cultic Studies Association annual conference, Steve Hassan’s Influence Continuum podcast, and Paranoid Planet.

Rose Carver
Project Director
Creates learning tools that explore control, power dynamics, and psychological harm through a human-centered approach.
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Rose Carver is an educator and advocate dedicated to addressing power dynamics and Psychological Manipulation. She has a rich background in designing and facilitating educational programs on power, control, and consent, helping diverse communities understand and combat intimate-partner and gender-based violence. This work also led her to recognize and address the similarities between domestic violence and high-control groups, including the spiritualist groups she has had personal experience with. Rose works with various mission-driven organizations, overseeing educational programs focused on body liberation and personal empowerment. Her commitment to combating the effects of Psychological Manipulation is evident in her work, which integrates education, mental health advocacy, and creative expression. Currently based in Brooklyn, she is dedicated to furthering Antidote’s mission through her diverse skill set and passion for social justice.

Paula I. Fujiwara, MD, MPH
Scientific Advisor
Former Scientific Director, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France
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Paula I. Fujiwara, MD, MPH, has been a leader in public health research and clinical management for over 30 years. In addition to her work with Antidote.ngo, she serves as the Scientific Advisor for the Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development, which liases with mayors of over 100 cities in South East Asia on anti-tobacco initiatives and One Health. She has worked as an independent consultant with organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development, the Stop TB Partnership, and the World Organisation for Animal Health.
From 1992-2000, while serving as a medical officer of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fujiwara first was assigned to New York City’s Bureau of TB Control, during which time, as an Assistant Commissioner of Health, she led efforts to reduce cases of TB by more than two-thirds and almost completely eliminated multidrug-resistant TB.
CDC then assigned her to the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), in Paris, France, where for 20 years, she provided strategic visioning and technical knowledge across both operational and clinical research in TB. As Scientific Director (2013-2021), she was responsible for overseeing all technical departments and projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. She has served on technical advisory committees of the World Health Organization, the Global Fund to End AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and was on the Stop TB Partnership Board of Directors Executive Committee. She was the chairperson of Stop TB’s task force to develop the three latest editions of its Global Plan to End TB between 2016 and 2030.
She completed her medical training at the University of California (UC) Davis and UC San Francisco and also holds Master of Public Health and Master of Science degrees from UC Berkeley. She has published widely on the public health aspects of TB and HIV, prevention of tobacco smoking in low-and middle-income countries, and rabies.

Nadia Al-Alawi, PhD
Chair - Board of Directors
Supports individual and team transformation with a background in psychology, leadership coaching, and organizational growth.
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Since 1997, Dr. Nadia Al-Alawi has been working with international humanitarian, development, and government agencies and non-profits, in Africa, Asia, Europe, and USA. Nadia accompanies and guides individuals, teams, and communities in growth and transformation for learning and change. She has overseen projects in many sectors, including community development, women’s rights, and public health. Prior to her career in humanitarian and development work, Nadia conducted biomedical research at hospitals and academic institutions in Canada and USA, contributing to our understanding of cancer, aging, and healing. Nadia’s current work continues to focus on supporting vulnerable populations worldwide.

Julie Kohtz
Treasurer -Board of Directors
Former teacher with firsthand insight into psychological manipulation and its impact on people and families.
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Julie Kohtz has worked in Information technology, as a college instructor, for the past 20 years. She previously worked in the banking and insurance industries. Julie brings her IT knowledge as well as her meticulousness to the role of treasurer of the board. Julie knows firsthand what it is to be a family member of someone in a religious cult. She is Diane Benscoter’s sister. She empathizes with those needing support, from the perspective of its effect on the family. Julie has been an advocate of the goals of Antidote since its inception. She lives with her family in Nebraska.

Lucas Diaz
Secretary - Board of Directors
Business leader with expertise in ERP systems, driving tech-based solutions with Microsoft Dynamics for organizational success.
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Seasoned and experienced business leader specializing in complex global Microsoft Dynamics ERP software solution delivery management and sales through the Microsoft partner ecosystem. Results oriented team player and mentor focused on establishing productive strategies while helping clients navigate the complex intersection between business strategy and growth.
Our History
Founder - Diane Benscoter
Diane Benscoter, the founder of Antidote NGO, is a former cult member, author, and activist who has dedicated her life to understanding and preventing Psychological Manipulation.
Her personal experience of being recruited into a high-control group at a young age, followed by her journey of escape and healing, led her to recognize the psychological patterns that underlie manipulation in various forms.