Preserving Family Ties Media has the mission to provide research, news, education, consulting and training, and multimedia publishing opportunities for parents and family professionals to improve child outcomes when families are in transition.
Preserving Family Ties (PFT) is named for founder, Dr. Mark D. Roseman’s research-based book, Preserving Family Ties, An Authoritative Guide to Understanding Divorce and Child Custody, for Parents and Family Professionals. His approach has been to incorporate the latest understanding of dynamics, feelings and behaviors when parents separate and how best to co-parent when separation and divorce ensues. Cultural context and court reform in historical context further distinguishes Roseman’s text.
needs in order to foster universal understandings and interventions.
Additionally, PFT is the parent company for Mark David Roseman & Associates (MDR), a service enterprise the traumatic loss of children through their estrangement and alienating behaviors. MDR’s facilitators serve as consultants for individual coaching, and also assistance to companies’ human resources challenges with managing Visit MDR online at www.Markdavidroseman.com for more details!
We want to hear from you! Email Mark.roseman@preservingfamilyties.com!
INSIDE this ISSUE
Including News and Announcements from Denmark, Ukraine and the USA When Advocacy Fails the Child: Institutional Complicity and the Ethical Crisis in Swiss Parental Alienation Cases by Rony Golczewski
From the Publisher
A Springboard for Thriving Families
Dear Readers,
It is with immense pride and a deep sense of purpose that I introduce the new Spring/Summer issue of Contemporary Family Quarterly. This special annual double issue brings you an especially powerful narratives from around the globe. It truly signifies the content we strive each quarter to provide you, family professionals, researchers, policy makers and parents.
As you delve into these pages, you'll find a rich tapestry of insights, research, and practical guidance designed to empower families navigating the complexities of modern life. From innovative co-parenting strategies to fostering resilience in children, this issue is, as always, dedicated to our mission of bridging the gap between professional understanding and real-world family challenges.
This season holds a special significance for us, as we also celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Toby Center. For a decade and a half, The Toby Center has been a beacon of hope and support, providing vital services—from supervised visitation to family mediation—that reduce conflict and improve outcomes for countless children and families experiencing separation and divorce. Their unwavering commitment to ensuring children maintain healthy relationships with both parents, and their holistic approach to family transitions,
resonates deeply with the core values of Contemporary Family Quarterly.
The work of The Toby Center, like the content within this issue, embodies the belief that even in the face of change, families can not only endure but thrive. Their 15 years of dedicated service are a testament to the power of thoughtful intervention and compassionate support, mirroring our own commitment to providing evidence-based information that fosters stronger, more connected families.
In this issue, you will find particularly meaningful content, including:
"When Advocacy Fails the Child: Institutional Complicity and the Ethical Crisis in Swiss Parental Alienation Cases" by Rony Golczewski, MSc Candidate in Parental Alienation Studies. This powerful piece sheds light on the critical need for integrity within institutions entrusted with protecting children's rights.
As someone whose own family has origins in Ukraine, a nation currently facing the profound tragedy of child abduction and psychological manipulation, the themes of institutional responsibility and the fight for a child's well-being resonate deeply with me. The article by Daria Shulzhenko, "As Russia trains abducted children for war, Ukraine fights uphill battle to bring them home," further highlights the egregious violations of children's rights on an inter-
national scale, detailing how over 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported and subjected to intense propaganda aimed at erasing their Ukrainian identity.
"Strengthening the Child’s Right to Both Parents: Denmark’s Landmark 2025 Legislation on Parental Alienation and Co-Parenting Obstruction" by Jesper Lohse, National Chairman, The Danish Father’s Association. This article explores Denmark's progressive new legal framework, which formally recognizes parental alienation and emphasizes a child's right to both parents.
An insightful interview with Kevin Scott, an adult alienated child, who shares his deeply personal journey of parental alienation and his path to healing and reunification with his father. His story underscores the profound impact of alienation and the possibility of recovery.
"Addressing the Spiritual While Neglecting the Mental: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach to Holistic Well-Being" by Rev. Harvey Drummond. This article explores the vital integration of spiritual and mental health for overall well-being.
"Government Created Challenges to Black Families" by Don Hubin, Chair of National Parents Organization. This important work examines the historical and ongoing impact of government policies on the stability of Black families in America.
We believe these articles, along with the many others within this issue, offer invaluable news, information, and research for family professionals, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to better serve families in need.
As we look to the future, both Contemporary Family Quarterly and The Toby Center remain steadfast in our shared goal: to illuminate pathways for families to achieve greater understanding, collaboration, and ultimately, enduring well-being. We invite you to explore this issue, reflect on the inspiring journey of The Toby Center, and join us in championing the health and resilience of contemporary families everywhere.
Become a part of our continuing growth by joining the Contemporary Family Quarterly Advisory Board, and sharing the value of our platform for experienced and new researchers in family science globally!
Visit www.contemporaryfamilymagazine. com to learn more! Or email me at mark. roseman@contemporaryfamily.org!
Sincerely,
Dr. Mark D. Roseman Publisher and Founder
‘Dr. Mark’ is an author, international speaker and child custody expert personality and parental alienation.
Washington, DC with the Children’s Rights Council serving with its founder, David L. Levy, Esq. Dr. Roseman is Founder/CEO of The Toby Center for Family Transitions, a leading child visitation and child
Florida. He is founding Publisher of Contemporary Family Quarterly,
Media, LLC, an educational consultant and publisher on family and social issues which he founded in 2020.
Introducing New Editorial Advisory Board Member - Lena Hellblom Sjögren
At Dr. Roseman’s invitation to join the Contemporary Family Journal Advisory Board, I answered yes to participate for the following simple reason. I wanted to!
On several grounds, among them, that I feel that I am morally obliged - after my 34 years to investigate such cases -to keep "screaming” that lots and lots of children are severely harmed when being moderately or severely alienated.
It is not (normally) acknowledged what has been known for at least 100 years, that suggestible questions work (brainwashing) and that our human memory is unreliable. Why do not the courts - at least most of them in Sweden - make their decisions based on serious science and long known empirical facts?
To send you material from the Nordic and European countries to be published in the Family Journal Quarterly might hopefully help, in the struggle for the goal that no child should be subjected to alienating behaviors from one parent to reject the other.
Warm summer regards, Lena
Lena Hellblom Sjögren, PhD, is the mother of 4 children, a grandmother of 5 and the oldest of 8 siblings. For more than 25 years, Dr. Sjögren’s focus has been on parental alienation and to try to put attention to the fact that many children and families – also grandparents and other family members - are harmed for life through this phenomenon
contact: lenahellblomsjogren@gmail.com
Helplines All Around the World
AUSTRALIA
A national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Lifeline 13 11 14 If life is in danger call 000 National family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732.
UK
The freephone, 24-hour - National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
USA
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. Call 988 or 1-800-273-8255
24/7/365. 1-800-799-7233. Chat at http://thehotline.org | Text “START” to 88788
Other international helplines can be found via https://www.befrienders.org/our-members.
INTERNATI NAL NEWS BRIEFS
USA: ‘Ambiguous Loss’ — A Team of Researchers is Learning From Indigenous Women Whose Children Were Adopted
by Nancy Marie Spears
Hoping to offer a rare in-depth look into how placing children for adoption impacts the lives of Indigenous birth mothers, a group of researchers is continuing efforts to document the experiences of American Indian and Alaska Native women.
Their study, believed to be the first of its kind, focuses on mental health and grief. The research is being carried out in stages and has already surfaced several themes, including “ambiguous loss” — “a stressful and traumatizing’’ event that occurs when there is “no verification, closure, rituals for support, or resolution.’’
A small sample of Indigenous birth mothers informed the study’s initial findings, originally published in a 2022 peer-reviewed article in the Family Process journal. Now, researchers intend to expand their work by surveying a larger number of Indigenous mothers and further examining the roles of culture and history. Participants are being recruited online, and through word of mouth and flyers being
distributed throughout rural and urban Indigenous communities.
Understanding the systemic challenges that lead to Indigenous women’s children being placed for adoption might ultimately help inform future child welfare and adoption practices, said Sicangu Lakota elder Sandy White Hawk, lead investigator. Such insights might also lead to a better under-
standing of the specific support Native birth mothers need during and after an adoption, researchers said.
“It is my hope that it will motivate policy change on child removal — that child welfare will begin to focus on family healing rather than child removal,” White Hawk said.
Read more at: https://bit.ly/4eDCxzz
USA: New York Appeals Court Halts CPS Supervision of Parents Whose Partners Have Been Abusive
by Susanti Sarkar
In a far-reaching decision, a state appellate court has ordered a stop to New York City’s child welfare agency practices that subject domestic violence victims to caseworker supervision when the only accusation against them is that they have an abusive partner.
The Wednesday ruling by a four-judge panel of the State Supreme Court’s appellate division in Brooklyn will impact rulings in family court statewide, according to legal experts.
National and local advocates hailed the landmark decision that challenged the actions of the city’s Administration for Children’s Services. The Family Justice Law Center stated: “This illegal practice ends today.”
DENMARK: Denmark Launches EU PresidencyFocus on Shared Parenting and Positive Father Involvement
On July 1st, Denmark assumed the EU Presidency. This is a unique opportunity to place a strong focus on shared parenting and positive involvement of fathers across Europe.
Denmark shall actively secure the implementation of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 2079 (2015) on "Equality and shared parenting: The role of fathers", which was unanimously adopted by the member states as a recommendation. Implementing this resolution will be highly beneficial to children, families, and society at large.
The world’s first equality catalogue for children and fathers has been developed in Denmark. This ground-breaking works sets a strong example that can inspire other countries to move towards a more balanced and modern family legislation,
where both mothers and fathers are equally important in children’s lives.
Quote:
"It is time for Europe to modernize family law and practice. Both mothers and fathers must have equal opportunities to be present and active in their children's lives. This is not only crucial for the well-being of the children themselves but also for building a sustainable and equal society," says Jesper Lohse, Nordic Father & MBA
Facts
The Council of Europe’s Resolution 2079 (2015) recommends that member states secure shared parenting, promote the role of fathers, and combat gender-based stereotypes in family law and cases.
The world’s first equality catalogue for children and fathers has been developed in Denmark. The catalogue contains 363 focus points across 12 themes, with an analysis of equality challenges and concrete proposals for the family policies of the future.
Towards the UN Global Goals 2030 the World Parents Organization asked 3500 Nordic fathers about Shared Parenting and Gender Equality. In the Nordic countries, shared parenting is the norm, with a positive impact on children, families and society.
Shared parenting and equal involvement of both parents significantly reduce the risk of mental and physical health issues for children. It strengthens school performance and social relations, reduces public costs related to health and social problems, and increases gender equality in both family life and the labor market.
USA: Professor Jennifer Harman Received a Research Award
Colorado State University Associate Professor Jennifer Harman has received the Ned Holstein Shared Parenting Research Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Parents Organization.
Harman is a faculty member in the Department of Psychology who focuses on interpersonal relationships and health behaviors using social psychological theory. Her research into parental alienation has been published in many scientific journals and books since 2003. She has also given many public presentations on the topic and has served as an expert witness in almost 50 family and criminal court cases across 18 states and in Canada.
The National Parents Organization is a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote shared parenting by educating parents, divorce professionals and legislators and by reforming family courts and laws in every state. The award is named for Ned Holstein – the founder of the organization.
Harman previously received a similar award from the NPO recognizing a paper she published in 2023 in Children and Youth Services Review. That paper took a data analysis approach to determine the accuracy of hypotheses that in court cases where parental alienation is claimed, mothers lose custody of their children to abusive fathers at an “alarming”
rate. Through analysis of 500 trial court cases, these claims were found to be false.
DENMARK: Summons by the Danish State
Human rights cases for children and fathers as well as equal parents are being brought against the Danish state – the case starts on 19 January.
The Father Association has filed a historic human rights case on behalf of children and fathers as well as equal parents against the Danish state.
The case challenges systematic discrimination in relation to family forms, residential and non-custodial parents and especially fathers, in a wide range of specific laws and administrative practices. This means that all children and parents are not equal before the law.
The legislation and practice are considered to be in conflict with the Equality Act and the fundamental human rights of children and parents in society. The Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Social Affairs were summoned in principle on 8 August 2023, and the judicial decisions so far are:
On 4 May 2024, the City Court of Copenhagen referred the case to the Eastern High Court for consideration as the 1st instance with reference to the fundamental nature of the case and its social impact.
On 4 October 2024, the Appeals Permission Board rejected the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Social Affairs' appeal against the District Court's decision to refer the matter to the High Court.
On 11 November 2024, the Eastern High Court then refused to take the case as the 1st instance on its own and sent the case back to the City Court.
On 20 June 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the Eastern High Court's decision and rejected that the case could be treated as a matter of principle in the High Court.
The latest decision is remarkable, as everyone with knowledge of the family law system knows that the discrimination takes place openly and affects Danish children – and fathers on a daily basis. The decision is not really justified, even though the case concerning family law and the family law system should be dealt
with as soon as possible in the courts or changed politically for the benefit of Danish children and parents.
The case will now begin on 19 January 2026 at the Copenhagen City Court, but the plaintiffs are also asking the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to take the case under urgent consideration. The background is:
Reasonable time: The case concerns children's life situation and parents' legal security. A slow treatment has had and will continue to have irreversible consequences for the children.
Urgency: Decisions on residence and access have a direct impact on the everyday lives, relationships and fundamental human rights of children and parents.
Lack of legal certainty: It is assessed that it cannot be expected that the Danish authorities will make a different decision within a reasonable time, which is why
the case should be heard by the European Court of Human Rights immediately.
In connection with the case, the Far Association is constantly reaching out to the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Social Affairs with a call for a positive dialogue about a Danish family legislation that is equal for everyone – with a focus on prevention, equality and high quality – so that all children and parents experience the same rights as a starting point and experience the best possible protection.
