Though these groups are not "cults" they are controlling. It truly is like trying to talk to a wall. I understand though. I had to do my own heavy lifting, prayer, and reasoning with myself before I had the courage to walk away. Anything from the outside that challenges what the group believes or does is automatically circumspect.
I find this can be true w/ almost any group. Humans can tend to be intolerant to ways of seeing things that differ from their own, and I don't think in this modern age that has changed as much as other may think. Perhaps it is natural, humans build their common rhetoric and ways of thinking so they can accomplish a common goal, even if that common goal is just perpetuating a power-hungry new age lineage full of illusion.
I once studied w/ some very manipulative teachers who represent very respected lineages in China. Luckily, I got away from them before they managed to brainwash me (as if I'm even brainwashable, lol), but they were sure tricky with their clever responses to any criticisms. When you try to point out that they are being arrogant, egotistic, manipulative, and just putting on the big fake charitable, humble monk facade, they come back at you with stuff like "you have a chi blockage and this anger you have towards me is really just the blockage coming out. Just lay down because you aren't thinking well". Or they say, you are unhappy because of you 'karmic past'. And ofcourse the way they want to heal the 'problem', is try to get you to have sex w/ them in some ancient way, or something else manipulative and for personal gain.
I couldn't deal with that kinda BS, I called my parents at a certain point and they told me to leave the place, so I left, and I still simply refuse to listen to any teachers who can't be humble in the least, or who think they got all the answers to the Universe. Masters, shamans, gurus, coven-leaders, so much arrogance and silliness among so many of them I have talked to, that I'd say it's a good idea to be skeptical of anything anyone says. I don't care if they are a traditional lineage, or a new age one, people are so damn full of vanity, ego, and arrogance, that you always gotta be on your guard when people start claiming they represent any kind of wisdom or sacred teachings. I've even been warned by NDN's of certain elders that I shouldn't talk to, because certain people have reputation of using their culture/ancestry to try to get sex, money, or just brainwashed, devoted followers who will eat up any garbage they say.
So, its always good to be skeptical. The 'teachers' will have a clever answer for everything, but if people learn to think for themselves at all times and do what they know is right, they can't be harmed by shady teachers.
