Our Story
Why Seek Safely Exists
In 2009, we lost someone extraordinary. Kirby Brown was full of life—vibrant, adventurous, and deeply committed to her personal growth. She surfed ocean waves, danced until sunrise, ran a successful painting business in Mexico, and brought her infectious energy to every space she entered. But more than anything, Kirby wanted to grow. She sought to learn, evolve, and live fully.
That drive led her to a retreat in Sedona, Arizona, led by self-help “guru” James Arthur Ray. It promised transformation. Instead, it took her life.
On October 8, 2009, Kirby, along with James Shore and Liz Neuman, died during a so-called “sweat lodge” ceremony—the final event of a retreat called “Spiritual Warrior.” Twenty others were hospitalized. Families shattered. Lives forever changed.
This wasn’t an accident. It was negligence.
Ray had no qualifications to conduct such a physically and psychologically demanding event. He lied about his credentials, pushed participants to ignore their instincts, and created conditions that left them physically and mentally vulnerable—limiting food, water, bathroom access, and sleep. When participants showed signs of medical distress, he dismissed them as signs of “breakthrough.” Kirby and two others died. Ray served just 20 months in prison for three lives lost.
Read the book
This powerful memoir tells the story of Kirby Brown, a passionate seeker who died alongside two others in a sweat lodge at a self-help retreat in 2009, led by criminally negligent guru James Arthur Ray—a bestselling motivational speaker featured in "The Secret" and on Oprah.
Written by Kirby's mother Ginny and sister Jean Brown, the book chronicles their journey from learning of Kirby's tragic death through their grief
and the subsequent trial of Ray, ultimately leading them to found SEEK Safely Inc. to protect other seekers pursuing self-improvement.
The authors offer an unflinching look at their "private hell" while demonstrating how they have chosen to honor Kirby's memory by continuing to live with the same passion and love that defined her life, creating a story of resilience and evolution after unimaginable trauma.
“You are about to take a journey that will spark your heart and soul, and most likely leave you speechless. After reading 2200 nonfiction books and working behind the scenes in the personal development industry for twenty-five years for Tony Robbins, Ginny & Jean Brown's, This Sweet Life is far beyond a must read.”
~ Gary King, author of The Happiness Formula
The Movement
Join us in making self-help safe. SEEK Safely champions accountability, transparency, and safety within the self-help and wellness industries. We believe in personal growth, but only when it is pursued safely, ethically, with qualified guidance, and genuine accountability.
Together with our collaborators, we expose the dangers of an unregulated self-help industry and strive to protect individuals from harm. We achieve this through educating both consumers and practitioners, as well as advocating for legislative reform. By safeguarding consumers, revealing unsafe practices, educating professionals, and promoting genuine change in this multi-billion-dollar industry, we are working to elevate its standards.
Unlike licensed professionals, self-help leaders operate without oversight, training standards, or consequences—until tragedy occurs.
The Mission
We are dedicated to making the SEEK Safely Movement a powerful force for consumer demand, a distinct advantage for practitioners, and a common-sense framework for regulation.
Our goal is to empower individuals with the knowledge to make informed decisions and to implement systemic changes that guarantee safety and accountability at every level.
Join the Movement
This is more than just a mission; it's a movement for truth, for safety, for Kirby, and for all seekers who deserve better. Join us in making self-help safe.
Our Team
Meet the Seek Safely Board of directors
Virginia “Ginny” Brown, LCSW
Virginia is a wife, mother of four, and therapist whose work is grounded in a deep commitment to healthy families and ethical support. Her personal and professional experiences have shaped her advocacy for safe, transparent practices in the self-help and wellness industries.
She holds a Master of Social Work (1993) and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York. She is certified as a CASAC (2009) and trained in NLP, Reiki, Havening Techniques®, and therapeutic hypnosis. She currently teaches with Driven Professionals and offers workshops on anger management, self-empowerment, and navigating the self-help world