PAI_Newsletter_September_2022

Parental Alienation International
Advancing worldwide understanding in the field of parental alienation
www.pasg.info
September 2022 Parental Alienation Study Group Volume 7 • Issue 5

PASG takes on an important

Global Alienation Starts Small

pg 7
project pg 5

14 Marathons in 14 Days

pg 10

Announcing International

Conference 2023 pg 6 
Lived experience of being a

targeted parent pg 12
September 2022 T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S Volume 7 • Issue 5
Editorial
3
Donna-Maria Logue
News About PASG

4 Making History. Parental alienation a Relational Problem & DSM-R-TR
William Bernet
5 PASG takes on a very important project
6 PASG international conference date
Feature Articles
7 “Global Alienation Starts Small”
Vesta Spivakovsky
10 Donna-Maria Logue of La Dolce Vita Project reviews
Charlie Magill 14 Marathons in 14 days
Columns
12 Lived experience of being a targeted parent
Cheryl Arries
Events
15 Call out to publish all up and coming events, educational training and or conference
16 Post Graduate Certificate in Parental Alienation Studies 2022-2023
Brian O’Sullivan of Parental Alienation Europe
17 Check out Parental Alienation Events
Holly Mattingly
Recent Publications
18 Compiled by Robert Ferrer
Departments
24 Contact Information for PASG Officers and PAI Editors
25 About the Parental Alienation Study Group
25 About Parental Alienation International
Parental Alienation Study Group

September 2022 2 www.pasg.info
E D I T O R I A L
By Donna-Maria Logue
WELCOME TO THE FIFTH ISSUE of the Parental Alienation International newsletter.
It is nearing the end of summer 2022. We do hope you have all had the opportunity to enjoy some
well-deserved holiday time.
In this newsletter we will begin with a second announcement from Professor William Bernett on the
Parental Alienation Study Group proposal to have parental alienation included in the DSM-5. Details
on how and to whom to send your endorsements to, along with details on the dedicated website to
this proposal.
PASG call for donations to financially assist their continuous critical efforts to have parental alienation
recognized.
PASG have announced their next conference date.
Vesta Spivakovsky shares her personal views on parental alienation and how it cannot be limited to only
family conflicts.
Donna-Maria Logue shares the mammoth journey of the “Charlie Magill Fundraising Walk across
Ireland”, raising awareness on parental alienation, which seen Charlie Magill complete 14 marathons in
14 days, from County Cork to Glenarms in Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Cheryl Arries shares a brief insight into the real-life consequences of being a targeted parent.
Donna-Maria Logue requests if you wish to provide information on up-and-coming training,

conferences, events that you would like to see published in PAI Newsletter to forward by email:
donnamaria.vita@gmail.com or to h.mattingly@yahoo.com
Holly Mattingly has compiled a list of useful links, registration information on parental alienation events
beginning September 2023.
Brian O’Sullivan shares information on the up-and-coming Parental Alienation Certificate course
beginning in October 2022 to include registration requirement details and costs.
Robert Ferrer provides recent publications on parental alienation.
Thank you kindly for taking the time to read September’s issue.
Take Care. 

And Jennifer Harman is keeping track of endorsemen
• Research groups
• Advocacy groups
N E W S A B O U T P A SProfessional
• G organizations
If you have questions about the content of the propo

Making History them to me at william.bernet@vumc.org. This is a ve
Parental Alienation Relational Problem and DSM-R-TR
support and your help.
By William Bernet
This is the second announcement to PASG members regarding our proposal

that parental alienation be included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders. The DSM is now in its Fifth Edition, Text Revision
(DSM-5-TR). The time has come for parental alienation relational problem
(PARP) to be added to the chapter of DSM-5-TR called “Other Conditions
That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention.” We announced this project in
the July 2022 issue of PAI. Since then, we have received more than 2,000
endorsements by individuals and organizations.
Several PASG members collaborated in developing a rather elaborate

proposal, which we will submit to the DSM-5-TR Steering Committee in
November 2022. The proposal and several appendices are now available on
their own website, which is www.parp-dsm.info. The website also has infor-
mation and links for individuals and organizations to endorse the proposal.
That is, Mandy Matthewson is keeping track of endorsements by…

• Individual researchers
• Individual practitioners
• Individual child and family advocates – such as alienated parents and grandparents
• Adults who were previously alienated as children
And Jennifer Harman is keeping track of endorsements by…

• Research groups
• Advocacy groups
• Professional organizations
If you have questions about the content of the proposal or if you have suggestions or corrections, send them
to me at william.bernet@vumc.org. This is a very important project. As always, thanks for your support and
your help. 

N E W S A B O U T P A S G
REQUEST FOR DONATIONS

PASG takes on a very important project
WE AT PARENTAL ALIENATION STUDY GROUP, its directors and members, continue the fight against the
scourge of parental alienation (“PA”). While this movement has made tremendous progress over the last few
years, we all recognize that there’s much to do still. In this vein I ask everyone to read the following paragraphs
closely and to act accordingly.
Please recall that while membership in our organization is free, the cause for which we strive against costs
plenty. It exacts a heavy toll, against both those who are directly affected by alienation and those – like PASG –
who fight to end it. And, while the battles are many and ominous, those in the trenches grow more weary every
day. We need reinforcements. Won’t you please help us?
There are many ways of course you can assist us in our collective efforts to expose, to prevent, and to treat
alienation and its many victims. The simplest of these is with your financial assistance. Because, as a not-for-
profit entity and volunteer run organization, we rely on financial contributions from our members and support-
ers to operate throughout the year and to fund the many projects and programs PASG is involved in. These are
essential for PASG staying on our industry’s forefront. But, to do so, we need help.
The latest effort undertaken is crucially important to having PA officially recognized by the psychiatric and
mental health industries. It can – in large measure – determine whether we’re successful over the long term in
fighting this scourge. It involves petitioning Parental Alienation Relational Problem (“PARP”) to being included
in the upcoming release of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (“DSM”), Fifth Edition,
Text Revision, or DSM-5-TR, which is published by the American Psychiatric Association. The DSM lists crite-
ria for diagnosing mental health issues and with each a list of specific symptoms and behaviors. To have PARP
included would be a monumental step in validating what all of us already know, that PA is real and it inflicts
tremendous damage upon millions of families.
This project, which is already well underway, involves reaching out to both those on APA committees who
would vote but also creating a groundswell of support for its inclusion. Reaching the voters and influencers
will involve creating an effective website, among other things, to be used as communication tools. With your
assistance, financial and through sweat equity, we can make this happen. Please help us put parental alienation
on the ash heap of history.
You may donate to PASG by going to our website (http://www.pasg.info) and using the button on the home-
page, “Make a Donation.” That takes you to PayPal, where you can use your credit card to send vital funds to
PASG. Several members donate automatically every month through PayPal. The advantages of using PayPal are
that (1) it is easy to do, and (2) it accepts currencies from almost every country. The only disadvantage is that
they deduct a small fee for every transaction.
You may also donate with a check to Parental Alienation Study Group and mailing it TODAY to…