The Father Association recommends that Danish politicians in the Danish Parliament make the necessary political decisions that will enable the human rights case to be stopped both in Strasbourg and at the City Court and the conditions for children and all parents can be put in order.
In Denmark, everyone must be equal before the law.
PHOTO BY PIXABAY
USA: Adult Alienated Child Kevin Scott Shares Powerful Story of Discovery and Healing in PAS Intervention Webinar
PAS Intervention hosted a compelling webinar last Tuesday featuring Kevin Scott, an adult child who remained unaware he was a victim of parental alienation until receiving a formal diagnosis later in life. Scott's candid presentation shed light on the lasting effects of childhood alienation and the complex process of recognizing and addressing these experiences in adulthood.
During the session, Scott shared his personal journey of discovery, describing both the emotional landscape he navigated during the alienation period and the profound realizations that emerged as he began to understand what had happened to him. His testimony provided valuable insights into the often-overlooked perspective of adult children who lived through parental alienation without recognizing it at the time.
"Stories like Kevin's are critically important," said [PAS Intervention spokesperson]. "Many adult children never recognize that they have been victims of alienation, and even when they do begin to realize it, they often don't know how to handle that situation."
Scott's presentation highlighted the unique challenges faced by adults who discover their childhood experiences were shaped by parental alienation. His story underscores the importance of awareness and education about the long-term impacts of alienation, as well as the need for resources and support for adult survivors.
The webinar addressed how unrecognized parental alienation can continue to affect relationships, self-perception, and emotion-
al well-being well into adulthood. Scott's willingness to share his experience publicly provides hope and validation for other adult children who may be grappling with similar realizations about their own past.
PAS Intervention continues to advocate for increased awareness of parental alienation and its effects on families. The organization provides resources and support for parents, children, and families affected by alienation.
Psychological Abuse Support and Intervention (PASI) is dedicated to empowering parents and professionals who work with this demographic, especially in recognizing the emotional and relational challenges they face. Our mission aligns with the United States Constitution on parental rights and the United Nations’ commitment to children worldwide, promoting independence, purpose, and well-being among families, parents, and children. PASI collaborates with over 60 other organizations through the PA Consortium and various other stakeholders.
PAS Intervention provides articles, educational programs, one-to-one consulting, support groups, and webinars to assist families and train professionals involved in family courts. They believe that all healthy parents must be a beacon of hope for their children and provide the best possible future for their family.
PASI Contact: Joan Kloth-Zanard -Co-Board Member and Founder - (203) 770-0318 - info@pas-intervention.org
Media Contact: Clint Doran - Media Expert and Journalist - (803) 667-7376 - tigdrgn01@gmail.com
Parental Alienation Study Group (PASG) is happy to announce the publication of their new book, Parental Alienation Theory: Official Synopsis. This book is unusual for several reasons.
The “author” of the book is an organization, PASG, not any specific individuals. PASG owns the copyright to the book and will receive royalties when printed copies are sold.
This book is short and readable. An attorney or a judge can read and understand basic principles of PA theory in about two hours. We encourage them all to do so!
The PDF of the book is available for free on the homepage of the PASG website. Go to
www.pasg.info and scroll down a short way to find the link to the PDF. Please download the book and read it. However, do not post the PDF elsewhere on the internet or share it publicly, since anyone who wants a copy can download the master copy on the website.
Printed copies of the Official Synopsis will be available soon, probably in the latter part of July. The book will be sold by the publisher (Charles C Thomas), Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other typical vendors. Every person who attends PASG 2025 this September in Toronto will receive a complimentary copy of the book.
This publication is an exercise in “adversarial collaboration.” That is, we hope that critics of
PA theory will send their comments and suggestions, which we will try to incorporate into future editions. We want this book to become a platform for building a broad consensus regarding PA theory.
We hope the Official Synopsis will be translated into many languages. If you want to make that happen, contact Mr. Michael P. Thomas, President, Charles C Thomas Publisher, Springfield, Illinois, USA. Mr. Thomas may be reached at mthomas@ccthomas.com.
If you have comments, suggestions, or questions regarding this book, contact william.bernet@vumc.org.
uphill battle to bring them home
by Daria Shulzhenko - Kyiv Independent
We wrote about the Ukrainian children abducted by Russia — and Ukraine's uphill battle to bring them home. Daria Shulzhenko's story explains how Russia attempts to erase their Ukrainian identity of these children, as they are placed in Russian families or camps, often undergoing military training, and subjected to intense propaganda.
The Silent Abduction: Russia's War on Ukrainian Children
Since the start of its full-scale invasion, Russia has forcibly deported over 19,500 Ukrainian children, a grave crime that echoes the darkest chapters of history. While abduction is universally condemned, Russia continues this practice, with only 1,300 children safely returned to Ukraine so far.
Once in Russia, these children are placed in Russian families or camps, often subjected to military training and intense propaganda aimed at erasing their Ukrainian identity. Those who have returned report being punished for speaking Ukrainian and told their homeland no longer wants them. Daria Zarivna, director of Bring Kids Back UA, an initiative by President Volodymyr Zelensky, calls this a "calculated strategy" to sever their connection to Ukraine.
The return of these children is a key condition for any future peace agreement with Russia, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for their involvement. However, with limited access and information, Ukraine largely relies on international allies to facilitate their return.
Despite some shifts in U.S. political rhetoric, experts say the U.S. remains committed to the cause. Discussions have taken place in Saudi Arabia and between U.S. and Ukrainian leaders, emphasizing that the humanitarian aspect of child repatriation should not be a bargaining chip for territorial or political concessions. As former Children’s Rights Commissioner Mykola Kuleba asserts, "Children should not be treated as bargaining chips. That goes against humanity."
The true number of abducted children is likely much higher than identified, with Russia claiming to have brought over 700,000 to its territory. Russia has also ceased public reporting on these numbers since the ICC warrants were issued, making tracking even more difficult. Abductions are often disguised as benign activities like "vacations" or "medical treatment," and Moscow deliberately changes chil-
USA: Research Participants Needed for Study Examining Fathers’ Rights
by Dr. Matt Peloquin
Divorced and separated fathers are sought for a current research study focused on the emotional and grief experiences of divorced and separated fathers — especially in cases involving loss of contact, custodial blocking, or parental alienation.
To complete this phase of the study, 170 divorced/separated fathers are needed to complete an anonymous survey: https:// supportfathersrights.org/survey
Please feel free to share this announcement!
dren's names and documents, dispersing them across its vast territory.
A study by the Yale School of Public Health revealed Russia's "systematic, intentional, and widespread" program of forced adoption and Russification, including falsely registering children as born in Russia. Beyond this, abducted children and the 1.6 million living in occupied territories are subjected to military-style re-education programs through organizations like Yunarmiya and the Warrior Center, preparing them for future service in the Russian military. As Kuleba warns, if these children aren't brought back soon, they risk becoming part of Russia's war machine in future conflicts.
The ongoing efforts to return these children highlight a critical humanitarian crisis, with the fate of Ukraine's youngest generation hanging in the balance.
For background on the study’s aims and approach, here’s a short blog post:
Contact: Dr. Matthew Peloquin
PsyD, Researcher, Therapist & Parental Alienation Support Advocate
E-mail: matt@supportfathersrights.org
WhatsApp: +1 310.896.5699
Dr. Alyse Price-Tobler (PhD, MCAP) is a clinical psychotherapist and academic child psychological abuse researcher with 30+ years of experience working in the specialising in the positive and negative therapy experiences of parental alienation) and the methods employed by expert
I am able to continue providing the following services that may be of interest to members:
1. Trial consulting: I can help attorneys in the background to build their cases involving parental alienation, prepare witnesses, and assist with questions for examination of witnesses.
2. Case consults: I am available to consult on specific cases to identify solutions and other professionals who may be able to assist.
3. Forensic coaching: I can help experts prepare for testimony about parental alienation scientific research and handling critics of this work on the witness stand.
4. Training: I am available to provide training for legal, judicial, and mental health providers on parental alienation and family violence.
What to Say to an Alienated Child
by Simon Cobb - People Against Parental Alienation
Adopting a gradual, consistent, and patient approach is one of the most effective methods to reconnect with an estranged child.
Progress through small steps and be prepared to address any issues that may surface during the process.
What you communicate depends on the specific situation, but there are certain universal principles for speaking with an alienated child.
It’s not solely about what you say; listening to your child, respecting their perspectives, and collaborating to rebuild your relationship are also crucial parts of the journey.
In this article, we examine the best strategies for communicating with an alienated child, including what should and shouldn’t be said.
Reconnecting with an Alienated Child
Reconnecting with a child after a period of alienation can be challenging.
The approach should be tailored to the specific circumstances.
However, certain things might be helpful to communicate to a child in this situation.
1. Be honest about the situation in cases of parental alienation.
When the other parent has caused alienation, perhaps through abduction or misuse of the family court system or domestic violence procedures, the situation can be particularly tough.
The alienating parent may have spoken negatively about you, leading the child to believe you are a bad person.
This can result in feelings of anger, resentment, or mistrust from your alienated child.
Address the child's concerns and feelings directly.
Let them know you understand their emotions and are there to support them.
Validate their feelings and reassure them that it is normal to have doubts and concerns after experiencing parental alienation.
Provide accurate information to counter false statements made about you, but do so sensitively.
Children may struggle to accept new information that contradicts what they’ve previously been told.
It may take time for them to adjust to new information.
Be patient and avoid pressuring the child to change their feelings about you too quickly.
Be consistent and persistent in your efforts to reconnect.
Demonstrate through your actions that you are committed to being a positive and loving parent.
2. Express remorse for any mistakes or behaviours on your part. Admitting to any actions or behaviours that may have contributed to the alienation is crucial for rebuilding trust.
It can be difficult to acknowledge mistakes, but taking responsibility can show your child that you are committed to making amends.
When expressing remorse, be specific about what you did wrong and how you plan to make amends.
Avoid making excuses or blaming others.
Focus on your behaviour and feelings about it.
Be sincere and genuine in your apology, and avoid being defensive or dismissive of your child's feelings.
Remember, expressing remorse is not a one-time event.
Regaining trust is an ongoing process.
You need to consistently demonstrate your remorse through actions and behaviour over time.
Be prepared to work on yourself and the relationship with your child, even when it is challenging.
3. Assure the child of your love and desire to be part of their life. Children need to feel loved and valued, and to know their parents want to be involved in their lives.
This can help counter feelings of rejection and abandonment that may have arisen during the alienation period.
When expressing your love and desire to be part of your child's life, be specific and genuine.
Tell them how much they mean to you, how much you miss them, and how much you look forward to spending time with them.
You can also show your love through actions, like sending cards, small gifts, or arranging special time together.
Be realistic about the current state of the relationship.
Manage expectations, as returning to normal immediately might be impossible.
It can take time for the child to trust and open up to you again, especially if the alienation has been prolonged.
Be ready to listen and be patient.
Show that you understand the reconciliation process may take time and that you are willing to be there for the child and work through any issues that arise.
4. Listen to the child and acknowledge their feelings about what happened. Children often have pent-up emotions due to alienation and may need someone to talk to in order to process and understand what has happened.
When listening to your alienated child, give them your full attention and avoid interrupting or dismissing their feelings.
Let them express themselves freely, even if you disagree with what they are saying or find it difficult to hear.
Validate their feelings and let them know their emotions are important and that you understand and care about how they feel.
Provide a safe space for your child to talk by avoiding judgment, criticism, or negative reactions to what they share.
This will make them more likely to open up.
Acknowledge the pain, hurt, and disappointment they’ve felt due to the alienation.
The healing process may take time, and your child may not be ready to talk immediately.
Be patient and let them know you are available to listen whenever they’re ready.
5. Be open and honest about your feelings and intentions.
Children need to know where their parents stand and what to expect to feel safe and secure.
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Be specific about your feelings and intentions, and avoid being vague or evasive.
Be clear about your expectations for the relationship going forward and be willing to set boundaries as necessary.
This can help create a sense of stability and predictability for the child.
Also, be honest about your own limitations and realistic about what you can and cannot do for both yourself and the child.
6. Commit to building the relationship. Reconciliation after alienation can take time and may be a difficult process.
Be patient and persistent in your efforts to repair the relationship, and be willing to work through any obstacles that arise.
Be open to making changes in your behaviour and actions that may have contributed to the alienation.
Also, be receptive to feedback from your child about what changes they would like to see from you.
This can demonstrate your commitment to making things right and building a better relationship.
Seek help if necessary. If the alienation was caused by specific issues like substance abuse or anger management, it may be beneficial to seek help from a therapist or counsellor to address these issues and learn new ways of interacting with your child.
Approach reconciliation with a mindset of long-term investment in the relationship, rather than expecting immediate results.
Be prepared to invest time, effort, and emotional energy to heal the relationship and regain your child's trust.
Consistency, understanding, and patience can help build a strong, positive relationship over time.
Communicating with an Alienated Child
In situations where children are separated from their family due to a contentious divorce or separation, the circumstances can be very challenging.
The lingering emotions parents have about their former partners can complicate the situation and make conflict-free communication difficult.
What the "Resident" Parent Should Do
The parent with whom the child resides should always aim to be kind and fair
when discussing their former partner in front of and with the child, regardless of the circumstances.
This also applies to the "resident" parent’s former in-laws (the child’s grandparents, aunts, and uncles).
When safe and reasonable, permit the child to visit the estranged parent or their family.
Ensure the child never feels responsible for the estrangement.
Connection Strategies for Alienated Parents
If alienated parents find themselves completely disconnected from a child due to a contentious separation, they should continue communication through letters and send birthday and holiday gifts, using a third party if needed.
It is advisable for family members in this situation to keep copies of letters and cards to show the child if the chance for reunification arises in the future.
These demonstrate that you never forgot them and that you cared for and loved them.
It is crucial to remember that a child alienated from one of their parents and that parent’s family is in a challenging emotional state.
The child has likely heard various things about the alienated parent from different sources, which may or may not be true.
