Just a fair warning to other consumers considering the PSI Basic Seminar - don't do it!
I signed up to attend a PSI Basic Seminar in Denver in October, 2007. I was on crutches at the time of the seminar, but my "friend" had pumped it up so much that I couldn't wait to go, so I hobbled in and sat down, anxiously waiting for a life-changing experience.
Life-changing, it was. After two hours of "rah rah" and "PSI Power" talk, the facilitator told us the rules of the weekend (that's a whole other story). One of the rules is that you have to commit to every single minute of the seminar. The facilitator told us that if we could meet all of the requirements, to stand up. If you couldn't, you were instructed to stay seated. I knew that I would have to leave approximately 45 minutes early one evening to go to work, so I stayed seated as instructed. The facilitator confronted - truly confronted - each person to find out what shortcomings were keeping them from following the rules. When she found out that I was going to miss 45 minutes of the 34+ hours of the course, she literally told me, with her finger in my face and in front of a room full of people that I did not know, that I would not be allowed to stay if I was not 100% committed to the program.
Needless to say, I was stunned and humiliated. I was directed to the corner of the room, where I was told by other PSI personnel that my only option was to come back at a time when I felt that I could commit to to the seminar. I explained my situation - that I couldn't find anyone to work in my place - and they again stated that it didn't matter, that I couldn't stay for the rest of the program. I was promptly and rudely dismissed.
I hobbled out of the seminar on my crutches, in tears. On my way out, another PSI "manager" told me that my reaction to being kicked out was a clear indication that I needed their program!!
I contacted the PSI office the next day to ask for a refund of my tuition fee. They told me that they wouldn't refund anything, even though they clearly asked me to leave the seminar. The only option was to attend at another time.
I tried to explain how humiliated I was by my treatment by the facilitator, but to no avail. My only option was to return to be humiliated again.
A bit later, I heard that PSI actually had a transfer policy for their registrations. I called to find out if I could transfer my registration to someone else. No, they told me, as I had already attended a portion of the class and it was considered "used". I reminded them that they had forced me to leave. Not their problem, they said.
So, I was left with a PSI Basic registration that I had "used" too much to get a refund (by attending two hours then being asked to leave), but not enough to get a refund (since I didn't complete the course).
Six months later, I am still attempting to come to some resolution of this problem. My main issue is that they forced me to leave, yet won't allow a refund unless I complete the course - does anyone else see the paradox here? I have not seen a penny of my registration fee, but after reporting them to the Better Business Bureau I have been given the option by PSI to find someone else to take my registration. How in the world am I supposed to convince someone that spending their hard-earned money on an organization that it truly only interested in the bottom line is a good thing? Am I supposed to overlook the fact that they found it amusing that I left the seminar in tears? I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy the poor treatment, apathy, and manipulation that this organization is capable of.
I'm only glad now that I didn't waste an entire 34 hours of my life on the seminar, although I've spent at least that trying to get my money back.
Beware of their policies: if you're not happy with the program, you're screwed. If you're not sure you want to attend, don't go at all, or you will lose everything, whether you attend for 5 minutes or 5 days. Also beware of their tendencies to use humiliation and manipulation in the name of "bettering yourself". These policies extend to every single interaction you will ever have with the organization. Buyer Beware!!
You learned more than you know! Nearly all of these corporate and TV-advertised types of seminars depend on easily-swayed personalities in order to survive. Anyone who doesn't "stay with the program" messes up the performance. A "one-size-fits-all" program that insists on total conformity and rigidity is best left unattended. Consider your money well spent -- you didn't have to sit through it!
pissedindenver, I read your post with some interest and wondered if you can call a local radio or TV station and complain about PSI and your refund. PSI will hate the publicity and you might get your money back. In fact I would call the PSI office and tell them that you are going to call the TV news investigators and make a complaint; see if that works.
Rita, you are the problem not PSI. Did you sign up and know the hours you need to attend before paying the fee? It is you duty to arrange your schedule to attend. Would you go to Hawaii or any other place and expect to leave 45 minutes early? Do your self a favor and quit playing victim, figure out your schedule, attend PSI and get what you paid for, you need it!
Rita, it was very interesting to read your post about PSI Seminars. This is my response to you. A lot of Thought Reform methods goes on in the first two seminars; the "trainers" play good cop bad cop. The last part is more rigorous Thought Reform + Group Think...if you snap out of it all you going be dealing with some cognitive dissonance to get your mind back. (You might want to look that up). Critical thinking is unacceptable. Grey areas of life are overlooked; everything is simplified to "BLACK" or "RED". (Remember that game?) They sell you the idea that justifications are made by the self righteous, but they make justifications for those who leave saying the person was not willing to own up to their experience, much like you did with your post, or they didn't "Show up" to begin with. When you see a different "possibility" it suggested away as "selling your self short" or "not setting yourself up to win". GRHHHHHHHH!!! Save your time and money (spend it well), see a licensed therapist, get frank and honest feedback from trusted friends, love ones, coworkers, bosses etc...if you feel you need to look at your unconscious behavior!!! (I would strongly suggest you get help Rita. And if you’re going to tout the “greatness” of PSI please learn to spell. I corrected your spelling below. It just leads me to believe that you are uneducated and don’t know any better.
It is so interesting to read what people make up in there (it’s spelled “their”) minds about this wonderful seminar. I suspose (it’s spelled “suppose”) if you are a negative sort of person, looking for a reason to stay in your ***, p.s.i. is definatly (it’s spelled “definitely”) not for you. People are pissed because they have to pay for this experience. No one mentions that there is a money back guarentee (it’s spelled “guarantee”) if you are not happy with the course. You can also reaudit (this word is usually hyphenated “re-audit”) this seminar any time you want to for the rest of your life for free!!!! (how much value do you place on your mind Rita?) I personally have presented this healing work to all my freinds (it’s spelled “friends”) and family (I was surprised you got this one right). I am here to say that doing this work has increased the greatness in my life exponetially (it’s spelled “exponentially”). I am forever greatful (and this one is spelled “grateful”) for the P.S.I experience, most sincerely, Rita Chance
My advise is to STAY AWAY from the P*ss and Sh*t Institute (PSI) !!!
PSI Seminars charges about $500 for the forum, but they don't care about your measly $500. They want that $500 to become $5,000 or even more by enrolling your parents, siblings, friends, teachers, neighbors, etc, etc. So they meld the alleged "benefits" you derive from the program with the need to "invite" everyone in your life to PSI Seminars. Without doing so, you'll derive no benefits.
Stay away from PSI Seminars. That's the best advice anyone can give about this organization.
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