PASG
c/o Phillip Hendrix
COVENANT COUNSELORS
200 S. Wilcox Street #502
Castle Rock, Colorado 80104 U.S.A.
If you have any questions or need to request additional information about your donation, contact the PASG
Treasurer, Phillip Hendrix at phillip@covenantcounselors.com. In advance, thank you. 

N E W S A B O U T P A S G
Mark Your Calendars for the 2023

PASG International Conference
THE NEXT PASG INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE will be held on June 16th – 18th, 2023 in beautiful
Fort Collins, Colorado, USA at Colorado State University.
The conference, held at the Lory Student Center (https://lsc.colostate.edu/), will feature a Friday evening
networking event, two full days of presentations by scientists and practitioners, as well as several parallel
training and parent workshops.
Shuttle service from Denver International Airport makes Fort Collins easily accessible, and we will also have
a limited number of inexpensive on-campus apartment style housing options available for those who do not
want to stay in one of the area’s hotels.
Given all the recent advances in science, practice, and advocacy related to parental alienation, this will be a
timely and important event you do not want to miss!
A conference website and registration details, call for papers will be available soon. So stay tuned for updates
in PAI, as well as the PASG website. 
You can earn money for PASG effortlessly.

AmazonSmile is a simple, automatic way to support PASG every time you shop
for your usual purchases on Amazon, at no cost to you. When you shop at
https://org.amazon.com, you’ll find the same prices, selection, and shopping
experience as Amazon.com, with the bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5%
of the purchase price from your eligible purchases to PASG.
Place AmazonSmile permanently on your “Favorites Bar” for easy access.

F E A T U R E A R T I C L E
Global Alienation Starts Small

By Vesta Spivakovsky
THE DEVASTATION THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE UKRAINE and within my own country, Russia, for the
past months crumbles my inner voice. The chocking affect that I feel right now is the result of my own PTSD.
12 years ago, I came face to face with dehumanization, brutality and genuine indifference of the state bureau-
cratic machine. That was the time when my daughter was taken away from me.
The loss of my daughter to her father was legalized by the judiciary. I have the first-hand experience of how this
happens when a small group of people breaks a fundamental human right – the bond between mother and child.
The war of parental alienation is still going on, but I’m no longer participating. I laid down my arms and picked
up a pen to write about this painful infliction of modern society called Parental Alienation (PA).
I have acquired a deep perception of how paralyzing fear can be. How limitless the territory of this fear is.
And how severe the consequences are. My country is considered by many to be an aggressor today. My country
could be viewed as a mass alienator because it has deprived thousands of people of their lives and millions of
children of their future in just a few months. The comparisons between the two wars are many. Let us take a
look at some social science theory.
The phenomenon of Alienation has a broader context, and it cannot be limited to only family conflicts. Alien-
ation means non-wholeness, separation, and lack of freedom. Alienation takes away the critical thinking, while
lack of communication leads to dehumanization. Alienation means turning a person who was once important
to you into an inanimate object. Alienation gives the right to express cruelty towards an “undesirable” object.
For example, in a family conflict it looks like this: if the former spouse is no longer part of your clan, humanity
is not applicable to him / her. Parental Alienation remains legal and socially acceptable in many countries, and
only in rare cases it is unlawful (punishable) and recognized as a form of child abuse.
At the beginning of my own struggle in 2010, PA seemed to be illegitimate. A few months later, we joined
forces with other alienated mothers to record a video message for the President of Russia. Having castled with
Putin, Dmitry Medvedev came into power and signed amendments to the Federal Law in 2011. Those amend-
ments promised an administrative fine to a parent who isolates a child from the other parent. By that time, I
had already created a public organization and we took it as a positive change that we had been heard by the
state which was ready to stand up to protect the rights of children and parents. In reality, the opposite was true.
The legislated fine (about 30 USD at the exchange rate of ruble back then) as a punishment for parental
alienation was just easy to get around. It was successfully avoided by my daughter’s father, who was isolating
and alienating my little girl from me. So, the amendments which once looked promising in reality made no
sense whatsoever.
After many years of confrontation, I didn’t get to see my daughter at all. Instead, I faced the court system and
I was confronted with total indifference with which the state, supposedly the guarantor of the constitution,
handled the abuse cases.
Although I was vindicated after false allegations, the constant pressure and threats towards me, my family, and
even my work pushed me to leave my country in 2014. My goal was to survive not only physically but mentally
as well. I wanted to finish writing my story, hoping that one-day my daughter who was taken away from me at
the age of 2.5 years, would be able to read it. Six years later “Louder than Silence” was finished. When it was
published in 2018, my story gave a voice to hundreds of alienated parents. Semen Gen, a PASG member from
Ukraine, published my book in Ukrainian. Then it was translated into English and published in its full version.

