Patrick J. Knapp, PhD. initial interest in cult recovery stems from his own involvement in a harmful bible-based group (1970-1984). His recovery resulted from individual and marriage counseling, in addition to several years of work in and facilitating support groups for former members and their loved ones. His Denver Seminary philosophy of religion M.A. thesis was titled: The Place of Mind-Control in the Cult Recovery Process (2000). While at Gordon Conwell Seminary (2010-2013), his doctoral studies focused on professional marriage and family counseling with addiction recovery internships at Denver VA Medical Center and CeDAR, Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation, Aurora, Colorado along a professional counseling internship at Southwest Counseling Associates, Littleton, Colorado. He completed his doctorate at Graduate Theological Foundation (Pastoral Psychology, 2019). His doctoral thesis highlighted six essential principles founded in a new recovery model (SECURE). He previously published chapter 13, An Independent Faith-Based Approach to Support and Recovery Groups for Those Affected by Harmful Religious Environments, in Cult Recovery: A clinician's guide to working with former members and families (2017).

He and his spouse (Heidi) have for many years co-directed Becoming Free LLC (www.BecomingFree.org) that offered support and recovery groups for those affected by religious abuse. They now provide both online and in-person life-recovery coaching and education for those affected by religious or spiritual abuse. Pat and Heidi currently reside in Colorado.