If the child questions the alienated parent about something they didn’t do, it’s important to respond, “I am sorry that you were told this about me. I have never stopped loving you.”
Be kind and fair when discussing the other parent with the child.
What Not to Say
When communicating with an alienated child, consider the child’s feelings and choose your words carefully.
Here are some things to avoid saying to an alienated child. DO NOT:
Blame the child for the alienation. The child is not at fault for the alienation and should not be blamed.
Criticise or speak negatively about the other parent. Even if the other parent is responsible for the alienation, avoid negative remarks about them, as this can further reinforce the child’s negative feelings towards the alienated parent.
Be pushy or forceful about a relationship. Be patient and understanding. Don’t pressure the child into a relationship before they’re ready.
Judge or dismiss the child’s feelings. Alienated children may have complex emotions and experiences. Be understanding and empathetic, not dismissive or judgmental.
Make false promises or encourage the child to act against their will. Don’t make false promises to the child and never encourage them to do something that goes against their wishes.
Remember that the child has endured a difficult situation.
Reconnecting with a parent they’ve been alienated from can be a sensitive process.
Be cautious with your words, and be mindful of the child’s emotional state.
Avoid actions or statements that may further alienate the child.
Explaining Estrangement From Family Members to a Child
Explaining estrangement to a child can be challenging.
Our emotions and the child’s ability to grasp the concepts can make it more complex.
Even adults find family estrangement difficult to comprehend.
Research indicates that estrangement often occurs when one adult has significant personality and interpersonal issues.
A useful way to explain this is by saying, “grandpa [or whoever] isn’t good at getting along with people.”
Checklist for speaking to a child about a parent they’ve never met
Consider how to talk with a child about a parent or relative they’ve never met.
This situation can arise when a parent leaves the family when the child is very young.
As always, questions should be answered honestly and simply, at an age-appropriate level.
1. Simple statements work best. For young children, you might say, “Your Mum left our family when you were little. She loved you but wasn’t able to be a mum.”
2. Allow the child to process the information in their own way.
3. If asked about the parent’s whereabouts, be truthful without being overly specific. For instance, if you know where the parent is, you could say, “We know where your mum is, but she’s still unable to get in touch. Being a Mum is still too hard for her.”
4. Ensure your response never makes the child feel responsible for the situation. It CONTINUES ON PAGE 16
is never the child’s fault if a parent chooses to leave.
Sometimes family members are estranged due to extreme conflict, often involving abuse or untreated mental illness.
In such cases, one family member may choose separation to protect themselves and their child from a harmful relationship.
Again, let the child ask questions and answer honestly and simply.
If the child wonders why they no longer see the relative, it’s appropriate to say, “We don’t see your grandparents because grandpa hurt me when I was young.
I am still frightened and want to keep you safe.” If your child seeks more details, it’s okay to say it’s too difficult to discuss.
If your child becomes scared, reassure them: “There is nothing to be frightened of now. I protected myself and I will protect you as well.”
Simple, straightforward statements are most effective.
When substance abuse is a factor
Many parents find it hard to explain estrangement due to substance abuse, especially if the child already has a relationship with the relative.
For school-aged children, you can explain that the adult is using drugs or alcohol that are harmful and change their behaviour.
Using the concept of safety can help children understand better.
Explain that the relative’s actions when using substances are unsafe, and stress that you want the child to be safe, helping them grasp the cause and effect.
This explanation can reassure children, as they often sense when situations are unsafe.
Children are often more perceptive than we think and may have noticed changes in a family member’s behaviour.
It’s important to validate their experiences.
Above all, when discussing family estrangement with your child, reaffirm that the child is loved.
Remind them, “you are the best person. It’s not your fault that your [relative] doesn’t see you. Everyone who knows you loves you very much.”
When Your Child Has Been Brainwashed
An alienated parent can only work within the child’s limits.
You cannot, for example, engage in psychological warfare or overwhelm your child with new information.
Rebuilding the relationship gradually and healthily is the only way forward, even if the results seem unsatisfactory.
By showing yourself to be different from how you’ve been portrayed, your son or daughter may eventually reconsider their opinion of you.
They might also realise they haven’t been told the truth.
You have the right to present yourself positively and shouldn’t shy away from discussing what the alienating parent did.
Children deserve honesty.
However, pushing your virtues and innocence onto your child or heavily criticising the other parent is likely to backfire.
Making contact
Consistent communication. Keep regular, non-intrusive contact. Send letters, emails, or small gifts to remind the child of your presence and love. Ensure your mes-
"Rebuilding
a relationship
estranged
with an
child requires a thoughtful and patient approach."
sages are positive and focused on the child’s interests and well-being.
Respect boundaries. Be mindful of the child’s comfort level and respect their boundaries. Pressuring them to respond or engage can create further resistance.
During visits
Create an inviting environment. Prepare before each visit so your home is welcoming. Even if your child is wary of you, they can enjoy the environment you provide.
Follow visitation arrangements. Let the child know that any visitation arrangements will be respected. It’s not up to a child to decide who they prefer to be with at any given time. For stability, everyone needs to adhere to orders or agreements unless both parents agree to changes.
Warm greetings and goodbyes. Always have a warm greeting and goodbye, and engage in good conversation during each visit. These are key to making visits worthwhile and repeatable.
Moving Forward
Rebuilding a relationship with an estranged child requires a thoughtful and patient approach.
It is essential to communicate openly, validate their feelings, and demonstrate genuine love and commitment over time.
By following the outlined strategies, including being honest, expressing remorse, and actively listening, parents can gradually mend the emotional distance.
While the process may be challenging and require consistent effort, the potential for reconnection and healing makes it a worthwhile endeavour.
Ultimately, fostering a supportive and understanding environment will pave the way for a stronger bond moving forward.
In need of help or support?
If you are an alienated parent reading this article and feel you are in need of help and support then please make sure by visiting the website, completely free. Ask how to become an Ambassador in your region. Contact: https://www.papaorg.co.uk/
When Advocacy Fails the Child: Institutional Complicity and the Ethical Crisis in Swiss Parental Alienation Cases
by Rony Golczewski, MSc Candidate in Parental Alienation Studies, Institute for Family Therapy, Malta; Presenter
at the 2025 PASG Conference
In matters of child welfare, particularly in high-conflict custody disputes, institutions entrusted with protecting the rights and best interests of children must operate with unshakable integrity. Yet, what happens when those same institutions—whether by omission, ideological alignment, or organizational loyalty—turn a blind eye to credible evidence of psychological abuse? What happens when the very professionals claiming to serve children not only actively obstruct but also work against interventions designed to help them?
In an ongoing Swiss case involving severe child psychological abuse, also referred to severe parental alienation, I have found myself grappling not only with the breakdown of my relationship with my child, but also with the disturbing inertia and ethical failings of a well-respected Swissbased international child welfare foundation. This foundation, publicly committed
to the rights of children and the promotion of healthy educational systems, has been made aware of a situation in which one of its board of trustees members plays a central and controversial role—as the legal representative of the favored parent in a prolonged and damaging custody conflict. This dual affiliation raises serious concerns about institutional complicity, governance, and the undermining of scientific best practices in family law.
The case involves a child who, over time, became increasingly emotionally cut-off from one parent without any history of abuse, neglect, or unfitness. Instead, the child has been subject to a pattern of emotional manipulation, exclusion of extended family, and resistance reinforced by the favored parent’s behavior—hallmarks of what is widely recognized in the psychological and legal literature as severe parental alienation, a form of child psycho-
logical abuse. These dynamics have been substantiated by an independent court-appointed expert, GAL reports, and multiple third-party professionals, all of whom have highlighted the urgency of reversing the alienation for the benefit of the child’s personal development through different types of interventions.
One such intervention—an evidence-based reunification program with substantial peer-reviewed support—was proposed and is being seriously considered by the court. Yet the proposal was later undermined by a court-appointed child advocate who originally supported it and opposed by the same lawyer who simultaneously serves on the board of the aforementioned foundation. This lawyer’s consistent efforts to block reunification and minimize or outright deny the alienation have had devastating effects— not only on the child’s development but on the integrity of the court proceedings.
It is important to acknowledge that when I recently reached out to the foundation— just a few weeks ago—they did, in fact, actioned swiftly. My messages were forwarded directly to the board member in question. Within mere hours of my communication, she contacted my personal lawyer to complain. Her first reaction was not to address the concerns I raised about a potential conflict of interest, nor to reflect on the ethical implications of her dual role. Instead, she appeared focused on self-preservation. According to her message to my lawyer, her first defense was to invoke the child’s emotional rejection of me as justification for her legal position—thereby, once again, using the child’s distorted reaction as a shield against legitimate scrutiny. This is precisely the tactic I had reported to the foundation as problematic: instrumentalizing the child’s symptoms of alienation to justify continued obstruction of reunification, while avoiding any self-examination or institutional accountability.
As of this writing, the foundation has not issued a formal response and I’m unaware if they initiated a transparent review. Yet the speed and coordination of the board member’s reaction raise legitimate questions. Was her response officially sanctioned? Was she given the opportunity to frame the narrative before any ethical inquiry could take place? These questions remain open. We do not yet know whether the foundation will move forward with the diligence and impartiality expected of an institution tasked with safeguarding children’s rights. But it is not too late. There is still time for the foundation to act responsibly, investigate the situation thoroughly, and uphold the values it claims to promote.
Across many jurisdictions, professionals— social workers, lawyers, psychologists, and child advocates—often find themselves navigating a landscape where ideologically driven narratives overshadow evidence-based approaches. Parental alienation, still misunderstood or dismissed in some sectors, is particularly vulnerable to
this trend. When one-sided perspectives become entrenched, children suffer.
This case is not an isolated one. It is a microcosm of a broader failure—an ethical crisis within child protection systems that allows professional boundaries to blur, permits litigation strategies to override child welfare, and tolerates inaction in the face of psychological harm. For an organization whose core values include the protection of children’s rights, the refusal to act transparently—or even to engage—is not just disappointing. It is dangerous.
International human rights frameworks, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the European Convention on Human Rights, emphasize the child’s right to family life and protection from psychological abuse. These are not optional principles. They are binding moral and legal standards that apply to all actors in the child welfare ecosystem, including NGOs and foundations. When institutional leadership fails to uphold these standards, the trust of the public, the courts, and most importantly, the children, is severely compromised.
As a graduate student specializing in parental alienation, and as someone di-
rectly impacted by this system’s dysfunction, I believe we are long overdue for a reckoning. Foundations and institutions must establish clear ethical guidelines for board members and legal representatives involved in child-related cases. They must implement conflict-of-interest protocols and mechanisms for internal review when concerns are raised. Most importantly, they must take seriously their obligation to speak and act when a child’s right to a safe, nurturing, and balanced upbringing is under threat.
This is a professional and ethical call to action. Families in crisis deserve better. Children navigating divided homes deserve better. And the professionals tasked with protecting them must be prepared to confront difficult truths—even when those truths implicate their own colleagues or call into question the practices of their own organizations.
In preparing this article, I have anonymized all names to preserve legal confidentiality. But let there be no confusion about the core message: child welfare institutions must not become complicit through silence or protective reflexes. If we are to truly champion the best interests of children, neutrality in the face of psychological abuse is not an option.
is a senior global executive in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, currently based in area, he is a committed advocate for systemic reform in child protection and family court responses to parental alienation.
Strengthening the Child’s Right to Both Parents
by Jesper Lohse, National Chairman, The Danish Father’s
On January 1, 2025, Denmark implemented a significant reform to its family law, marking the country’s formal legal recognition of “parental alienation” and “co-parenting obstruction”. The reform, passed by the Danish Parliament in December 2024, reflects a broader Nordic and international movement toward protecting children’s rights to both parents— even amid high-conflict separations.
A New Legal Framework: From Ideals to Enforcement
The adopted Law L66 amends the Danish Parental Responsibility Act and the Family Law Administration Act to explicitly mandate that family courts and administrative bodies consider behaviors that hinder a child's relationship with either parent. A new paragraph in §4(2) of the Parental Responsibility Act states:
“The Family Court and the Family Law Administration must, in assessing the best interests of the child, consider the child’s right to both parents and, in that context, co-parenting obstruction, including parental alienation, as reflected in the child’s behavior. Such obstruction shall carry consequences if it serves the best interests of the child.”
Association The law reform will be presented at PASG Toronto 2025 in Sep. 2025
With this change, Denmark aligns with the Norwegian “behavioral model” of parental alienation: the phenomenon is diagnosed and addressed primarily through the child’s observable behavior, rather than inferred solely from the actions of the alienating parent.
of Parental Alienation
The reform adopts a working definition rooted in international research and practice. As cited in the legislative committee’s report:
“Parental alienation is defined as when a child persistently and over a long period expresses strong negative feelings (hatred, rage, fear) toward one parent, which are not in line with the child’s actual experiences with that parent.”
This definition, originally formulated by Joan Kelly and Janet Johnston, acknowledges that alienation is rarely the result of a single behavior. Instead, it emerges from complex interactions between the child, both parents, and the broader care environment.
Evidence-Based Practice:
The Family Law Administration’s Professional Guidelines
The Danish Family Court House has published a professional guideline to support
the implementation of this law in daily casework. The guideline emphasizes:
A neutral and systemic approach to understanding contact refusal;
The use of non-polarizing terms, such as “contact breakdown” and “contact resistance,” instead of attributing blame prematurely;
A commitment to investigate multiple contributing factors, including child vulnerabilities, caregiver dynamics, and broader family stressors.
In practical terms, professionals are now expected to begin each assessment not with assumptions about either parent's intent, but with a close examination of the child’s situation and behavior. This includes evaluating emotional signs, relational shifts, and verbal or behavioral cues that may indicate manipulation, fear, or trauma.