However, PA has been and remains an acute and unresolved problem in Russia. At the same time, it seems to
me that the state agenda is not at all aimed at solving or even recognizing this problem. On the contrary, the
Putin administration appears interested in legitimizing various forms of abuse.
An important question arises. Why do the Russian people tolerate violence?
Russia has shown itself to be an autocracy ruled by a dictator. Autocracy is not a state for people. When a
human is born and raised during these rules, they cease to notice violence, like a fish does not notice water.
Tolerance to violence starts small. It begins with the strengthening of law enforcement agencies and with
victim-blaming as a generally accepted public practice. Here are some of the most notable state’s actions to
recognize the permissibility of abuse:
• Decriminalization of domestic violence.
• The ongoing economic violence against the people – someone has to pay for the wealth of the elites.
• Jailing political opponents.
• Silencing journalists.
• Suppression of peaceful protests and persecution of those who cannot to be silent.
• Political indoctrination is another form of massive abuse.
Biting off the territories of neighboring countries occurred in parallel with the biting off of human rights and
freedoms within the country. As a result, we see intimidated people who are forced to silently accept aggression
in a neighboring fraternal country, justified by the rhetoric of denazification, which in fact only covers up the
fear and paranoia of the autocrat. An autocrat is like an alienator who takes their own children hostage because
they act out of fear. In both scenarios, the next generations pay for the damage caused. My daughter lives in
relentless indoctrination – family and ideological. As a mother, I cannot get her out of ongoing violence without
likely incarceration.
The word “war” is banned in Russia, and #NoToWar was recently recognized as extremist. Tolstoy wrote back
in 1900:
“The ruling classes have the army, money, school, religion, and the press in their hands. In schools, they incite
patriotism in children with stories, describing their people as the best of all peoples and always right; in adults,
they incite the same feeling with spectacles, celebrations, monuments, patriotic false press; most importantly,
they incite patriotism by committing all kinds of injustices and cruelties against other peoples, arouse hostility
in them to their own people, and then this enmity is used to stir up enmity among their own people.”
Tolstoy would be imprisoned if he were alive today. I agree with the writer.
When a child is alienated from a parent due to parental alienating behaviors, there is always a polarization
within family, society, colleagues, and friends. In the same way, the war in Ukraine is now polarizing Russian
society. Russian people are faced with a choice – what side are you on? Are you a patriot or a traitor? Choose
one and reject the second. This choice reminds me of a child’s interview in court “do you want to live with
mom or dad?” Every Russian citizen has friends or family ties in Ukraine. Choosing between Ukraine and
Russia in this conflict is like choosing between Mom and Dad. May I not choose?
I would like to share another story of an alienated family. An alienated father in Ukraine told me that after the
military operation started, he had one difficult decision to make. He could not leave the country himself, since
the departure of men from Ukraine was closed, but the children were going to be evacuated to Europe with their
mother. He had to issue a permit. Because of the existing parental alienation, he understood that he might never

see his children again. In the last days before their departure, he spent time
with his children. The children behaved as though they had not been alienated
from him. They hugged and played with their father while their mother was
occupied with packing for urgent departure. This had not happened for a long
time. Eventually he could not keep his tears back, while remaining in contact
with his children.
This story illustrates one important thing: how a split is treated in the face of a
greater tragedy. If the disagreements in one family that have been unresolved
for many years can stop with the outbreak of war, then I have only one question
left… Should we really wait for the coming of the apocalypse to finally reunite
the hearts who have been divided for so long?
To learn more about my story, please read my book Louder than Silence:
https://store.bookbaby.com/book/louder-than-silence
Kindle version:
https://www.amazon.com/Louder-Than-Silence-Vesta-Spivakovsky-ebook/dp/B09LHCTC58/ref=sr_1_1?crid-
=VOLQWRY6BDMA&keywords=louder+than+silence&qid=1658159161&sprefix=louder+than+silence%-
2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1 
Find PASG on Facebook

You can find PASG on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ParentalAlienationStudyGroup/
Visit our Facebook page, become a friend, and write a comment.

Charlie Magill, who we have now named the Legend from Larne, Charlie M
completed
F E A a marathon
T U Ra day E for A14 consecutive
R T I C days L Eto raise
awareness, as he put it “by getting the conversation going” on
Charlie Magill 14parental Marathons
alienationin and14thedays
impact on a person’s mental health Charli
By Donna-Maria Logue across Ireland. Charlie set off on 22 July 2022 making his way
nd
compl
down to Traag Beach, County Cork with his wife Rotha, sisters, aware
CHARLIE MAGILL, who Patricia,
we haveCollette,
now named Annmarie, as well
the Legend fromas manycompleted
Larne, other family parent
a marathon a day for 14 members
consecutiveand
days to raise awareness, as he put
friends to begin the challenge of 14it “by getting
marathons on across
the conversation going” Saturday
on parental23alienation
rd and
July 2022. the impact on a person’s mental
down
health across Ireland. Charlie set off on 22nd July 2022 making his way down to Traag
Patric
Saturday morning
Beach, Countycame
Cork with his
thewife
beautiful
Rotha,Irish cold,
sisters, windyCollette,
Patricia, weather. Charlie,ashis
Annmarie, family,
well
memb
friends, members
as many otherof Alienated
family Children
members First,toJanice
and friends andchallenge
begin the Sean andofeveryone
14 that joined him,
marathons on Saturday 23rd July 2022. Saturd
of course didn’t let the weather conditions put us off. The atmosphere among the group was
electric drivenmorning
Saturday with passion and recognition
came with the beautiful for
Irishthe cause
cold, of parental
windy alienation.
weather. Charlie, Saturday
his family, friends, morning
members of came with the b
Alienated Children First, Janice and Sean and everyone that joined him, of course didn’t let friends, members
the weather con- of Alienated Ch
Pictured below, (front centre) The Mayor of County Cork Danny Collins cutting the ribbon
ditions put us off. The atmosphere among the group was electric driven with passion and of course didn’t
recognition for thelet the weather co
with Charlie and Donna-Maria Logue of La Dolce Vita Project.
cause of parental alienation. electric driven with passion and re
Pictured
Pictured below, (front centre) The Mayor of County Cork Danny Collins cutting the ribbon below,
with Charlie and(front centre) The
Donna-Maria Logue of La Dolce Vita Project. with Charlie and Donna-Maria Lo
Danny openedDanny
the walk sharing
opened thea few
walkwords of his un-
derstanding ofsharing
parentala alienation,
few wordsthe ofimpact
his he himself
has seen.
understanding of parental
alienation,
Danny thanked the group the impact hehim to open the
in honouring
himself
walk while wishing has seen.
Charlie well on his epic journey.
Danny
Throughout the thanked
14 days, thesaw
Charlie group
huge support from
in honouring him to openjoined him on
his own family and friends who not only
many days onthethe walk
walk,while
but they also all made an im-
wishing
mense effort to do all they
Charlie wellcould
on histoepic
help out. The family
made sure all the walkers, had water, cups of tea, sand-
journey.
wich stops and plenty of treats.
The walk saw people traveling from all across Ireland to

