Landmark Forum (post-2020 trajectory)
Cross-reference entry — see primary Landmark Forum / EST entry. Tracks 2020s shift to online-cohort delivery.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
0 — duplicate slug guard; primary entry already covered in core. This tracks 2020s online-cohort modifications.
Profile facts
In context
After 2020 COVID restrictions, Landmark Education shifted significant Forum delivery to online cohort format. The recruitment pressure to bring guests persists in modified form. See primary entry at /groups/landmark-forum-est for full data.
Key control doctrines
- See primary entry
Recovery resources
- ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) — General referral and cult-aware therapist directory; substantial LGAT archive covering Landmark / EST / Forum.
- A Little Bit Culty (podcast and community) — Ex-coaching-cult survivor community; covers LGAT-style programmes including Landmark.
- Reclamation Collective — Coercive-control-aware therapist network.
- Religious Trauma Institute — Religious-trauma clinical research; covers secular-spirituality LGAT contexts.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center — Steven Hassan's organisation; BITE-model resources.
See the full curated list at /resources.
Evidence by BITE axis
- Three-day Forum often described as emotionally manipulative
- Strong pressure on graduates to bring 'guests'
- Multiple sequential paid courses
- See primary entry
- primary entry already covered in core
- This tracks 2020s online-cohort modifications
Timeline
- 2020Online Forum delivery launched during COVID
- 2024Mixed online and in-person delivery normalised
Evidence matrix
Structured sources cross-linked to the claims they document. Tiered per the source hierarchy. For free-text citations see the Sources section below.
| Title | Type | Reliability | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Māori climate activist breaking legal barriers to bring corporate giants to court | Journalism | Secondary | — |
| Cambridge UP 2022 · archive | Academic | Secondary | — |
| One of NZ's most contentious climate cases is moving forward. And the world is watching · archive | Journalism | Secondary | — |
| NZ wants to end climate lawsuits. How does that sit with its international commitments? · archive | Journalism | Secondary | — |
| Ombudsman upholds OIA complaint against Prime Minister's Office · archive | Journalism | Secondary | — |
Sources
- See primary entry search ↗
- The Māori climate activist breaking legal barriers to bring corporate giants to court — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/06/mike-smith-maori-climate-activist-right-to-sue-companies open ↗
- Cambridge UP 2022 — https://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/law/corporate-law/principles-enterprise-law-economic-constitution-and-human-rights?format=PB open ↗
- One of NZ's most contentious climate cases is moving forward. And the world is watching — https://theconversation.com/one-of-nzs-most-contentious-climate-cases-is-moving-forward-and-the-world-is-watching-223177 open ↗
- NZ wants to end climate lawsuits. How does that sit with its international commitments? — https://theconversation.com/nz-wants-to-end-climate-lawsuits-how-does-that-sit-with-its-international-commitments-285348 open ↗
- Ombudsman upholds OIA complaint against Prime Minister's Office — https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/361000449/ombudsman-upholds-oia-complaint-against-prime-ministers-office open ↗
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Where a source includes its own URL, the open ↗ link opens it directly; otherwise search ↗runs a Google Scholar query for the cited title — useful for verifying academic sources. For news outlets, search the outlet's own archive.
Change history
Substantive edits logged per the score-updates policy.
- 2026-05-20Score band scheme migrated from 4 bands to 5 (Minimal 0–5 / Low 6–12 / Moderate 13–20 / High 21–30 / Extreme 31–40). No CLCI value changed; the new Minimal band was carved out of the bottom of the previous Low band.
Key terms in this profile
Relevant hubs
Curated entry points on CLCI Hub for situations connected to this group.
You may also want to explore
Frequently asked questions
Q.Is Landmark Forum a cult?
CLCI Hub deliberately avoids the binary label "cult." Instead it places groups on a transparent 0–40 spectrum of documented control using Steven Hassan's BITE model (Behaviour, Information, Thought, Emotional). Landmark Forum scores 19 out of 40 — "Moderate Control", at medium confidence. The score describes documented control patterns, not a judgement of members' sincerity or beliefs; many members do not personally experience the patterns listed.
Q.What is Landmark Forum's CLCI score?
Landmark Forum scores 19 out of 40 on the Cult-Like Control Index, which falls in the "Moderate" band. That total is the sum of four BITE axes — Behaviour 5, Information 4, Thought 5, Emotional 5 — plus a signed modifier of +0 for aggravating or mitigating factors.
Q.Why does Landmark Forum score 19 on the CLCI?
The score reflects publicly documented patterns including: Three-day Forum often described as emotionally manipulative; Strong pressure on graduates to bring 'guests'; Multiple sequential paid courses. These map onto the BITE axes of behaviour, information, thought, and emotional control, and a signed modifier of +0 is applied for factors such as financial demands, leadership accountability, and exit costs. Every claim is backed by the citations in the Sources section on this page.
Q.How reliable is the Landmark Forum rating?
This profile is rated Medium confidence. Medium confidence means the score rests on reputable journalism plus consistent ex-member testimony. CLCI scores are not fixed — they are revised whenever new public evidence appears, and groups that reform can score lower over time.
Q.Where can I get help regarding Landmark Forum?
If you or someone you care about is affected by Landmark Forum, start with the Recovery resources listed on this page. General cult-aware support is available from the International Cultic Studies Association (icsahome.com) and the Freedom of Mind Resource Center (freedomofmind.com). CLCI Hub is an educational resource, not a crisis service — if anyone is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services.
Found something wrong on this profile?
We accept correction requests from anyone — current and former members, researchers, journalists, family members, and the listed organisation. Submissions are reviewed by an editor; we do not auto-publish.