Consequences for Obstruction—If in the Child’s Best Interest
The law does not prescribe automatic sanctions for parental alienation. Instead, consequences may be imposed if they are found to benefit the child. This could include:
Transfer of custody to the other parent;
Temporary or permanent modification of visitation rights;
Targeted family therapy or court-ordered intervention programs.
Parental alienation is handled as psychological violence by criminal law
This nuanced approach reflects the Danish legal tradition of balancing enforcement with the child’s well-being, ensuring that no punitive measure undermines the primary goal: restoring and protecting the child’s right to safe, loving contact with both parents.
Policy Context and Motivation
The law is part of reforms on Shared Parenting and prevention of harassment and
parental alienation since 2015 aimed at improving Denmark’s family law system. Since 2007 Shared Parenting has been the norm in the Danish society and Shared Legal Custody is the basic assumption by law. Spousal support has declined to often nothing and reasonable child support is a reality. In 2012 the Child’s Right to both parents was empathized and children transportation to/from the parents was shared.
In 2015 the first harassment package became a reality with automatic re-visitation, immediate contact, holiday restriction and meeting obligations. In 2019 a new Family Court system was introduced with green, yellow and red visitation in all children cases, double residence became possible and family mediation and a special children unit was introduced following children in all family law cases. Psychological violence, incl. parental alienation, became part of the criminal law.
In 2022 public information for both parents and child allowance (50/50) was shared by law. In 2023 Parental leave (50/50) for one year in total with at least 3 months earmarked per parent became the law. Family violence and crisis centers became gender equal with the same rights for men and woman. In 2024 Equal Parenting (50/50) was the fastest growing and mostly used in society and the new reform on parental alienation was created to secure this posi-
tive development in the best interest of children, parents and society.
Prior to 2025, professionals faced growing challenges like everywhere else addressing complex cases where children refused contact with a parent. Public debate intensified around the lack of legal tools to intervene when one parent actively sabotaged the child’s relationship with the other.
Advocacy organizations—such as Foreningen Far (The Danish Father’s Association), which represents co-parents and promotes equal parenting—have long criticized the Danish system for failing to recognize structural alienation and unequal treatment in family law. The 2025 law is therefore seen as yet another major milestone in acknowledging and addressing children’s concerns and health in life.
The “Care Model”: A Systemic Approach
To implement the new provisions, the Family Court Houses applies its “Care Model”, which offers a systemic framework for mapping:
Risk and protective factors in the caregiving environment;
Relationship dynamics between parent and child;
Potential child vulnerabilities and stress responses;
Patterns of devaluing behavior that may influence the child’s attitude toward a parent.
The model avoids one-size-fits-all assumptions and encourages professionals to build a comprehensive, evidence-based profile before concluding whether parental alienation is occurring.
This approach is supported by the Danish Father’s Association promoting the Five Factor model (Bernett and Greenhill) as early identification of parental alienation using a nationwide survey developed online in several languages. The survey is free to use and available at https://da.surveymonkey.com/r/76C992Y?lang=en
Safeguards Against Misuse
Importantly, the reform also includes safeguards to prevent the misuse of the alienation label against protective parents. The professional guideline explicitly warns against assuming that all contact resistance is unjustified. Some children may have legitimate fears based on past experiences, including neglect, abuse, or emotional harm.
Thus, professionals are urged to:
CONTINUES ON PAGE 22
Avoid premature conclusions;
Investigate all sides with equal care;
Ensure the child’s voice is heard and considered authentically;
Respect the child’s right to protection from harmful contact.
Implementation Challenges
While widely welcomed, the new legislation presents several implementation challenges:
Training Needs: Legal and social service professionals must be trained in the behavioral and systemic frameworks underpinning the law.
Diagnostic Complexity: Identifying alienation requires multi-layered assessments that can be time- and resource-intensive.
Court Delays: The 2025 law mandates quicker handling of urgent visitation within 4 weeks and all investigations to be finished (within 4 months) but staffing shortages may hinder compliance.
Cultural Resistance: Some actors in the family law system may resist the shift toward a more neutral, behavior-focused understanding of alienation.
The Award system: It is of major importance that parents benefit from good behavior and never are awarded for harassment and parental alienation. Also, that mistakes a admitted as important learnings for change.
International Relevance
Denmark’s reform may serve as a legislative model for other countries grappling with similar issues. The law’s core strengths include:
Its child-centered focus, emphasizing behavior over parental blame;
Its integration of international research into national policy;
Its balanced approach to consequences, allowing courts discretion within a framework of child protection;
Its commitment to prevention and early intervention through professional guidelines and systemic assessments.
It also reflects a growing international consensus: the best interests of the child often depend on the child’s ability to maintain strong and secure relationships with both parents after separation.
Final Thoughts
Denmark’s 2025 law signals a powerful cultural and legal shift in how we understand and respond to parental alienation and co-parenting obstruction. By embedding behavioral definitions into legislation, applying system-based diagnostics, and anchoring decisions in the child’s best interest, the law provides a nuanced and modern path forward.
As nations worldwide wrestle with similar family court challenges, Denmark’s model offers a valuable lens through which child advocates, lawmakers, and family professionals can evaluate their own legal frameworks.
is a prominent advocate for legal reforms in parental equality, an advisor to national policy bodies, and a recognized voice in international child welfare debates. He in 2014 created a Harvard case analysis on the Danish Family Court System from a Leadership perspective of which many recommendations today have become Danish Law.
Jesper Lohse
Recapturing My Mothers’ Childhood in France
by Nina Kauder
My mother and her siblings narrowly escaped the war (WWII) long stories alluded to elsewhere throughout my lifetime on FB. Their chapter of fleeing for their life took them to Berlin, to Belgium, to various places in France and ultimately to the USA. While they made it to Paris eventually, their hiding place, pretending to be catholic children, hidden by nuns and monks was here in the medieval countryside including hiding in attics and basements throughout farmhouses and country homes.
This week we are retracing some of their steps, walking on 14th century wood slabs that still fill the original house whose stone walls are easily ten feet thick, and remain cool in summer and warm in winter. We walked the very streets they ran around in, went to school on, and got INTO one of the actual houses they were hidden in and where my grandmother died.
It was with no shortage of goosebumps, and emotional tears in my eyes as we LUCKED OUT and by chance as i saw a man leaving this house that i timidly asked him if he knew about its secret past involving my ancestors.
He not only knew, but gave up the rest of the entire day to show us every nook and cranny of his house, some of his memorabilia collected since his parents bought the house from the very lady who rescued my mother and her siblings, and basically just charmed his way into our hearts, overall. He took us for drinks, plied us with wine, a homemade fig jam (from his own homegrown figs) and kidnapped us to be introduced to others around town, and see meaningful war related sights.
Most incredibly, as we wandered through the amazingness that Is a 14th century house, holding the very same handrails
my mother’s’ little 10-year-old hands held, feeling the actual worn down stone steps that they too ran up and down from as well as the rooms they slept in… It was a very emotional experience.
We saw the attic they hid from Nazi soldiers in, diving into piles of walnuts curing and also in the same attic, the portion of missing wooden floorboards which they had burned to stay warm in the lean, winter wartimes.
Here are random photos of the house interior with authentic oak beams, solid wood stairs and floors and massive wood furnishings just to give you the feel of it all. P he rents a room out if you’re ever looking for simple, adequate accommodations. The location is stupendous, his yard is filled with fruit trees, tomatoes, zucchini, herbs, and his welcome as a host could not be any warmer.
Government Created Challenges to Black Families
by Don Hubin
Introduction by Dr. Mark
In America, the Summer month of June is a time of profound reflection and celebration for many, marked by two significant observances: Juneteenth and Loving Day.
Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, a pivotal moment that signifies freedom and the ongoing pursuit of equality. Just a week prior, June 12th marks Loving Day, honoring the 1967 Supreme Court decision that invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage, a landmark ruling that expanded the definition of family and love across racial lines. These two holidays, while distinct in their focus, collectively underscore the historical journey of Black Americans towards liberation and the recognition of their fundamental human rights.
However, despite these strides towards freedom and equity, Black families, parents, and particularly Black fathers, continue to navigate a complex landscape of systemic challenges that significantly impact their lives and well-being. From the persistent wealth gap and disproportionate incarceration rates that disrupt family structures, to an education system that often struggles to equitably
I’m not an historian and I’m certainly not an expert in Black history. But I want to share some of what I’ve learned about the ways in which the history of American law and policy has functioned—sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally—to undermine the Black family.
The institution of slavery—American’s original sin—did immeasurable harm to Black families, not just during the 246 years of chattel slavery in the U.S. but for generations after emancipation. Families were often split up, especially those enslaved on small plantations, where children were 49% more likely to live in single-parent families than were children
serve Black children and parents, and the enduring realities of racial discrimination and microaggressions, the challenges are deeply intertwined.
Black parents, both mothers and fathers, bear the heavy responsibility of not only nurturing and providing for their children but also of preparing them to navigate a society where anti-Black racism remains a daily reality. This includes crucial conversations about racial identity, resilience, and safety. Black fathers, in particular, have been historically burdened by unjust stereotypes and narratives that often portray them as absent or uninvolved, despite research consistently demonstrating their deep engagement and commitment to their children.
In recent years, the landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies has become a new focal point in this ongoing struggle. While DEI initiatives were designed to address systemic inequalities and create more equitable opportunities in various sectors, recent challenges to these policies have, in large part, -
ing Black families.
The rollback or dismantling of DEI programs in schools, workplaces, and other institutions threatens to reverse progress
enslaved on large plantations. Family separation was so traumatic to enslaved people that it contributed to enslaved people taking their own lives.
Wealth plays an enormous role in the stability of families and the wealth gap between White families and Black families is enormous. It is well known that there is a racial income gap in the U.S. but that gap pales in comparison to the wealth gap; the wealth gap is quite large even for Black and White families with equal incomes. There are many reasons for this. A significant factor, though, was government laws and policies that prevented Black families from accumulating wealth. These laws and policies included allowing restrictive
made in areas like educational access, employment opportunities, and fair representation. For Black parents, this can mean fewer resources for their children in schools, diminished access to higher education and scholarships, and a reduction in support systems designed to combat discrimination.
For Black fathers, specifically, the erosion of DEI can translate to fewer job opportunities, less equitable pathways for career advancement, and a weakening of supplier diversity programs that support Blackowned businesses. Such shifts risk widening existing disparities in employment, income, and wealth, further entrenching systemic barriers and making the journey towards economic and social mobility even more arduous for Black families.
This article by Don Hubin explores the multifaceted experiences of Black fathers in America, examining some of the extraordinary, historical struggles, and efforts improve their families and communities, especially when viewed through the lens of these powerful June anniversaries and in the context of the pervasive challenges, including the evolving landscape of DEI, that demand their exceptional resilience and unwavering dedication.
covenants, which prohibited home sales to Blacks, redlining, which defined Black communities as unsafe, thus reducing property values, and more. (Details of this shameful history are related in Richard Rothstein’s excellent The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America.)
In addition to these government policies, there was also a pattern of racial discrimination by private actors, including racial discrimination in housing and employment. There were, as well, mob actions that undermined progress in Black families’ wealth, such as the little-known (in the White community) race riot in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921 that destroyed what was known as “The
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Black Wall Street,” one of the most affluent Black communities in America at the time.
These legal and extra-legal impediments to the accumulation of wealth by Black families contributed to the instability of the family unit. Certainly, poor families can stay together, and wealthy families can split up. But the inability to achieve a level of wealth that provides some security stresses family relationships. As the Tavistock Institute puts it, “the evidence is clear that income does matter— and that poverty and lack of money is in fact a major cause of relationship breakdown, as well as a consequence of it”.
There are, though, more direct ways in which government policies have undermined all poor families and, so, disproportionately Black families. And some of these policies were in programs that were designed to assist poor families.
The roots of public assistance to the poor in the U.S. are deep. After the Civil War, there were programs to assist veterans and their families. From the 1890s to the early 1920s, there were programs to provide pensions for widowed mothers. The Great Depression, though, was the beginning of large-scale Federal anti-poverty programs.
For decades, many of these programs applied a “man-in-the-house” rule. Under this rule, “a child who otherwise qualified for welfare benefits was denied those benefits if the child's mother was living with, or having relations with, any single or married able-bodied male”. The thinking was that if there was a man in the house, he, not the government, should be supporting the woman and her children. And the rule was applied even if the man was not the father of the child.
The man-in-the-house rule meant that, often, the best thing that a poor father could do for his children economically (not emotionally), was to leave the house. And a single mother was discouraged from starting a relationship with another man, as well.
This misguided rule was struck down by a Supreme Court ruling in a 1968 case, King v. Smith. But prior to that time, and probably for sometime after that because of the lag in people’s understanding and trusting of the new rules, “the man-in-the-house rule actually encouraged the breakup of stable, two-parent families.”
The saga of policies that hurt Black families continues today.
Black children are far more likely than other children to be taken into the foster care system. Prior to the enactment of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997, there was an emphasis on kinship care when parents were unable to care for their children and on family reunification if the inability was temporary. “ASFA, however, effectively eliminated the “reasonable efforts” [at family reunification] requirement and focused on adoption as the best solution to ensure permanent placement of children in foster care.”
Furthermore, poor families—and this means disproportionately Black families—where the parents live apart are hammered by unreasonable child support obligations. The public acceptance of high child support obligations for poor fathers and its support for draconian enforcement measures were fueled in part by negative stereotypes of the “deadbeat dad” and the “welfare mom”.Unreasonable child support obligations and severe penalties hurt poor fathers and create barriers to their being involved in their children’s lives.
Finally, the gender bias in family courts is well documented. (This is certainly not to deny that mothers are subjected to horrible court decisions, or even to deny that gender bias can work against mothers, as when a judge assumes it’s best for children to be with the dad because he has remar-
ried and his new wife is staying at home.) But there’s reason to believe that Black fathers experience even greater bias in family courts. At least that is the opinion of Joleena Louis, a domestic relations attorney in New York City.
