In doing some research a few years back, I came across the use of "breaking session" as something used to control cult members by leadership. Initially, I dismissed this a something smaller, more extreme cults use - and dismissed it as a technique used by the JW org.
Now I'm not so sure. Here are a few descriptions of the process from http://changingminds.org/techniques/conversion/breaking_sessions.htm
Bombard them with accusations
The basic scenario is to isolate the person and to start accusing them of various transgressions. It may start with small things that is easy for them to admit and then steadily escalate with admonishments of breaking important values and even being fundamentally bad and shameful.
This process may well be done by a number of people. The more people and the higher up in the group they are, the more effective this method becomes. Few people can ignore accusations flying at them from all angles and especially from people they have grown to love and respect.
Can't really find a real strong connection to the way JWs operate here, other than the isolation of the person in the JC. I'm sure some elders have taken info found from others and used it in a type of witch hunt against an alleged sinner. Also the whole setup of the JC with the three against one setup is certainly intimidating.
Keep going until they crack
The point of this session is to push them past a cracking point, similar to when a person has a nervous breakdown and the session may continue well past the point where the person is huddled in a fetal position, rocking back and forth and weeping uncontrollably.
In doing this, the group wears down their sense of identity, in order to effectively destroy their personality and makes them flee from who they are. Thus this method is literally a way of character assassination.
This one also doesn't fit the JC procedure, but there is the definite threat held against the person- DFing. I think the overriding threat of disfellowshipping forces a lot of confessions out of people who would otherwise be very uncomfortable telling three men of their sin. Especially considering probably 80% of JCs are formed because of supposed sexual sins, the person is basically between a rock and a hard place when it comes to dealing with the org.
Remake them
When the person has cracked, the next step is to approach them with kindness, to show that they are now forgiven and accepted again. They may be hugged and patted. This is done by a senior member of the group. This casts the group back into the kind and loving frame and offers a lifeline to the broken person, who of course grasps at this straw. Very gratefully, they now listen to and accept what this person has to say.
In this way, they are now remade in the shape of a conforming member of the group who is totally obedient to senior group members.
Here is where I feel the JW org really does fit into the mold of following a "breaking session" especially if they are DFd. If they are DFd they have to crawl back on their stomach for at least six months, usually a year or longer, being totally shunned. When reinstated, they sometimes become "Super JWs" putting in tons of service time and kissing ass to get back in good graces.
While few JCs probably reach the point of being a full fledged "breaking session" as described above, the format and punishment of the disciplinary hearing still has the same goal - Control the Member.