meet Charlie, as one man put it, “I just wanted to shake
Charlie’s hand, I don’t think he really has grasp any idea of what he is doing for people like me”.
Throughout the 14 days, Charlie seen huge support from his own family in friends who not
It was great
only joined him onto see the support
many days onacross Ireland
the walk, butboth
theyNorth
also and South.an
all made Janice O Neill
immense (Alienated
effort Children First)
to do all
“Charlie joined the island of Ireland together in one mammoth walk, let us unite the parents who were
they could to help out. The family made sure all the walkers, had water, cups of tea, sandwich
separated from their own children and entering the Judicial system. It was a privilege to meet Charlie on his
stops and plenty of treats. Throughout the 14 days, Charlie
walk and an honourable and kind mind with an equally kind family”.
only joined him on many days on
Member of the walk group that was set up shared her thoughts “to know Charlie was not they alonecould to help out. The family
throughout
the walk was remarkable in itself, he really raised the platform of parental alienation, we stops
all came
andout, as heof treats.
plenty
believed in all of us and our children”.
TD Brendan Smith, MLA Philip McGuigan Sinn Fein, MLA Doug Beattie met up with Charlie exploring the
conversation on parental alienation, agreeing more needs to be done to support the harm being caused to
children, parents, families affected by parental alienation.
Throughout the 14 days there was plenty of laughs along the way, stories shared, memories made. Many, many
people remarked on how in awe they are of Charlie. How it was an honour to be a part of his epic journey.

Patricia (Charlies Sister) reflections on the walk
across Ireland. “When Charlie decided to take on
this challenge, myself and my sisters were commit-
ted to supporting him 100 percent. We were very
aware of the circumstances leading to Charlie’s
decision to address, the often hidden and ignored
problem of parental alienation. Our role was to
take on the organising of the event, allowing Char-
lie to concentrate on training and actually complet-
ing his fourteen marathons in fourteen days.
We had hoped the walk would generate some

publicity, but we were not prepared for the influx
The walk seen people travelled from all across Ireland to meet Charlie, as one man put it, “I
of messages
On a personal from alienated
note, I am parents throughout Ireland and beyond, expressing their genuine heartfelt thanks
just wanted to shake Charlies hand, I don’t thinkso he proud
really hasofgraspCharlie
any idea forof raising
what he is the public awareness of parental alienation
doing forto andlikeI am
Charlie
people me”.forgrateful
giving that themI was a voice. ableMany to playofathese smallparents
part in joined
makingCharlie
the event onsuch a success.
his walk, each It would
with theirbeunique
impossible
heart-breaking tostorythank to all
share, ourand family
although and
It was great to see the support across Ireland both North and South. Janice O Neill (Alienated
friends,
there was who
a not
sadness only
unpinningofferedthe words
walk, of
it support
also seemed and to offer
Childrenhope encouragement,
First) but also took
to many parents who felt very alone and isolated.
“Charlie joined the island of Ireland the
together time
in one to join
mammoth Charlie
walk, let us throughout
unite his walk. I had underestimated how
the parents whomuch weretime
separated andfrom efforttheirwas involved
own children and in organising
entering the Judicialsuch anItevent; however, I can say without a shadow
system.
was a privilegeof a
to doubt
meet it
Charlie has
on hisbeenwalk one
and an of the most
honourable
On a personal note, I am so proud of Charlie for raising the public rewarding
and kind mind with experiences
an equally of myawareness
life. of parental alienation and I
kind family”.
amIgrateful
Member of the have
walk group to that
givewas
that
I awas very
set
able toherplay
special
up shared
a small
thanks
thoughts
part
to Donna
“to know
in from
Charlie was
making thethe
not alone Laevent
Dolcesuch Vitaa Project
success.forIt would be impossible
her unwavering
throughoutto thank all our family and friends, who not
support, Charlie's walk was made all the more successful because of her input”
the walk was remarkable in itself, he really raised the only
platform offered
of words
parental of support and encouragement, but also took
alienation,
thewetime
all cameto out,
join as Charlie
he believed throughout
in all of us and our hischildren”.
walk. I had underestimated how much time and effort was involved in
TD Brendan I asked
Smith,
organising MLAthe Philip
such legend
McGuigan
an event; Charlie
Sinn Fein,Magill
however, MLAIDoug cantoBeattie
comment
say met up with
without onaCharlie
his ownofexperience
shadow a doubt it of hasthe walk
been onehere is most
of the what rewarding
exploring the conversation on parental alienation, agreeing more needs to be done to support
he had toofsay
the harmexperiences
being caused to children, my“I’ve life. had
parents,
no aches nor pains; I don’t know why but I feel great. I had a few days
families affected by parental alienation.
where I felt tired but apart from that there is not a thing wrong with me.
Throughout the 14 days there was plenty of laughs along the way, stories shared, memories
I have to give a very special thanks to Donna from the La Dolce Vita Project for her unwavering support,
made. Many, many people remarked on how in awe they are of Charlie. How it was an honour
ofI his
Charlie’s
to be a part took on the
epic walk
journey. waschallenge
made all the to more
highlight parental
successful because alienation and mental health as I witnessed
of her input”.
someone close to me go through it and saw
Patricia (Charlies Sister) reflections on the walk across Ireland. “When Charlie decided to take on the physical, emotional and mental damage it does
I asked
this challenge, myselftheand legend
my sisters were CharliecommittedMagill to
to supporting comment on
him 100 percent. his own
We were experience
very of the walkthehere is whatof he had to say
aware of the to a person.
circumstances leading to The walk
Charlie’s wasto aaddress,
decision great the experience. I felt very touched by
often hidden and ignored amount family,
problem of“I’ve
parental had no aches
alienation. Our role norwas pains; I don’t
to take on the organisingknowof thewhy
event, but I feel
allowing great. I had a few days where I felt tired but apart
Charlie
to concentratefriends, and neighbours completing hiswho supported me and days. came at different stages to walk with me. Also,
fromonthat training and
thereactuallyis not a thing fourteen
wrongmarathons
with me. in fourteen
We had hopedpeople I met
the walk would eachsome
generate day whobutcame
publicity, we were along to support
not prepared for the influxme
of and walk with me. I was touched by all
messages from alienated parents throughout Ireland and beyond, expressing their genuine heartfelt
their
thanks to ICharlie
took stories.
ongiving
for thethem I was
challenge
a voice. Manyhonoured
to these parentsthat
ofhighlight parental
joined they
Charliefelt
on histhey
alienation could
walk, each with confide
and in me.as I witnessed someone close to me
mental health
their unique heart-breaking story to share, and although there was a sadness unpinning the walk, it
go through it and saw the physical,
also seemed to offer hope to many parents who felt very alone and isolated. emotional and mental damage it does to a person. The walk was a great
There was a couple of things I took away from it, one was the amount of mothers alienated and
experience. I felt very touched by the amount of family, friends, and neighbours who supported me and came at
each parent affected their biggest concern was the damage it was doing to their children and
different stages to walk with me. Also, people I met each day who came along to support me and walk with me. I
wasthe impactbyitall
touched will theirhave on them
stories. I was in honoured
later life”.that they felt they could confide in me.
There was a couple of things I took away from it, one was the amount of mothers alienated and each parent
affected their biggest concern was the damage it was doing to their children and the impact it will have on them
in later life”. 

