Petra Velzeboer learned from a young age that suppressing her thoughts and feelings was the way to survive. Born into the infamous Children Of God cult (the same one that counted a young Joaquin Phoenix and Rose McGowan among its members) she tried her best to keep her head down and follow the crowd – until the disconnect between her internal and external lives sent her into a spiral of addiction and poor mental health. 

Today, she’s a psychotherapist and advocate who is passionate about the role authenticity and freedom of expression play in our wellbeing, and the subtle threads that link the toxic environment she grew up in with the often oppressive culture of modern workplaces. Here, tells Stylist what she’s learned about the dangers of groupthink and the importance of showing up as your authentic self.