- Captured Life Coach Accused of Kidnapping and Sexual Assault.
Judge Michael Haas spoken about the "serious harm" inflicted on the victims: brain bleeds, large bruises, and knocked-out teeth. A self-proclaimed guide for personal growth was found guilty by the Mosbach Regional Court for abusing and attacking eight individuals, including a man, at his house in Walldürn, Baden-Württemberg, from 2019 to 2022. The 38-year-old German was given a sentence of eleven years and six months in prison for kidnapping, causing bodily harm, and sexual assault. However, he was not held accountable for his most extreme acts due to his dependency on drugs caused by severe substance abuse. The verdict is still pending.
In the judge's view, the defendant offered online sessions and "self-improvement sessions" as a "guide for personal growth" at his house. "He had no education for it, but managed to be quite successful," said the judge. The defendant had a misogynistic viewpoint and a manipulative personality, with the belief that "the man leads, and the woman does as she is told."
Beginning in 2019, the German used his personal growth coaching in Walldürn to target women intentionally. He supposedly agreed with his wife to have other women besides her, and a few women moved in with him, living together like a commune. He demanded and received sexual favors in exchange for coaching.
The defendant grew more aggressive over time, starting to consume drugs in 2020, initially marijuana, then LSD and cocaine. His 25-year-old brother allegedly supported him in his crimes and also sexually assaulted women himself. He was given a three-year sentence for aiding and abetting kidnapping and sexual assault.
In October 2022, a victim managed to make an emergency call. That night, the authorities conducted a search at the house and arrested the defendants. The primary defendant was temporarily placed in a mental health facility but has been in custody since May 2023.
In Germany, "coach" is not a protected title. The inter-ministerial working group on cults and personal growth groups at the Ministry of Culture in Stuttgart notes that there is no exam or professional qualification for coaches. Anyone can call themselves a coach. "The success of a coach also depends on their personality and appearance," says Mirijam Wiedemann from the working group. "Especially since the pandemic, we have seen a high demand in the field of personal or life coaching. People are searching for support and guidance to lead a successful, happy life through coaching offers."
Professional coaching usually occurs on an equal footing, but suspicious personal growth coaches frequently establish a "master-student" relationship, creating universal claims and dependency relationships that can also lead to isolation from one's previous social circle.
Alexander Brungs, a member of the German Coaching Association's board, writes in an article for the business magazine "Business Punk" that out of the current over 50,000 coaches in Germany, only about a quarter have a recognized qualification. "The rest are usually frauds," it says. To protect themselves as clients, Brungs recommends looking for a coach's membership in a professional association. This ensures "a certain level of competence."
The man, originating from Hessen, conducted his coaching sessions in Walldürn, Baden-Württemberg, promoting himself as a guide for personal growth, despite lacking formal education in the field.
The inter-ministerial working group on cults and personal growth groups in Hessen, specifically at the Ministry of Culture in Stuttgart, emphasizes that there are no mandatory exams or qualifications to become a coach in Germany.