T A R G E T E D P A R E N T S ’ C O L U M N
Lived experience of being a targeted parent

By Cheryl Arries
MY STORY OF HOW I came to be an alienated parent is complex and is not the typical scenario as the person
who has primarily erased me is my own mother. However, the alienating behaviours and consequences I have
experienced are the same as for every other targeted parent.
The relationship between my daughter’s father and I inevitably broke down when she was a toddler, and the
subsequent repossession of our house meant that I had no option than to return to live with my parents short
term, until we secured our own property. Despite difficulties and genuine concerns regarding protecting my
daughter, I always tried to encourage the relationship between her and her dad, and he did visit and see her
frequently over the 15 years she lived with me.
In hindsight, I can now see that my mother was engaging in alienating behaviours long before she completely
erased me overnight: the constant undermining my parenting and healthy boundaries for my child, belittling me
and portraying me as unfit and incompetent in front of daughter and everyone else. She encouraged us to stay
at her house rather than our own, and essentially assumed a role as ‘mum’ rather than ‘nanny’. On reflection, I
believe that unresolved trauma following the unexpected death of my only sister on Christmas Day aged just 18,
plays a big part in driving my mother’s behaviours, but it never ever occurred to me that my own mum would
seek to erase me from my daughter’s life.
In 2016, my daughter was 15, and I was working with children in a school as a qualified Speech and Language
Therapist. My daughter had been diagnosed with arthritis aged 5 and was under the care of a Children’s Hospi-
tal, which involved seeing a Clinical Psychologist as part of managing the impact of her health condition. At the
same time, I was diagnosed with some potentially very serious health complications and was concerned about
what the future might hold, so it was understandably a difficult time. Unbeknown to me, my mother was having
covert conversations and colluding with the Psychologist and others, during which she was fabricating allega-
tions of me being mentally unstable, unfit to parent, and of abusing and neglecting my child. I had no opportu-
nity to defend myself as I was completely unaware that this was happening.
Innocent situations were reported out of context to make me appear abusive, for example, me saying ‘no’ to
my daughter drinking fizzy drinks at midnight and offering her something water/something else instead was
reported as me having neglected her and not allowing her to drink when she was thirsty. My daughter having a
meltdown over homework on one occasion where she asked me to take out the pages where she had made mis-
takes, was reported as me having ‘always ripped up her homework’. Not allowing her to go to the park on her
own in the dark or go alone to a City Centre Concert late at night (for which she was underage) was reported
as me not allowing her to have any freedom. Ensuring she did her homework was reported as me being abusive
and making her do things she didn’t want to do. There are countless similar examples, all designed to paint me
as abusive and unfit to justify erasing and replacing me.
I was then ordered by the Psychologist – in the absence of any orders from anyone with authority to make such
decisions – that my daughter was going to live with my parents and that I could not be present. She accused me
of causing my daughter (with active JIA) to limp. I had no idea at that point about the conversations with my
mother. There was no safeguarding referral and the Psychologist had never even met or spoken with my father
whose behaviour ironically is a genuine safeguarding concern. I was told my daughter living with my parents
had already been arranged and that I had no choice about it. She then threatened and bullied me and reported I
had agreed to the arrangement. She knew this to be untrue.