None of this should blind us to the fact that a great many Black families are thriving. Many Black fathers, regardless of their income or wealth and whether or not they are together with the mother, are caring for and supporting their children. But neither should we be blind to the fact that the history of government laws and policies have created impediments to the Black family, and especially to Black fathers, that make such success more challenging. If you’re struggling with parental alienation, know that you are not alone, and science is making progress in recognizing and addressing this issue. For more information on these studies, please feel free to contact this writer at drkreay@gmail.com or at www.familyreflectionsprogram.com
Don Hubin is the Chair of National Parents Organization, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at The Ohio State University, and Founding Director Emeritus of the OSU Center for Ethics and Human Values. Contact: donhubin@sharedparenting.org
Sept 12 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Dear Friends,
I hope you found joy and relaxation this July 4th holiday!
Today, I am now pleased to share that I am among the more than 40 international speakers at the 7th Annual Parental Alienation Study Group (PASG) Conference this September in Toronto, Canada!
The title of my presentation is Navigating High-Conflict Custody: The Role of Supervised Visitation
If you are unfamiliar with parental alienation, the arguments for and against, the research you should bring in many of your high conflict cases, you will benefit from attending.
Conference Registration is open for onsite and virtual attendees from around the world!
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
7th PASG Conference
Best practices in parental alienation assessment, intervention & advocacy:
A Roadmap for Judicial Accuracy and Resolution
September 10-12, 2025
2025 Conference Theme
Throughout the 2-day conference, we will collectively shift from debating the existence and nature of parental alienation to empowering the judiciary with the latest tools and scholarly knowledge for legal accuracy in cases involving parental alienation and other forms of family violence.
Attendees will gain insight into research driven strategies for fair, science-based decision making in Courts that lead to tangible outcomes for families.
Marriott Downtown at Eaton Centre, Toronto, ON
The conference will feature in-person and virtual attendees. For more information or to register for PASG 2025, click on this link: www.pasg2025toronto.ca
Attendees will gain insight into research driven strategies for fair, science-based decision making in Courts that lead to tangible outcomes for families.
7 TH PASG CONFERENCE
TORONTO, CANADA
September 10 - 12, 2025
Marriott Downtown at Eaton Centre
Join us in September 2025 in the vibrant city of Toronto, Canada for the 7 th PASG Conference. Stay the ee end and e erience the a ni cent Niagara Falls , the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and many other exciting happenings throughout the city. In Toronto, there is something for everyone.
2 0 2 5 T H E M E
BEST PRACTICES IN PARENTAL ALIENATION ASSESSMENT, INTERVENTION & ADVOCACY: A ROADMAP FOR JUDICIAL ACCURACY AND RESOLUTION
Throughout the 2-day conference, we will collectively shift from debating the existence and nature of parental alienation to empowering the judiciary with the latest tools and scholarly knowledge for legal accuracy in cases involving parental alienation and other forms of family violence.
September 10-12, 2025
Parental Alienation Study Group (PASG) presents: 7th International Conference
Best practices in parental alienation assessment, intervention & advocacy: A roadmap for judicial accuracy and resolution
Join us for two thought-provoking days as we hear from world renowned experts in parental alienation theory, law, research, clinical practice, and lived experience. Our program features over 60 speakers and 6 subject streams from which to choose.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
Mme. Justice Marie-France Vincent (Quebec, Canada) will facilitate a conversation between Dr. Barbara Jo Fidler (psychologist), Brian Hall (lawyer), and 3 target parents:
•Joshua Homme (two-time GRAMMY winner and lead vocalist of the 9-time GRAMMY nominated rock band Queens of the Stone Age) of Dalle-Homme v Homme Los Angeles
•Mr. X of X v Y Canada
•Ms. G of F v G Canada
The cases involved allegations of domestic violence and parental alienation. They were resolved with the help of Court orders that included reversals in decision-making authority, a minimum 90-day protective separation, and attendance at the Family Bridges workshop & aftercare.
To register for the conference, please visit www.pasg2025toronto.ca
Our lineup of 60+ experts in PA theory, law, research, clinical practice, policy, and lived experience
Ashish Joshi & Judge Jon Van Allsburg | Proving Alienation Without Experts: Storytelling in the Courtroom
Professor Nicholas Bala | Parental Alienation - Junk Science or Child Abuse? A Question for Politicians, Judges or Psychologists?
Dr. Inbal Kivenson Bar-On | Severe forms of inadequate boundaries in child parent psychological wellbeing among PA cases
Dr. Paul Bensussan | Silencing the Experts: The Targeting of Parental Alienation Specialists by Ideological Activist Movements – A French Case Study
Dr. William Bernet |
Dr. Alan Blotcky | Expert testimony in PA cases: Four scenarios that can be successful
Dr. Mary Alvarez, Dr. Kelley Baker, & Dr. Amy Eichler | Treatment Planning for Targeted and Favored Parents: Neurodevelopmental and Psychological Considerations
Melanie Gill | Triangulation, Trauma, and Truth
Dr. Ben Hine | The Prevalence of PABs in the United Kingdom
Dr. Stan Korosi | The Politics of Alienation and Implications for Advocacy: The Public,
Jesper Lohse |
Dre. Amylie Paquin-Boudreau, Dr. Jennifer Harman, & Brian Ludmer | Trajectories of families in parental alienation cases in Canadian courts
Brian Ludmer | What is wrong with how the legal, therapeutic, parenting coordination and child protection worlds are assisting families in crisis -
Linda Gottlieb & Loretta Maase | Trauma Informed Therapy for Parental Alienation
Yaakov Aichenbaum | The Project Justice Colorado Family Court Reform Report
Anthony Bezzina | ability on workers from a safety perspective
Eveline van Dorp and Wessel Brouwer | Bringing the impact of intimate relationships to life using a new powerful tool: Family Ties®
Anthony Cauchi | Recommendations for changes in family mentality reform
Lawrence DeMarco | “We Are the Media Now”: A Networked Approach to Combating Misinformation About Parental Alienation
Courtney Dowdall |
Randy Flood | Targeted Parents
Randy Flood & Zach Flood |
Joan Kloth-Zanard & Robert Garza |
Mary Gauci |
Ginger Gentile Alienation, Even in Severe Cases Without Judicial Intervention
Rony Golczewski |
Linda Gunsberg | The Rise and Fall of the Reset Plan
Lisa Rothfus & Jayna Haney | Setting the Alienated Parent Up for Success: Preparing for the First Parent-Child Joint Session
Cynthia Hayek |
Giorgio Ilacqua | P.A.S.T.A.: Parental Alienation Syndrome and Transactional Analysis
Michelle Jones |
Alyson Jones |
Dr. Jennifer Harman, Dr. Richard Warshak, Dr. Amanda Sharples, & Joshua Marsden, M.S. |
Joshua Marsden |
alienation items in the adverse childhood experiences scale: The development of a screening tool
Dr. Denise McCartan | Clinical Psychology Assessment of Parents when Parental Alienation is Suspected
Mme. Justice Marie-France Vincent, Dre. Francine Cyr, & Dre. Amylie Paquin-Boudreau | A psychojudicial protocol for child resistance refusal dynamics
Dr. William Bernet, Dr. Ben Hine, Dr. Jennifer Harman, & Dr. Yvonne M. Parnell |
Dr. Yvonne M. Parnell | Family Bridges workshop and aftercare: 18 years of data
Dr. Kathleen Reay | Program on Severely Alienated Children and Their Families
Dr. Amanda Sharples | The Connection between Parental Alienating Behaviours and Other Forms of Abuse
Dr. Lena Hellblom Sjögren | Family breakdowns in Sweden: Experiences of law practice in severe parental alienation cases
Dr. Lynn Steinberg |
Linda Gunsberg & Jordan Trager | The Trager-Gunsberg Multidisciplinary Fast-Track Court
Dr. Mary Alvarez, Lisa Rothfus, & Christine Turner | Parental Alienation: Missed Judicial and Clinical Opportunities in a Real Case Study
Shawn Wygant | Require a Child Protective Response? Exploring the Parental Alienation Child Abuse
R.K. | Parental alienation – A parent journey from a victim to a hero
Heleen Koppejan | parental alienation and co-parenting
Lilly Landikusic |
Dr. Ken Lewis & Merle Lewis | Using the 5-Factor Model in a Child Custody Evaluation
Ian McArdle | Parental Alienation in the Family Justice System in England and Wales
Dana Laquidara & William J. McGee | Both Sides Now: Two Stories of an Alienated Child and an Alienated Parent
Jasmine Nakano | Perspective of a child abducted to Bangladesh
Matt Peloquin |
Shawn Philbert | Parenting Coordinator Awards – Tools to Ensure Success when dealing with alienating conduct
Dr. Mark Roseman |
Ivan Sammut |
Joan Kloth-Zanard, Dr. Lynn Steinberg, & Charity Schneider | Concepts
Natalie Williamson & Cory Sprunger | The Sliding Scale of Parental Alienation Practice: A reference guide to implementing PA litigation strategies for all types of parental alienation cases
Adult Children of Divorce. A Case Revealed
Summary of the interview with Kevin Scott by Clint Doran of PAS Intervention
In a recent interview (June 15, 2025) with Clint Doran of PAS Intervention, adult alienated child Kevin Scott shared his deeply personal and challenging journey of parental alienation and his path to healing and reunification with his father. His story sheds light on the profound impact of alienation on a child's psyche and the complex process of recovery.
The Onset of Alienation and Early Childhood
The adopted Law L66 amends the Danish Parental ResponsiKevin's early childhood memories with his father were filled with warmth and a strong bond. He described his dad as his "primary caretaker" during his first three years, teaching him fundamental milestones like walking and talking. They shared loving experiences, including bike rides around Kansas City and visits to local nature centers and museums.
The alienation began subtly when Kevin was between three and four years old, coinciding with his parents' separation and eventual divorce. He recalled waking up one day to find his father simply "wasn't there." This marked the start of a tumultuous period characterized by his
mother's repeated separations, during which she would take Kevin to her parents' home in Columbia, Missouri. These "roller coaster" periods of contact and separation laid the groundwork for the later, more severe alienation.
The Mother's Role and the Onset of False Allegations
Kevin's mother, whom he describes as a "very complicated woman," was the primary alienator. He believes she suffered from Munchausen's by proxy, a mental illness where an individual feigns or induces illness in another to gain attention or sympathy. Working in healthcare, his mother began heavily medicating Kevin for illnesses he didn't have. His father's attempt to intervene and seek help for her was met with her leaving him and leveling accusations of child abuse, initially centered on his refusal to medicate Kevin as she desired.
The most damaging allegations came later. Kevin vividly remembers his mother screaming at him at age four, warning him that his father would "kidnap" him if he asked for longer visits. This fear tactic escalated into wilder stories, including claims of physical abuse (being hit with a
flaming log) and, eventually, sexual molestation of both Kevin and his younger brother. Kevin emphasized that as a child, his brain lacked the critical thinking skills to discern these falsehoods, leading to a deep-seated fear and a "phobia" that his father was dangerous.
The Fight for Contact and Further Manipulation
Despite the severe allegations, Kevin's father "never stopped fighting" for his sons. When Kevin was about six, his father successfully obtained visitation rights, moving closer to Columbia, Missouri, and building a cabin on a plot of land for their visits. Kevin cherishes "beautiful memories" of this time, describing his father as a gifted storyteller who taught them about nature.
However, the manipulation continued. His mother would confiscate gifts from his father, often under a religious pretense after she remarried a "very religious guy." Kevin and his brother were punished for enjoying their visits or for watching movies their stepfather deemed inappropriate. This constant reinforcement created a confusing and fragmented reality for the young Kevin, leading to a sense of deep unease.
The Turning Point: Age 12 and the Restraining Order
The situation dramatically worsened when Kevin was around 12. During a visit to the cabin, his younger brother accidentally started a small fire. Kevin witnessed his father, in a moment of panic, hit his brother with an open hand on the back—the only time he ever saw his father resort to physical discipline.
His mother exploited this incident, coercing Kevin through weeks of repeated questioning to change his story, eventually fabricating an account of his father using a fist, being drunk, and engaging in severe physical abuse. This manipulated testimony led to a restraining order against his father, and Kevin didn't see him for approximately three years (ages 12-16). During this time, his mother intensified her brainwashing, making the stories "wilder and wilder."
The Impact of Alienation: PTSD and Self-Harm
The emotional toll on Kevin was immense. He developed full-blown PTSD, characterized by severe guilt, eating difficulties, insomnia, and migraines. He began to self-harm during his high school years, with visible scars as a lasting reminder. Counselors hired by his mother, pre-conditioned by her narrative, failed to address the true root of his trauma, inadvertently perpetuating the cycle of brainwashing. Kevin explained that he would simply "repeat back what I had been brainwashed into believing," making him appear to be processing his trauma while the underlying issues remained.
The Path to Discovery and Reunion
Despite these challenges, Kevin grew up to be a successful individual: a pastor, married for ten years, and a father of three. However, he was haunted by a "sense of loss, sadness, and anxiety" and struggled with memory problems and ADHD-like symptoms (for which he was misdiagnosed and medicated). He describes a phenomenon called dissociative amnesia, where the brain locks away traumatic memories.
His journey to healing began seven months prior to the interview when, overwhelmed by his unresolved emotions, he
sought counseling. His therapist, Rabbi Israel Roll, remarkably discerned the core issue of his childhood trauma without any initial prompting from Kevin. Through a visualization exercise, Kevin accessed a pivotal memory: his 12-yearold self whispering, "I miss my dad." This triggered an outpouring of decades of repressed trauma, leading to intense sobbing and a profound emotional release.
Within days, Kevin experienced a dramatic shift: reduced anxiety, improved clarity of thought, and greater focus. This breakthrough led him to call his father, with whom he hadn't spoken in 12 years. Their reunion was deeply emotional, marked by tears and his father's reassuring words, "Kevin, you've never been far from me. I've always loved you and I knew that someday you'd figure it out."
