Patrick Ryan is an American “cult deprogammer” and anti-transgender activist. Ryan has collaborated with anti-trans therapist Lisa Marchiano and is associated with anti-trans hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM).
Background
Patrick Leonard “Pat” Ryan was born in September of 1957. Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree from Maharishi International University in Iowa in 1980. As a teenager, Ryan became deeply involved in the Transcendental Meditation movement. In 2021, Ryan stated:
“I saw Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on a TV show, and got involved with him when I was 17. I spent five years at his university, where we were told things like we could walk through walls to save the world. Since his followers were Nobel Prize winners in physics and governors, we believed these claims. We did 22-hour-long meditations which pushed people to extreme points, many of them even jumping out of windows. Maharishi would also send people into war zones in Iran and Mozambique, often putting them in danger. Over time, I realised that despite everything, I couldn’t in fact levitate or walk through walls. So, I sued him for fraud and negligence.”
After leaving, Ryan led TM-EX, an organization of ex-members of Transcendental Meditation. In 1983, Ryan founded Patrick Ryan Consulting, which focuses on cult mediation, intervention, and recovery. In 1987, Ryan filed a personal injury lawsuit against Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia. In 1996, Ryan co-authored the Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants.
In 2005, Cult News reported that Ryan lost a lawsuit brought by a former client, reportedly “the first time a judgment has been awarded to the paying client of a cult intervention professional.” Later that year, Cult News reported that Ryan lost an appeal.
From 1990 to 2014, Ryan was an IT specialist for the International Cultic Studies Association, founded in 1979 as the American Family Foundation (AFF) and renamed in 2002.
According to the SEGM 2024 conference bio:
“Graduate of Maharishi International University. Since 1984, Patrick has been a cult intervention specialist (exit counseling, mediation, religious conflict resolution), helping people with destructive groups, cults, mind control, brainwashing, parental alienation, estrangements, abusive relationships, gurus, multi-level marketing, violent extremism, and other forms of undue influence. He established the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) online resource (1995-2013), was the editor of AFF News, a news publication for former cult members (1995-1998), has contributed to the Cult Observer, ICSA’s book, Recovery From Cults, is co-author of “Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants,” Cultic Studies Journal, Volume 13, No.1, 1996, co-editor of News for ICSA Today and has presented 50 programs about hypnosis, inner-experience, tranceinduction techniques, communicating with cult members, conversion, cult intervention, exit counseling, intervention assessment, mediation, religious conflict resolution, thought reform consultation, eastern groups, transcendental meditation and workshops for educators, families, former members and mental health professionals at universities in the US, Europe, China, and Australia. Mr. Ryan received the International Cultic Studies Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2011).
Anti-trans activism
In 2020, Ryan and Lisa Marchiano discussed strategies for reducing family conflict regarding a family member’s interest in making a gender transition. They also discussed how some people who make additional gender changes sometimes feel ostracized by the trans community. Ryan shared several strategies for family members who want to stay connected to their transitioning relative, even if they do not accept their transition.
Ryan spoke at the 2024 conference held by anti-trans hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine. Ryan spoke twice:
- “Promoting dialogue, empathy, and resilience in the face of rigid ideologies”
- “Navigating conflicting worldwiews: dialogue and Q&A” with Patrick Ryan and Samuel Veissière, moderated by Sarah Mittermaier
In January 2026, Ryan appeared in the podcast series Atonement: The John Paulk Story.
References
Joshi, Shamani (March 30, 2021). These Former Cult Members Now Help Others Escape. VICE https://www.vice.com/en/article/former-cult-members-help-escape-exit-counsellor-intervention-conspiracy-theories/
Staff report (November 29, 2005). “Cult deprogrammer” Patrick L. Ryan loses in court again. Cult News https://cultnews.com/2005/11/cult-deprogrammer-patrick-l-ryan-loses-in-court-again/
Staff report (April 5, 2005). “Cult deprogrammer” loses court battle—judgment awarded to former client. Cult News https://cultnews.com/2005/04/cult-deprogrammer-loses-court-battle-judgment-awarded-to-former-client/
Staff report (October 12, 2004). “Judge Judy” interested in lawsuit filed against “thought reform consultant.” Cult News https://cultnews.com/2004/10/judge-judy-interested-in-lawsuit-filed-against-thought-reform-consultant/
Philadelphia Municipal Court First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (Claim number SC-04-09-23-6469)
District Court, District of Columbia (1987). RYAN v. YOGI (1:87-cv-00016). https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/9109657/ryan-v-yogi/
Anti-trans coverage
Stone, Cassandra (May 27, 2026). The Unfinished Atonement – Part Two. LGB Courage Coalition https://lgbcouragecoalition.substack.com/p/the-unfinished-atonement-part-two
Stone, Cassandra (May 26, 2026). The Unfinished Atonement – Part One. LGB Courage Coalition https://lgbcouragecoalition.substack.com/p/the-unfinished-atonement-part-one
Selected writing by Ryan
Giambalvo, Carol; Kelly, Joseph; Ryan, Patrick; Tobias, Madeleine Landau (1996). Ethical Standards for Thought Reform Consultants. Cultic Studies Journal, Volume 13, Number 1, pp. 58ff. https://library.internationalculticstudies.org/24n77ad/58
Media
iHeart (January 6, 2026). Atonement: The John Paulk Story. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-atonement-the-john-paulk-315724613/
The StoicMom Project with “StoicMom” and Patrick Ryan (February 9, 2023). “Prisons of Specialness” with Cult Mediation Specialist, Patrick Ryan. https://stoicmom.substack.com/p/prisons-of-specialness-with-cult#details
Lisa Marchiano with Patrick Ryan (April 27, 2020). zoom_0.mp4 https://vimeo.com/412385533/caf325cbe3
Resources
Cult Mediation (cultmediation.com)
- About us: Patrick Ryan
- cultmediation.com/about
Cult News 101 (cultnews101.com)
Intervention 101 (intervention101.com)
Cult Recovery 101 (cultrecovery101.com)
International Cultic Studies Association (icsahome.com)
- Patrick Ryan
- https://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_profile/ryan_patrick.asp [archive]
International Cultic Studies Association (internationalculticstudies.org)
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
Facebook (facebook.com)
X/Twitter (cultnews101)
note: there is also an American writer, voice actor, and programmer named Patrick Ryan who appeared on anti-trans podcast Calmversations and posts as TyrantsMuse on X and on CultState.