I haven’t seen my only daughter since that day, despite her having lived with me happily for the previous 15
years. I have always been my daughter’s Legal Guardian and held Parental Responsibility; my mother never has.
There has been no court involvement or orders for a change of residence, PR status or supervised access, as my
mother informs others is the case. My MP even wrote to Children’s Services to confirm there have never been
any formal processes against me. The hospital has now admitted to breaching my PR status, but the damage is
done and irreparable.
I guessed in the absence of expected communication that my contact details had been removed and replaced
from both School and Hospital, without my knowledge or consent, and my suspicions were confirmed. Both
organisations refused to reinstate me, and all information and care decisions regarding my daughter’s health and
education was directed to my mother from then on. I was told that in the event of an emergency, no one would
or could have even tried to contact me. My daughter interprets this action or removing me as ‘proof’ that I am’
not allowed’ to parent and that I am a risk to her; she has been coerced to reject and fear me.
My mother then reported that me texting my daughter (as I had done every day) was ‘distressing her’ and so
I stopped, as ordered; she then reported that my daughter now believed that I didn’t love her as she had been
waiting for me to message her. The situation was engineered to portray me as unloving. Very quickly, my
daughter with whom I had had a close, loving relationship with just months earlier, now displayed no
ambivalence in her sudden absolute rejection n=and apparent hatred of me.
Last Christmas, I left my daughter’s Christmas presents outside my parents’ house. On New Year’s Day, my
mother returned them (opened) to my doorstep and sent a text saying that they (and I) were unwanted and to
leave my daughter alone. I then discovered that my parents’ had sold their house and 6 months ago, they moved
to another part of the country, taking my (now adult) daughter with them. They have withheld all information as
to where so that I can never contact her or even send a card or gift. I left her Christmas presents on my sister’s
grave in the hope they would visit and my daughter would be able to receive her gifts and know that she was
loved. I waited in the cemetery for 5 hours but no one came, so I returned home alone. The presents join those
returned last year in her bedroom.
I received calls informing me of more false allegations against me including that I had damaged my parents’
property, smashed their windows, thrown myself out of my own window, had been verbally aggressive – the list
goes on; none of it is true. As a result, I have been subject to abuse and shouted at on the street that I should not
be out. The impact of false allegations has been devastating – I became suicidal as a result and I left my career
due to the trauma. I withdrew from friends as it was too painful to watch milestones and celebrations whilst I
didn’t even know where my daughter was. I didn’t leave my house for a year. I could tell that people could not
believe that I could be erased from her life by my own mother in the absence of any formal orders for this, so
they concluded what seemed to them to be a more ‘plausible’ explanation that my child had been removed from
my care by services and that I was just denying it; but this was never the case.
I have chosen to tell my story in order to dispel myths that Parental Alienation is a gendered issue, that it
simply doesn’t exist, or that it is only ever a false claim used by abusive individuals in courts. I am a mum of a
daughter, alienated by my own mum in collusion with others who were also women. I have never been to court.
I alone have always had custody and held PR. I was unaware for a long time that there was a term for what I
was experiencing, which delayed me finding the support of other targeted parents. My hope is that education
will alert others to recognise the signs earlier.
The collusion of health care professionals and school was key in my case in facilitating alienation and esca-
lating it very rapidly. I have come to learn that many professionals involved in working with children are not
aware of alienating behaviours, leading in some cases to them becoming complicit in erasing safe, loving,

available parents. I feel strongly that there needs to be education regarding the counter-intuitive nature of
Parental Alienation, the Independent Thinker Phenomenon and the difference between ‘estrangement’ and
‘alienation’. In my experience, there is a lack of understanding of how alienated children, alienating individuals
and targeted parents typically present.
After 5 years of campaigning and a CQC investigation, I have finally managed to get the policy changed at the
Children’s Hospital which had previously allowed anyone to instruct the removal and replacement of a parent
from the system, in the absence of any checks, or informing the parent that they had been erased. My daugh-
ter’s school has also now amended its policy which had allowed it to withhold information, correspondence and
consent letters from non-resident parents (with PR) and had placed the responsibility for choosing which parent
to pass correspondence to upon the child. Whilst this amounts to just small local steps and it’s too late for me,
my hope is that this will help prevent others being excluded and experiencing what I have.
I aim to continue working with others in raising awareness of Parental Alienation and recognising it as a form
of abuse and a child protection matter. As a targeted parent, my personal pain is overwhelming and hard to
manage, but my greater concern is the long term suffering and likely mental health and future relationship dif-
ficulties caused to my daughter being denied a relationship with a safe parent, which I am at present powerless
to prevent. I hope that she knows that she is loved. My belief is that education is key to breaking cycles, and
preventing this from happening to future generations. 

P A S G E V E N T S
By Donna-Maria Logue
Holly and I would love to hear and share with our members any up-and-coming events, training, or education
programs. Perhaps you are hosting an event or conference on parental alienation, or delivering training in 2023
and you would like to see this information featured in PAI newsletter.
What to do next:
Send an email to: donnamaria.vita@gmail.com or h.mattingly@yahoo.com to include:
1. Name of training, event, conference, or educational course.
2. Location (Include postal, zip code).
3. Date to be hosted.
4. Guest speakers and or facilitators
5. Details on how to register and costs incurred.
6. Details CPD points, hours if attend.
7. Image
Once we have received this information, we will complete the necessary checks then confirm with you the date
of publishing in the next PAI Newsletter.
We’re looking forward to sharing your events. 

P A S G E V E N T S
Post Graduate Certificate in Parental Alienation Studies 2022/2023

Post Graduate Certificate in Parental Alienation Studies 2022/2023
Following on from our successful completion of the first cycle of our accredited Post Graduate Certificate in
Following
Parental AlienationonStudies
from this
ouryear
successful
where, wecompletion
had learners of theChina,
from first cycle of our
Australia, Newaccredited
Zealand, US,Post
Canada,
Graduate
Iceland, Certificate
Malta, Russia, UK andinIreland
Parental Alienation
complete Studies
the program. thisdelighted
We are year where,
to sharewe
we had learners
are now accepting
from China,
applications Australia,
for the next programNew Zealand,
commencing US, Canada,
in October 2022. Iceland, Malta, Russia, UK and
Ireland complete the program. We are delighted to share we are now accepting
In the context of a growing awareness of the widespread harm caused by Parental Alienation to children, young
applications for the next program commencing in October 2022.
people, individuals, families, and society at large. This program offers an academically accredited program to
informInpolicy, procedure
the context of and practice going
a growing forward.of the widespread harm caused by Parental
awareness
Alienation to children, young people, individuals, families, and society at large. This
In an experiential, inclusive and participative environment this program offers learners the opportunity to
program
acquire key skillsoffers an academically
and theoretical knowledge accredited
to effectivelyprogram
engage withto individuals
inform policy, procedure
and families and
experiencing
practice going forward.
Parental Alienation. We believe this academically accredited program delivered by Parental Alienation Europe
(www.parentalalienation.eu) in collaboration
In an experiential, inclusive with the Institute
and participative of Family Therapy
environment Malta (www.ift-malta.com)
this program offers
presents a unique opportunity for professionals and practitioners to complete the only
learners the opportunity to acquire key skills and theoretical knowledge to effectivelyacademically accredited
program of its kind across the globe.
engage with individuals and families experiencing Parental Alienation.
On completion of this program, learners will have developed an advanced competency and proficiency working
We believe this academically accredited program delivered by Parental Alienation
with clients / patients presenting with Parental Alienation dynamics. Learners will more fully understand the
Europe (www.parentalalienation.eu) in collaboration with the Institute of Family
complex and challenging nature of Parental Alienation. Learners will be uniquely placed to influence attitudes
Therapy Malta (www.ift-malta.com) presents a unique opportunity for professionals
and inform policy in the workplace, community, and wider society
and practitioners to complete the only academically accredited program of its kind
Placesacross the Simply
are limited. globe. follow this link to begin the application process
https://parentalalienation.eu/post-graduate-award-in-parental-alienation-studies/
On completion of this program. Learners will have developed an advanced
competency
Enquiries and
can be made to proficiency working with clients / patients presenting with Parental
marika.azzopardi@ift-malta.com
Alienation dynamics. Learners will more fully understand the complex and
brian@parentalalienation.eu
challenging nature of 
Parental Alienation. Learners will be uniquely placed to
influence attitudes and inform policy in the workplace, community, and wider society
Places are limited. Simply follow this link to begin the application process
https://parentalalienation.eu/post-graduate-award-in-parental-alienation-studies/
Enquiries can be made to marika.azzopardi@ift-malta.com
brian@parentalalienation.eu