Three weeks after this call, Kevin traveled from Baltimore to Kansas City during a blizzard to reunite with his father in person. Their meeting was overwhelming: tears, hugs, and the shared rediscovery of cherished memories. Kevin's father, now 81, still owned the cabin where they had spent time, and photos of Kevin from his childhood adorned the walls, serving as
"clues" his father had left, hoping for this eventual reunion.
Kevin's healing journey is ongoing, but the progress has been significant. He is now off all medications for ADHD, hormonal imbalances, migraines, and insomnia, and his PTSD symptoms are "down 85%." He emphasizes that the path to healing involves learning the truth and, if possible, reuniting with the alienated parent.
The healing extended to his younger brother, who reunited with their father after 20 years of no contact, a reconciliation facilitated by Kevin's own journey.
Insights on Parental Alienation and Forgiveness
Kevin offers crucial insights based on his experience:
Brainwashing a Child: He likens brainwashing a child to getting them to believe in Santa Claus, highlighting how easily children's memories can be manipulated due to their developing brains.
Alienators and Mental Illness:
Kevin asserts that "an alienator is a person with a mental illness, full stop." He
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believes his mother, who was institutionalized for delusions in 1978 and later married a man she met there, suffered from severe mental illness.
The Child's Unnatural Behavior: A key red flag for therapists, Kevin notes, is a child's desire to cut a parent out of their life. He states, "it's very unnatural and almost unheard of for a kid to actually want to cut their parent out of their life."
The Trauma of Overcoming Alienation: Overcoming alienation is as traumatic as the experience itself because it involves grieving the loss of two parents: the alienated parent and the idealized image of the alienating parent.
Forgiveness: Despite the profound hurt, Kevin has found a way to forgive his mother, viewing her not as "evil" but as a "deeply traumatized little girl who never got the help that she needed." He separates her actions from her person, acknowledging her positive qualities, such as her musical talent.
The Importance of Inner Child Work: His therapy involved engaging with his "inner child," telling his younger self, "This is not your fault." This process was crucial for releasing shame, embarrassment, and guilt.
The Alienated Parent's Role: Kevin's father's unwavering love and refusal to blame or guilt-trip him played a vital role in his healing. His father's subtle "clues"— like leaving photos in the cabin—demonstrated his hope for reunion without being overbearing.
Call for Intervention
Kevin strongly believes that parental alienation cases warrant intervention. While he hesitates to use the word "punish," he advocates for a mental health-focused approach where the child is placed with the alienated parent, followed by a supported reunification process with the alienating parent, if appropriate. This, he argues, is essential for the child's well-being and to prevent severe mental health issues.
Kevin's story is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the pos-
sibility of healing, even from the deepest wounds of childhood trauma.
To hear this interview on You Tube, visit https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=k08h_ZUjMrM
Founded in 1996, PAS Intervention is one of the oldest and largest 501 (c) (3) nonprofits for parental alienation. The organization deals with domestic violence by proxy using coercive control and parental alienating behaviors that cause a psychological abuse-induced relationship problem called PARP or Parental Alienation Relationship Problems. Says Founder Joanie Kloth-Zanard, “No matter what you call it, it is a form of psychological abuse when a parent is alienated from their children. At PAS Intervention, we are dedicated to Ending Psychological Child Abuse and Parental Alienation through educational awareness, research/development, free online support groups, legislation, legal, and any other venue available to us.”
Contact: info@pas-intervention.org
Breaking the Cycle: One Mother’s Journey from Survival to Legacy and the Legacy
By Dr. Ayana Grace, ND
When domestic violence shatters the illusion of a safe home, the consequences ripple far beyond the immediate trauma. Children watch. They absorb. They remember. And too often, they carry those wounds forward into adulthood.
In *I Left for the Children*, Dr. Ayana Grace—naturopathic doctor, therapist, and domestic violence advocate—offers a powerful and deeply personal narrative of breaking free from abuse not just for her own safety, but for the emotional well-being of her sons. More than a memoir, this work is a call to action and a roadmap for transformation.
Told through vivid storytelling, clinical insight, and voices of her now-adult children, the book takes readers on a journey of generational trauma, difficult choices, and the lifelong pursuit of healing. Dr. Grace’s perspective is unique: she did not just survive domestic violence—she studied it, challenged it, and ultimately built tools to help others do the same.
Why This Book Matters
For Parents: It sheds light on the silent impact abuse has on children—even when they’re not the direct targets.
For Professionals: Therapists, social workers, and educators will find trauma-informed insight and real-world reflection that can inform their work with families.
For Survivors: It offers hope, validation, and a reminder that leaving isn’t the end of the story—it’s the beginning of healing.
Legacy of Healing Workbooks
Launching Soon
Dr. Grace expands on the book’s impact through a full Legacy of Healing workbook series. Launching on Domestic
of Healing"
Violence Awareness Day, October 15, 2025, these resources are designed for:
Survivors
Teachers
Therapists
And even those who have caused harm, through the groundbreaking workbook *The Wounded and the Wounding*.
Each edition includes guided reflections, therapeutic tools, and practical exercises to support long-term healing and break harmful cycles.
Coming Soon: Books for Children and Teens
In addition to the Legacy of Healing workbook series, Dr. Grace is currently developing a companion line of books specifically for children and teens. These age-appropriate resources are designed to help young readers process difficult experiences, understand healthy boundaries, and build emotional resilience. While not launching alongside the October 15th workbook release, these important tools are in active development and will follow as part of the extended Legacy of Healing mission.
About the Author
Dr. Ayana Grace, ND is a trauma-informed therapist, domestic violence educator, and founder of Legacy of Healing Global. With a background in developmental psychology and naturopathic medicine, her work bridges science, storytelling, and emotional resilience. Email: reachayanagrace1@gmail.com Phone: 863-430-8957
Available Now
Book Title: *I Left for the Children: A Mother’s Story of Survival and the Legacy of Healing*
Author: Dr. Ayana Grace,, ND
Formats: Paperback, E-book, Audiobook (available for preorder)
Workbooks Launch: October 15, 2025 Website: www.legacyofhealingglobal. org (coming soon)
CALL TO ACTION
special invitations for research participants, survey respondents, organization task force needs, and other unique opportunities for family professionals to join.
Call for Team Members and Community Support
from PA Consortium
We are developing an important submission to address concerns regarding misinformation and unprofessional attacks targeting industry professionals to the DSM committee to finally include Parental Alienation. This initiative aims to promote accuracy, accountability, and respectful discourse in our field.
We are seeking 3-5 dedicated team members to join our review committee. Team members will:
Review and refine the submission content
Ensure accuracy and clarity of messaging
Provide strategic input on approach and presentation
Help finalize the document before broader distribution
Professional experience in [relevant field]
Strong analytical and communication skills
Availability for [timeframe] review process
Commitment to constructive, solution-oriented approach
Week 1-2: Assemble review team
Week 3-4: Internal review and refinement
Week 5+: Community outreach and signature collection
Following the review process, we will seek broader community endorsement through signatures and short statements of support.
Opportunity to add your signature to the final submission
Potential request for brief professional and personal testimonials
Sharing within your professional and personal networks
Joani Kloth-Zanard at info@paconsortium.org with your background and availability.
Call for Action: Advancing Family Science and Practice Across Family-Focused Professions
nee ds ac u cation. We re c verse d iscipl ine s
is your new essential resource for announcing and connecting with the latest opportunities and needs across the entire spectrum of family science, practice, policy, and education. We recognize the invaluable contributions made by professionals from diverse disciplines in strengthening families.
Are you a profe discover u for pa organiza healthcare, or an persp
Are you a professional eager to contribute your expertise to family well-being? Here, you'll discover unique invitations to participate in impactful initiatives, including calls research participants, survey respondents, and task force members for leading organizations. Whether you come from law, psychology, social work, education, healthcare, or any other field touching families, we invite you to lend your voice, skills, and unique perspective to advance our collective impact.
Do you have a n vite re con recruiting partic a tea dedicated sk
Do you have a need that the broader professional community can help address? We infaculty, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and leaders from all disciplines concerned with child outcomes to post their own needs. Whether you're recruiting participants for a groundbreaking study, seeking input for a critical project, or assembling a team for a new initiative, Call for Action provides a direct pipeline to a dedicated and skilled audience committed to improving family life.
Connect, collabo
Connect, collaborate, and contribute—let's shape the future of families together.
Help us create accurate, evidence-based Wikipedia content on parental alienation. Your contribution will ensure millions find reliable information based on comprehensive scientific research.
Support Roles (research, citations, quality review)
We provide extensive research materials, training, and ongoing support.
Ready to make a difference?
Contact us at Info@paconsortium.org or visit www.paconsortium.org to learn more and join our team!
GLOBAL GUARDIANS
Global Guardians for Children
An International Resource Directory of Agencies & NGO’s Serving Children’s Interests
Introduction
In a world where borders can't contain the challenges or the hopes of childhood, international agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) serve as critical guardians, tirelessly working to protect children, uphold their rights, and ensure their well-being. This page provides a vital resource for families and individuals seeking to understand, connect with, and support these global advocates.
Here, you'll find an organized directory of prominent international organizations and NGOs dedicated to children's interests, complete with their essential contact information. We aim to empower you with the knowledge to directly engage with these organizations, whether through seeking information, offering support, or learning more about their impactful work.
In each issue of Contemporary Family Quarterly, we will feature in-depth profiles of select agencies, offering a closer look at their history, mission, key programs, and the real-world difference they make in children's lives across the globe.
Help us to grow the knowledge of international resources helpful to our readers, and your constituents! Please share your suggestions and feedback at info@contemporaryfamily.org !
Our first featured profile focuses on an organization deeply committed to the rights and welfare of children everywhere, followed by a look at a crucial human rights court, the European Court on Human Rights.
Directory of International Agencies & NGOs Serving Children's Interests
If you would like to submit a Profile for publication, please provide the following information:
For each organization, provide:
Organization Name: (e.g., UNICEF, Save the Children, Plan International, World Vision, etc.)
Brief Mission Statement (Children's Focus): A concise sentence or two about their primary work for children.
Website: (Direct link to their main website)
General Contact Information:
Phone number (if available and applicable for general inquiries)
General Email address (if available)
Mailing Address (for general correspondence or donations)
Specific Contact/Support Information (where applicable and easily found):
Donor Services / Sponsorship Inquiries contact
Media Inquiries contact
Volunteer opportunities page link
Report a Concern/Safeguarding contact (if they highlight this)
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) - A Final Option for Child Custody Disputes
by Dr. Mark Roseman, Publisher
What is the European Court of Human Rights?
Imagine a special international court in France that makes sure countries across Europe respect people's basic human rights. That's the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). It was set up in 1959 by many European countries (the Council of Europe) to protect a very important agreement called the European Convention on Human Rights.
This Convention lists essential rights like:
The right to a private and family life (which is super important for parents and children!).
The right to speak freely.
The right to a fair trial.
The ECtHR is like a final safety net. If you believe your rights under this Convention have been violated by your country, and you've tried every possible legal step in your own country without success, you can bring your case to this Court. It helps make sure countries live up to their promises to protect human rights.
How This Court Helps Parents When They Can't See Their Children:
The ECtHR is like a final safety net. If you believe your rights under this Convention have been violated by your country, and you've tried every possible legal step in your own country without success, you can bring your case to this Court. It helps make sure countries live up to their promises to protect human rights.
One of the most powerful ways the ECtHR helps families is through Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees the "right to respect for private and family life."
This means:
1. Your Family Life is Protected: The Court sees the bond between parents and children as a fundamental part of "family life." This is true whether parents are married, separated, or if a child is in the care of the state.
2. Countries Must Help, Not Just Stand By: It's not enough for a country to just not interfere with your family life. The Court says countries have a "positive duty" to actively help parents and children stay connected, especially when problems arise. This means they should take steps to help parents see their children or work towards bringing families back together.
3. Your Last Chance for Justice (After Everything Else): Parents usually come to the ECtHR when they've tried everything in their own country's legal system (like appealing through all their national courts) and still can't see their child or get fair contact.
Core Principles from ECtHR Jurisprudence on Family Reunification/Contact :
1."Family Life" is Fundamental: The mutual enjoyment by parent and child of each other's company is a fundamental el-
ement of "family life" protected by Article 8. This applies even if parents are separated or if a child is in public care.
2. Care Orders are Temporary: When a child is placed in public care, it should generally be considered a temporary measure, with the ultimate aim of reuniting the family as soon as reasonably feasible.
3. Positive Obligation on States: States have a positive obligation to take all reasonable measures to facilitate reunification and ensure effective contact between parents and children. This isn't just about avoiding interference; it's about actively working towards family reunification.
4. Timeliness is Crucial: The passage of time can have irreversible consequences for parent-child relationships. Therefore, national authorities must act with expedition and diligence in decisions and enforcement related to child contact and reunification. Prolonged delays by national authorities often lead to an Article 8 violation.
5. Proportionality and "Relevant Any interfer-
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ence with family life, such as restricting or denying contact, must be "necessary in a democratic society" and based on "relevant and sufficient reasons." The measures taken must be proportionate to the legitimate aim pursued (e.g., the child's best interests).
6. "Best Interests of the Child" as a Primary Consideration (but not exclusive): While the child's best interests are paramount, they do not automatically override the parents' right to family life. National authorities must strike a fair balance between the competing interests of the child and the parents. The ECtHR will scrutinize whether the domestic authorities genuinely weighed these interests and provided adequate reasoning.
7. Maintaining Contact During Separation: Even when a child is in care, contact between the parent and child is crucial for maintaining family ties and increasing the prospect of eventual reunification. Restricting contact too severely or without proper justification can itself be a violation of Article 8.
The ECtHR looks at various situations where a country might be failing its duty to protect family life. Here are some of the common legal issues it addresses when parents bring cases:
Failure to Secure Contact: When national authorities or courts don't take effective steps to ensure parents can have contact with their child, even when contact orders exist.
Child Abduction (International):
Cases where a child has been taken from one country to another, and authorities fail to ensure their return or facilitate contact according to international agreements.
Disproportionate Removal of Children from Parental Care: When children are taken into state care (e.g., social services) without sufficient justification, or without making adequate efforts to support the family to prevent the removal.
-
rental Rights: When a parent's rights (like decision-making or access to in-
formation about their child) are unfairly limited by the state.
Adoption Without Parental Con-
When national authorities approve adoptions that permanently sever ties between biological parents and children, without having made serious and persistent efforts to reunify the family first.
Excessive Delays in Child-Related Legal Proceedings: When court cases about children (like custody or contact disputes) drag on for so long that they harm the relationship between the parent and child.
When the legal system in a country doesn't offer parents a genuine way to challenge decisions related to their family life or to enforce their rights.
Here's when parents often turn to the ECtHR and why they sometimes succeed:
When Contact Orders Aren't Fol-tiveness and Non Compliance
The Problem: Imagine a national court orders that you can see your
child, but then nothing happens. Social services don't act, or the other parent simply doesn't comply, and the contact never happens, or is constantly delayed for years.
The ECtHR's View: The Court says countries can't just issue orders; they have to make sure those orders are actually put into practice. They must take "effective and quick" steps because time is so precious when it comes to a child's relationship with a parent.
Success for Parents: If the Court finds that the country failed to make these efforts, it declares that the country violated the parent's human rights. While the Court doesn't directly order the child to be returned, this judgment is a powerful signal. It tells the country they were wrong and often leads to the parent receiving compensation. It also pushes the country to fix its systems so this doesn't happen to other families.
Real-World Example:
J
Kvocera v. Slovakia (Judgment of 8 February 2024): In this very recent case, a mother and her son had been separated for years, with the mother only seeing her son once in five years despite
national court orders for contact. The ECtHR found that Slovakia's justice system was too slow and ineffective in enforcing these orders, violating their right to family life. The Court awarded damages to both the mother and son.
-
lic of Moldova (Judgment of 13 June 2023): This case also concerned a failure by national authorities to secure contact between a father and his child, despite court decisions. The ECtHR found a violation of Article 8 due to the authorities' failure to take adequate measures for enforcement.
When Children Are Removed or
Keep the Family Together (Disproportionate Measures):
The Problem: Sometimes, a child might be placed into state care or even put up for adoption, without the authorities trying hard enough to help the biological parents fix problems and get their child back.
The ECtHR's View: Taking a child away from their parents permanently is a very serious step. The Court insists that this should only happen in "very unusual situations" and only after the country has made "all reasonable efforts" to support the family and try to reunite them. They must prove that other, less drastic steps were considered and failed, and that the decision truly serves the child's best interests in a fair and balanced way.
Success for Parents: If the Court decides the country didn't try hard enough, or if their decision was too extreme and didn't have strong enough reasons, it will declare a human rights violation. This often means the country needs to review its laws or practices, and the parent can receive compensation.
Real-World Example:
Strand Lobben and Others v. Norway (Grand Chamber Judgment of 10 September 2019): This is a key case where the ECtHR found a violation of Article 8. It concerned a mother whose child was adopted by foster parents after being placed in care. The Court acknowledged the child's welfare as paramount but found that the Norwegian authorities had not made sufficient efforts to facilitate reunification, nor had they adequately explored less drastic measures before proceeding with adoption. This case emphasized the state's positive duty to work towards reunification, where possible.
M.R. and T. Pedersen v. Norway (Judgment of 19 December 2019): Another case against Norway, where the Court found a violation of Article 8 concerning the decision to deprive the applicants of their parental responsibilities and authorize the adoption of their child. The Court found shortcomings in the assessment of the parents' capacity and the state's efforts towards reunification.
When the Legal Process Itself Was Unfair:
The Problem: Parents might feel that the court hearings in their own country weren't fair, they weren't allowed to present their side properly, or the process dragged on for far too long.
The ECtHR's View: The Court also looks at whether the decision-making process in the national courts respected the parent's right to a fair trial.
Success
for Parents: If the process was truly unfair, the ECtHR might find a violation, meaning the country has to revisit its procedures.
Important Things to Remember:
It's a Last Resort: You must go through all the legal steps in your own country first before the ECtHR will consider your case.
Time is Short: You generally have only four months from the final decision in your own country to apply to the ECtHR.
No Direct Reunion Orders: The ECtHR doesn't directly order a child to be reunited with a parent. Its job is to declare if a country violated human rights. It's then up to that country to decide how to fix the problem (e.g., changing laws, paying compensation, re-evaluating the case).
The Child's Best Interests: A Key Legal Concern
While the Court strongly protects a parent's right to family life, it's crucial to understand that the child's best interests are always a very important factor in every decision. This is a central legal principle the Court considers.
Balancing Act: The ECtHR's goal is to find a fair balance between the rights of the parents and the rights and needs of the child. It's not one or the other; both are carefully considered.
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39
Not a Guarantee for Parents: If a child's safety or well-being would genuinely be at risk by being reunified with a parent, or by having contact, the Court will likely support the national authorities' decision to prevent that, provided the authorities had very strong, clear, and well-explained reasons for their actions. They must show that they truly considered the child's welfare above all else in that specific situation.
Proportionality: The Court always asks: Was the state's action (like taking a child into care or blocking contact) a reasonable and necessary response to the situation? Was it truly proportionate to the risk, and did they explore less extreme options first?
Who may best represent the parent in the European Court of Human Rights?
Why You Need a Lawyer for the European Court of Human Rights
Applying to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is a serious and complex process. While you technically can represent yourself (go "pro se"), it's highly recommended to have an experienced lawyer. Most applications are rejected before they're even fully reviewed, and a lawyer significantly improves your chances.
Why a Lawyer is Crucial
Think of a lawyer as your guide and expert for this specialized court:
Understanding the Rules: The ECtHR has very strict rules about what cases it will accept. Lawyers know these "admissibility criteria" inside out. This includes:
Trying everything at home
You must have exhausted all legal options in your own country. A lawyer ensures this is done correctly.
Meeting Deadlines: There's a strict four-month deadline from your final national decision. A lawyer makes sure you don't miss it.
Proving You're a Victim: You need to clearly show how your human rights were violated.
Knowing the Law: The ECtHR's laws and past decisions are very specific and detailed. A human rights lawyer understands this complex body of law, helping to build strong arguments that the Court recognizes.
Building Your Case: Lawyers help you organize facts, gather evidence, and present your case clearly and persuasively, following the Court's specific format.
Avoiding Mistakes: The application process is full of potential pitfalls. A lawyer helps you avoid errors that could lead to your case being rejected.
The Challenges of Going It Alone
Trying to handle an ECtHR case without legal help often leads to disappointment:
High Rejection Rate: Most self-represented applications are thrown out because they don't meet the Court's strict rules.
Lack of Expertise: International human rights law is not something you can easily learn overnight. It requires deep legal knowledge.
The Court has specific ways of doing things (procedures) that are hard for non-lawyers to follow.
While the ECtHR is open to individual applications, securing justice there is far more likely with an experienced human
rights lawyer by your side. They provide the necessary legal knowledge, procedural guidance, and strategic advice to navigate this challenging international court.
Want to Learn More or Consider an Application?
[Link to ECHR Official Website, e.g., https://www.echr.coe.int/]
For People Applying: [Link to ECHR "Applicants" page, e.g., https://www.echr.coe. int/applicants/] (This section is essential if you're thinking about making a complaint.)
Explore Cases: You can read about past judgments to see how the Court has ruled on different situations.
How to Contact the Court: -
cations and letters): The Registrar European Court of Human Rights Council of Europe F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex FRANCE
Phone: +33 (0)3 88 41 20 18 (This is for general questions, they cannot give legal advice or updates on your case.)
Important: The Court usually requires official applications and correspondence to be sent by post or through specific forms on their website. They do NOT accept formal applications or legal inquiries by email.
Foreningen Far
Foreningen Far (The Danish Father’s Association) is Denmark’s leading nonprofit organization advocating for Shared Parenting and positive children and father relations. Founded on September 24, 1977, it is one of the world’s oldest and most experienced children and father advocacy groups.
The association aims to:
Ensure that children in all family forms maintain meaningful contact with both parents.
Promote equality in parental rights, responsibilities, and legal status.
Influence family law, administrative practices, and societal attitudes to strengthen fathers’ roles and children’s wellbeing.
Governed by a democratically elected board, The Danish Father’s Association:
Offers free, confidential advice via online and national counseling centers.
Operates selfhelp groups, educational initiatives, and a specialized 8week support program (“TakeIt”) for fathers facing separation or custody issues.
Engages actively in research, media outreach, legislative advocacy, and international collaborations to promote shared parenting and equitable family policies .
Driven by core values of childcentered practices, positive coparenting, and gender equality, The Danish Father Association works tirelessly to ensure that both fathers and mothers have equal opportunities to nurture, support and love their children. The Danish Father Association is known for its media strategy, nationwide free counselling centers and national law reforms in Denmark.
Homepage: www.foreningenfar.dk
Contact: formand@foreningenfar.dk
POETRY CORNER
by Lena Hellblom Sjögren, PhD
heaven shoes on then you see the pink veil clouds sand do not fear the dark and that you fall with the eyes of others you cannot walk your own road of longing the one you must walk to become alive
Join Our Editorial Advisory Board: An Invitation to Researchers and Practitioners
As Contemporary Family Quarterly begins its fifth year of publication, we remain dedicated to providing a thoughtful platform for global resources and research focused on high-conflict child custody, including issues stemming from parental alienation. Our aim is to share informed perspectives that can contribute to better outcomes for children and families.
We are looking to thoughtfully expand our Editorial Advisory Board and invite experienced researchers and seasoned practitioners to consider joining us. Your insights would help guide our content, ensuring it remains relevant and grounded in both scholarly understanding and practical application.
For this particular expansion, we are also extending a special invitation to graduate students who are currently in relevant programs. If you are a student seeking to broaden your understanding and contribute to improving child outcomes in this complex field, we welcome your interest. This is an opportunity to engage with established professionals and gain valuable experience in scholarly publishing.
Board members typically contribute by:
Offering informed feedback on article submissions.
Suggesting important topics and potential contributors.
Advising on ways to enhance our publication's value to the community.
If you are a researcher, practitioner, or a graduate student with a commitment to improving child outcomes in high-conflict family situations, we encourage you to connect with us. Your perspective would be a valued addition.
The Editorial Team
Contemporary Family Quarterly www.contemporaryfamilymagazine.com
BOOKS
I Want to See My Dad
'A warmly illustrated book with the reassuring message that even if parents can't be friends they can still both be good parents to their child' - Anna Kemp (children's author).
The story of Fenix, a little girl who has two families and two ways of living, brings up some of the first signs of alienation behaviors and its emotional and mental impact on children.
'I want to see my dad' also highlights how a neutral figure can help both the child to understand that s/he is not responsible for their parents' behaviors and the parents to identify the alienation and redraft the route to keep the child at the center after separation. 'I want to see my dad' is the key to open up the discussion about parental alienation with parents and their little ones in a loving and hopeful way.
Story Synopsis:
Fenix’s parents are separated but she feels lucky to have two families with completely different lifestyles. One day, Fenix’s mum and dad had a disagreement and she is prevented from seeing her dad. The bold girl searches for answers and counts on her teacher to help her. Will Fenix have the chance to see her dad again?
Parental alienation is a difficult topic to address. This book invites adults, children, and professionals to discuss parental alienation with love and care. Bringing to light some of the emotions and dynamics involved in parental alienation (which often happen unconsciously), Fenix’ story invites us to rethink negative behavior aimed at the other parent. The parent's negative behavior has great impact in the child’s emotions, during and after separation, that leave marks forever.
"I want to guide both alienating and ‘target’ parents towards what is right. Realigning their love and care is essential. By putting their past behind them and bringing the child back to the center, we may hold the -
tive communication is a great start, but enforcing justice is crucial." — Emanoela Cassins
As a mother of four and stepmother to three wonderful children, Ema has experienced parental alienation (PA) in different ways. In the healing process, and to raise awareness about PA, she published her first picture book on the subject.
Ema was born in Brazil and has lived in the UK since 2011. Graduated in English Language and Communication, Ema holds a postgraduate certificate in Psychology and has worked in the education sector since 2005. Understanding that children are naturally inquisitive, Ema applies her expertise and life experience to write picture books for children addressing their questions on difficult topics, such as parental alienation.
Contact: emanoela.cassins@gmail.com
I Left for the Children –A Story of Survival, Healing, and Legacy
For years, I carried the weight of my story— until I realized that sharing it could be a lifeline for others.
I Left for the Children: A Mother’s Story of Survival and the Legacy of Healing is more than a memoir—it’s a movement. It’s about resilience, breaking generational cycles, and the power of healing for the next generation.
Leaving an abusive marriage wasn’t just about my survival; it was about ensuring my children wouldn’t inherit the wounds of the past. Through this book, I not only share my journey but also give voice to those who lived it alongside me—my sons and my loving husband—offering a rare, multi-perspective look at the long-term impact of domestic violence and the strength it takes to heal.
At the heart of this work is the Lotus F.R.E.E. Method, a trauma-informed approach guiding individuals through Forgiveness, Rebuilding, Empowerment, and Enlightenment—a structured path to healing. To further this mission, I’ve created The Legacy of Healing workbooks for survivors, therapists, and educators, and The Wounded and the Wounding, a first-ofits-kind resource designed to help abusers break the cycle of harm.
I Left for the Children is a call to action. It is a testament to the human spirit, the power of storytelling, and the ability to transform pain into purpose. Whether you’re a survivor, a supporter, or seeking understanding, this book is for you.