P A S G E V E N T S
Check out Parental Alienation Events

Compiled by Holly Mattingly, PAI Newsletter columnist
October 25, 2022 – PARENTAL ALIENATION EU- Goldberg & Associates Free Online
ROPE – THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE Conferences
This conference will provide discerning professionals, Parents or Extended Family, Lawyers, Mental Health
practitioners, advocates, parents and policy makers Professionals, Parenting Coordinators, GALs, or anyone
an opportunity to hear from the experts drawing upon interested in learning more and understand the dynamics
evidence-based best practice to inform you regarding the of Parental Alienation
phenomenon of parental alienation.
https://www.parentalalienation.ca/free-online-
https://parentalalienation.eu/parental-alienation- conferences/
conference-2022/
Blended Family Frappe

September 9-11, 2022 – FAMILY ACCESS- This workshop gives you a new (and more hopeful!)
FIGHTING FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS VIRTUAL framework to follow.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
https://blendedfamilyfrappe.com/parental-alienation-
Handling Alienation Using Better Communication and workshop
Self Care
https://www.familyaccessfightingforchildrensrights.com/
handling-alienation-using-better-communication-and- Monthly International Seminar Calls –
self-care.html Family Access
These calls are complementary and are for alienated
family members to provide knowledge and support to
October 5, 2022 – Virtual Stepmom Support deal with the hell on earth called alienation.
Group: Freedom from Co-Parenting with a
Narcissist https://www.familyaccessfightingforchildrensrights.com/
If you have anyone in your life who has been struggling
in her relationship with a man or woman who has Daily Support Group Meetings – Parental
children (and they’re facing a dysfunctional co-parent- Alienation Anonymous PA-A
ing dynamic with the other bio-parent), please share this
virtual Meetup with her! 12 Step parental alienation support group
https://www.meetup.com/living-our-bliss/events/ https://parentalalienationanonymous.com/meeting-
ptgdwsydcnbhb/ schedule/
October 10-14, 2022 – Eeny Meeny Mino Mo On Demand – The Nurturing Coach
Foundation Trainings, videos, research for anyone attempting to
Parental Alienating Behaviours: Practice, Science and recover from a narcissistic relationship
Law Seminars 10-14 October 9am-10:30am AEST https://thenurturingcoach.co.uk/pa-toolkit/
https://lnkd.in/gZZw5VCv
Seminar page: https://lnkd.in/eEaiS3aq
April 25, 2023 - Parental Alienation Awareness
Day – Bermuda, Canada, United States