Emanoela Cassins
What Our Senses Fail to Fathom: What Our Catholic Faith Can Teach Us About Parental Alienation
This book, "What Our Senses Fail to Fathom," is for any parent who has gone through or is going through a high conflict divorce with children, through a Christian lens. Our faith is our sanity during any crisis, and the authors have lived experience, strength and hope for other targeted parents. Ann O'Keeffe Rodgers and David Dziena share their experience, strength and hope as alienated parents, and have collected a curated resource list of helpful and supportive tools for the journey of pa-
rental alienation. The authors are members of the Jacksonville Parental Alienation Journey Facebook group, found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2679627255383557
Dr. William Bernet, President Emeritus and Founder of the PASG (Parental Alienation Study Group) has suggested to Anne that in her next edition she might adapt it as an anthology of various religious perspectives on PA (Parental Alienation.)
to Parental Alienation
Family law is fraught with conflict, and few issues spark more debate among mental health and legal professionals than parental alienation. When a child aligns strongly with one parent while rejecting the other—often due to indoctrination rather than legitimate reasons—the consequences can be devastating for families. Yet, professionals remain deeply divided on how to define, diagnose, and address this issue, creating further polarization in both policy and practice.
Parental Alienation Theory: Official Synopsis is a bold step toward consensus.
The PASG Announces:
Consortium for Parental Alienation Research and Advocacy (COPARA), has been honored to endorse an impactful new book titled Parental Alienation Theory: Official Synopsis.
This significant publication is a testament to our collective efforts in improving the lives of children by addressing and mitigating parental alienation.
COPARA was founded by Dr. Richard Warshak, a prominent figure in the field of parental alienation research as an organization focused on research and ad-
vocacy related to parental alienation. Its whole mission is dedicated to studying and addressing the issue of parental alienation, a phenomenon where one parent turns a child against the other parent.
For more details, visit: www.copara.net
This concise text brings together a group of experts who have developed a shared framework on definitions, terminology, diagnosis, prevention, and intervention. Designed as a foundation for ongoing dialogue, this work invites contributions from researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to refine and expand upon its principles in future editions.
By fostering collaboration and standardizing approaches, this book seeks to bridge professional divides and offer families a clearer path to resolution.
Addressing the Spiritual While Neglecting the Mental: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach to Holistic Well-Being
by Rev. Harvey Drummond
On many religious and spiritual communities, mental health is either minimized or viewed through a strictly spiritual lens. Emotional pain is often interpreted as a lack of faith, divine punishment, or a spiritual test. While these interpretations can be meaningful, they may also mask real psychological needs. This paper uses the metaphor "Addressing the spiritual while neglecting the mental is like driving a car with flat back tires" to illustrate how this imbalance creates dysfunction. A spiritually driven life may appear to be moving forward, but the journey is slowed, unstable, and ultimately unsustainable without mental wellness.
CBT is a structured, goal-oriented psychotherapy based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. By identifying and changing maladaptive thoughts and behaviors, individuals can improve emotional regulation and achieve better outcomes in daily functioning (Beck, 2011). CBT is particularly effective for addressing distortions rooted in rigid belief systems, including those that arise from misinterpreted or misapplied spiritual teachings.
The Problem: Spiritual Bypassing
Coined by John Welwood (1984), spiritual bypassing refers to the tendency to use spiritual ideas or practices to sidestep or avoid dealing with unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, or unfinished developmental tasks. It is not uncommon for individuals to rely on prayer, scripture, or religious rituals to suppress anxiety, trauma, or depression. While these practices may offer temporary relief or comfort, they can also delay essential psychological healing. Examples of Spiritual Bypassing Cognitive Distortions:
All-or-Nothing Thinking: "If I'm spiritual enough, I shouldn't feel anxious."
Catastrophizing: "Feeling depressed means I've fallen out of favor with God."
Should Statements: "I should be content because I have faith-feeling sad is wrong."
Minimization: "I don't need therapy; I just need to pray more."
These thought patterns, while cloaked in spiritual language, are rooted in cognitive
distortions that CBT is designed to challenge and reframe.
CST-Based Interventions
1.Cognitive Restructuring
Clients learn to recognize and reframe distorted beliefs that equate mental distress with spiritual inadequacy. For example, the belief "I shouldn't need help if I trust God" can be challenged and reframed as "Seeking help is a form of selfcare and does not diminish my faith:'
2. Behavioral Activation
Clients are encouraged to engage in activities that support mental health alongside spiritual rituals. Activities such as attending therapy, exercising, journaling, and setting boundaries are integrated into spiritual routines.
3. Mindfulness and Acceptance
Mindfulness-based CBT encourages clients to become aware of thoughts and feelings without judgment. This practice supports spiritual self-awareness and psychological presence, allowing for the coexistence of emotional pain and spiritual growth.
CBT helps clients clarify their personal and spiritual values, ensuring that their mental health journey aligns with their deeper sense of purpose. This reduces internal conflict and supports authentic living.
Case Study (Hypothetical)
"James," a 42-year-old pastor, sought help for burnout and anxiety. Despite
prayer, fasting, and spiritual retreats, his symptoms worsened. In CBT, James learned that he was using spiritual busyness to avoid confronting deep-seated feelings of inadequacy and childhood trauma. Through cognitive restructuring, he began challenging his belief that seeking help was a sign of weakness. With behavioral activation, he incorporated self-care and therapy into his life. Over time, James reported greater emotional balance, renewed spiritual energy, and more authentic pastoral care.
Discussion
Spirituality and mental health are not mutually exclusive domains. When properly integrated, they reinforce one another. However, neglecting one in favor of the other-especially the psychological domain-can result in emotional stagnation and spiritual disillusionment. CBT offers a respectful and effective method for navigating these dynamics. By addressing cognitive distortions and behavioral avoidance, clients can find a
balance that honors both their faith and their humanity.
Conclusion
Just as a car cannot function optimally with flat back tires, individuals cannot thrive when spiritual pursuits are prioritized at the expense of mental health. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy offers a pathway to restore this balance by confronting avoidance, correcting distorted thinking, and fostering holistic well-being. Therapists, clergy, and clients alike must recognize that faith and psychology are not adversaries, but allies in the journey toward healing and wholeness.
References
Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Masters, R. A. (2010). Spiritual Bypassing: When Spirituality Disconnects Us from What Really Matters. North Atlantic Books.
Welwood, J. (1984). Principles of inner work: Psychological and spiritual. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 16(1), 63-73.
Cashwell, C. S., & Young, J. S. (2005). Integrating Spirituality and Psychotherapy: Ethical Issues and Principles to Consider. American Counseling Association.
Rev. Harvey Drummond is a seasoned minister and Pastoral Counselor with over 30 years of experience in spiritual care and counseling, now holding a Master's in Mental Health Counseling. Rev. Drummond specializes in marriage and family therapy, bereavement counseling, and mental health support. He is skilled in providing holistic care that integrates spiritual guidance with therapeutic interventions, and experienced in supporting individuals and families in crisis across diverse settings. Contact: harvey2drumm@gmail.com
The John Mast Story Has an Ending, or, a New Beginning
by Dr. Mark Roseman, Publisher
John Mast was murdered on February 5, 2021 when he had driven hours to meet for a child exchange of his children amidst new custody decisions favoring him. On November 17, 2023, his former father in law was convicted of his murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison without parole and a monetary fine of $15,000.
On August 1, a jury has brought a measure of closure to the family of John Mast, awarding them $6.25 million in punitive damages after finding his killer, former father-in-law James Brashear, and his exwife Rebecca Brasher-Mast both responsible for his wrongful death. The verdict, delivered after a four-day civil trial in Lewiston, provides a long-awaited sense of vindication for the family, who had fought tirelessly to clear his name.
The day before, on July 31, the civil lawsuit concluded with a jury finding both James Brashear, 71, and his daughter, Rebecca Brashear-Mast, liable for "actions" that led to the death of 40-year-old John Mast. The decision was a powerful moment for Mast's family and supporters, who were present at the Nez Perce County 2nd District Court. As the verdict was read, family members remained silent, but tears and embraces followed once the jury was released by Judge Mark Monson.
"We were here to see our brother John vindicated of all the injustice," said Sam Mast, 49, of Redding, California, reflecting the sentiment of more than a dozen family members who traveled to Lewiston for the proceedings.
The civil trial follows the separate criminal case against James Brashear, who is already serving a 15-year prison sentence after a jury convicted him of voluntary manslaughter in 2023. John Mast was fatally shot by Brashear in February 2021 in the Lewiston Rosauers parking lot during a visitation exchange. According to Dean Ferguson’s reporting in the Lewiston Tribune of August 1,
“Plaintiffs’ attorneys, Kevin L. Hickey, of Arkansas, and Joseph C. Miller, of Boise, created an argument based on circumstantial evidence that the killing was no unplanned act to save his grandchildren from a predator, as Brashear claimed. Attorneys convinced the jury that Rebecca BrashearMast set up her ex-husband by emailing him to meet her in the Rosauers, near the library drop-off box, to hand over the children, when she knew her father was armed and gunning for him.”
Mast who left his Amish community five years before the murder, began his struggle began amidst a high-conflict divorce where his ex-wife allegedly used extreme parental alienation tactics. She manipulated their children and made false accusations against him. Despite Mast's efforts to prove his innocence through polygraph tests and evaluations, his legal battle continued, highlighting the challenges faced by parents in similar situations. The fatal shooting was reportedly a result of Brashear acting on these apparent false beliefs. Mast's life was tragically cut short, leaving behind his children and family.
In the wake of this tragedy, John Mast's family established The John Mast Foundation. The foundation's mission is to support other parents dealing with parental alienation and to advocate for safer visitation exchanges. The foundation proposes innovative solutions, such as staggered exchange times, to minimize conflict and prevent similar tragedies.
This case has been cited as a poignant example of the devastating consequences of unchecked parental alienation and underscores the urgent need for systemic changes to protect both parents and children caught in the crossfire of contentious divorces. John's story is remembered as a testament to his unwavering fight for his children and his tragic loss as a hero and warrior.
“I Stand With John” is the moving and detailed documentary produced by A Dad Talk Today Studios with Eric Carroll, host of Dad Talk Today, and Robert Garza, Child Advocate and Filmmaker directing. It premiered January 1, 2024 and was initially featured at the 5th Annual PASG Conference at Colorado State University. It may be found at pasg. info/external-videos and YouTube.
the Lewiston Tribune, which originally published the details of the civil trial verdict, credited to these sources.
CONTEMPORARY FAMILY SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Welcome to Contemporary Family Quarterly!
Our name change further represents our editorial content of original research, new protocols for practitioners, and examining opportunities for public health policy change, internationally. Importantly, too, students and faculty to now have the opportunity to publish in Contemporary Family Quarterly!
WHO WE ARE
A quarterly publication for family professionals across disciplines. The Quarterly is a tool for family professionals, policymakers, child advocates and parents seeking to improve child outcomes. Editorial content provides practical thought and insight, and helpful, stimulating reviews. Research and journalism, interview and opinion are welcome.
OUR AUDIENCE
Available by online subscription, Contemporary Family Quarterly reaches an international audience of several thousand readers from across professional, research, and academic disciplines. Increasingly, the magazine seeks to be a forum for those professionals working to improve child outcomes across the globe. Major editorial topics include:
• Child Welfare
• Child Custody
• Co-Parenting
• Family Science
• Systems Therapy
• Child Reunification
• Public Policy
• Education
• Medicine
• Child Advocacy
• Family Law
• Child and Family Services
• Parental Alienation
• Juvenile Justice
WHAT WE PUBLISH
Contemporary Family Quarterly editorial content can be considered in the following categories:
Send press releases describing news and events to keep readers informed about social science developments, conferences, policy changes, and findings. Submit your events to info@contemporaryfamily.org.
2025 ISSUE DEADLINES
• Winter: January 15th
Child Advocacy: Past, Present, Future
• Spring: April 15th
New Beginnings - Coping Through Transitions
• Summer: June 15th
Co-Parenting: Challenges & Successes
Fall: September 15th
High Conflict, In Practice, Prevention and Policy
Subscription and Advertising Details: www.contemporaryfamilymagazine.com
Send your book review with author photo and cover with note why this book review is important.
You may request to write a blog post on Contemporary Family Website on any of our editorial topics, sharing your thoughts, your professional experience.
Contemporary Family Quarterly embraces stories about individuals, businesses, and organizations working to build resilience in family life and family change. Feature stories allow for interviews, original discussion and traditional journalism addressing significant concerns, changes, challenges and achievements on aspects of family from the perspective of law, child advocacy and custody, social policy, government, medicine, and psychology.
The Editorial Board of Contemporary Family Quarterly seeks to showcase in-depth critical thinking without the restrictions and limitations of many peer reviewed journals. Rather, our mission is to more rapidly share new ideas
READERS GOALS
Our readers are family professionals across disciplines and many parents, all seeking guidance to improve their co-parenting relationships, to better advocate for court reform and to intervene when parental alienation may be apparent in their child custody case.
in family science and human services, child custody and public policy with evaluations of applied research in these areas so that readers may consider how to implement findings in their own organization and community. Authors of these documents may find it easier for feedback, portfolio attributions and career growth.
You may submit a query in advance of any written document. Provide your c.v., or bio and a writing sample. We will be delighted to consider every story idea. Allow us two to four weeks for a reply.
Documents should be typed and double-spaced and meet the word counts applicable for each category of submissions. Research and white papers should be in APA format.
Please let us know if you have already published your manuscript. We wish to publish original submissions, but we will consider reprinting articles or a revised version with appropriate permission. If published before, please provide approval from that publication for reprinting.
Photographs that are original and without license are welcome to be shared for publication. Submit your jpeg photos for cover use and for submitted manuscripts. Author photos are requested for each article to be published.
Submit manuscripts via e-mail to the Publisher: mark.roseman@contemporaryfamily.org
Submit News and Events via e-mail to Calendar: info@contemporaryfamily.org
Send Book Review Copies to: Editorial Offices, 11505 SW 54th Street, Cooper City, Florida 33330 (USA)