Compiled by Robert Ferrer, PASG Archivist
In this section, Robert Ferrer, PASG Archivist, provides citations and abstracts for recently published
articles related to parental alienation. The citations are entered into the searchable Parental
R E C E N T P U B L I C A T I O N S
Alienation Database, also accessible from the PASG website. Many citations will provide access to
the full-text version of the article. To have an article considered for this section, email Robert Ferrer at
Compiled by Robert Ferrer, PASG Archivist
r-ferrer@illinois.edu
IN THIS SECTION, ROBERT FERRER, PASG Archivist, provides citations and abstracts for recently published
articles related to parental alienation. The citations are entered into the searchable Parental Alienation Database,
also accessible from the PASG website. Many citations will provide access to the full-text version of the
Note from
article. an article In
R. Ferrer:
To have honor offor
considered ourthis
students
section,as theyRobert
email start aFerrer
new school year, this edition of
at r-ferrer@illinois.edu
Recent Publications is dedicated to them. The citations below are recently published
Dissertations
Note from various
from R. Ferrer: In honorUniversities thataswere
of our students submitted
they start in fulfillment
a new school year, thisof the requirements
edition for
of Recent Publications
degrees in Doctor
is dedicated to them.ofThePhilosophy, Doctor
citations below of Jurisprudence,
are recently Master of Science,
published Dissertations and Universities
from various Doctor of that
Psychology.
were submittedAll submittedofdocuments
in fulfillment are reviewed
the requirements by in
for degrees anDoctor
appropriate committee,
of Philosophy, chaired
Doctor by the
of Jurisprudence,
candidate’s advisor
Master of Science, andbefore
Doctorapproval and publication.
of Psychology. All submitted The year of are
documents publication/graduation is com-
reviewed by an appropriate
shown in the parentheses.
mittee, chaired by the candidate’s advisor before approval and publication. The year of publication/graduation is
shown in the parentheses.
Quantitative
QuantitativeAnalysis
Analysisof
ofParental
ParentalAlienation
AlienationininIsraeli
IsraeliCourt
CourtCases
Cases
(‫)ניתוח כמותי של ניכור הורי בתיקי בית המשפט הישראלי‬
By:
By: R.
R.David
DavidWeisskopf
Weisskopf(2022). Dissertation.
(2022). TouroTouro
Dissertation. University Worldwide,
University Los Alamitos,
Worldwide, CA. 111 pgs.
Los Alamitos, CA. English.
111 pgs. English.
Abstract: This quantitative analysis has three research questions.
•Abstract:
What is theThis
relationship between
quantitative court decisions
analysis has threeonresearch
parental questions.
alienation and the frequency or severity of parental
alienation?
•• IWhat
n light is
of the relationship
the Israeli Supremebetween courtindecisions
Court’s order on parental
October 2020, what are alienation
the current and the frequency
management needs foror
severity of parental alienation?
parental alienation cases in Israel?
•• SInhould
lightIsrael scale
of the ErezSupreme
Israeli Shani’s specialized court in
Court's order onOctober
parental alienation
2020, what in Tel
areAviv to a nationwide
the current management
infrastructure?
needs for parental alienation cases in Israel?
To answer the questions, a case law analysis started with all of the 430 published Israeli court decisions on
•parental
Should Israel from
alienation scale1996
Erezto Shani's
2020 in thespecialized courtThe
Nevo database. onstudy
parental alienation
focused in Tel
on 198 cases Aviv the
in which to court
a
nationwide infrastructure?
determined there to be parental alienation during the period. The analysis then sifted through 6,084 published
cases with signs of parental alienation but failed to address parental alienation. This sifting was to find decisions
To answer
to serve as a the questions,
control group fora the
case lawToanalysis
study. started
accomplish this, with all of used
the analysis the 430 publishedsystematic
a quantitative Israeli court
con-
decisions
tent analysis to identify cases that most resembled the 198 cases in the target group. There were focused
on parental alienation from 1996 to 2020 in the Nevo database. The study on
86 cases from
198
lowercases
courtsin which
that closelythe court determined
resembled thereThe
the target group. to target
be parental alienation
group also during
contained the from
86 cases period.
lowerThe
courts.
analysis
Therefore, the study proceeded with a quantitative analysis of the 86 cases from lower courts in the controltogroup
then sifted through 6,084 published cases with signs of parental alienation but failed
address parental alienation. This sifting was to find decisions to serve as a control group for the
to compare with the 86 cases from lower courts in the target group. While the analysis found statistical signifi-
study. To accomplish this, the analysis used a quantitative systematic content analysis to identify
cance with time and severity, the most significant finding was a pilot program in Tel Aviv that set up a specialized
cases that most resembled the 198 cases in the target group. There were 86 cases from lower courts
court in 2019. This specialized court substantially reduced the time, frequency, and severity of parental alienation
in its decisions. Therefore, the analysis recommends scaling the pilot from Tel Aviv into a nationwide infrastruc-
ture with recommendations for specific Israeli authorities.
Subjects: Israel; Parental alienation; Court decisions
Divorce, Parental Alienation, Anxiety and Depression

By: Meghan Blydenburgh-Pruett (2022). Dissertation. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology,
Chicago, Illinois. 56 pgs.

Abstract: Research affirms that there are both short-term and long-term effects on children who have experi-
enced the divorce of their parents. Additionally, previous research suggests that it is not the divorce itself that
creates difficulties for the children, but rather the level of contention within the context or separation and di-
vorce. The current study explores the relationship between divorce, parental alienation, anxiety and depression.
It focused on adults who experienced the divorce of their parents as minors. Variables including the participant’s
gender, race, religion with which they affiliate, primary parent with whom they resided, age at the time of the
divorce and the amount of time that had passed since the divorce occurred were examined to gain a better under-
standing of potential protective and risk factors for children of divorce. Implications of the findings, as well as
recommendations for future research, were included.
Subjects: Anxiety; Depression; Divorce; Parental alienation
Phenomenological Study on Noncustodial Mothers Suffering Complex Trauma

due to Parental Alienation Pre and Post Distant Healing Intention
By: Stefanie Bennett (2021). Dissertation. Sofia University, Palo Alto, California. 270 pgs.
Abstract: Parental Alienation (PA) is accepted by many psychiatric professionals but is not included in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Diseases (5th ed.) or The International Classification of Diseases.
Research on PA is proliferous, but studies focused solely on noncustodial mothers is limited, with little data on
PA’s impact on affected mothers. This qualitative, phenomenological study examined how PA affected noncus-
todial mothers and the role (if any) Distant Healing Intention (DHI) played, with the goal of understanding the
experience of PA before and after DHI. A selected group of 9 noncustodial mothers, pre and post non blinded
DHI treatment, was studied. Pre DHI data collection included scales and semistructured interviews, followed by
a 4-week healing interval where 9 distance healers worked with participants in an unblinded fashion using their
respective healing modality. Healers’ notes were kept and later examined. Participant interviews post DHI treat-
ment focused on conglomerate outcomes based on a second set of scales. All data were analyzed using Mous-
takas’ (1994) transcendental phenomenological research method to account for textural and structural themes.
Findings indicated changes in participants’ relationship to self and others, with the fundamental change attribut-
ed to feeling a greater life purpose. This study concluded that self-forgiveness provided a relief from participants’
burden of grief from losing the role of mother. While the healing results participants expressed feeling post
DHI were tangible and highlighted the role of consciousness in healing, whether these improvements were due
to DHI, being part of a study, attributable to feeling the acceptance of the researcher, placebo, or a combination
thereof, remains questionable. Thus, study limitations are noted and specific and realistic recommendations for
future research were provided.
Subjects: Distant healing intention; Noncustodial mothers; Parental alienation; Phenomenological study; PTSD;
Qualitative study
Parental Alienation, Authoritarian Parenting, and Their Effects on Attitudes in

Alienated Children
By: Luke Saunders (2021). Dissertation. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. 70 pgs.
Abstract: Research has yet to investigate the attitudes of alienated children other than that of the valences
towards their parents. The present study investigated the relationship between parental alienating behaviors
(PABs), authoritarian parenting style, and their possible effects on attitudes in children who have been alienated
from a parent by another. Participants enrolled in introductory psychology courses (n = 656) were recruited to
participate in an online, self-report survey that measured indicators of parental alienation, authoritarian attitudes,
prejudicial attitudes, need for closure, splitting, and retrospective ratings of parenting styles and PABs. Results
indicated that alienated children did not score significantly higher than children who were not alienated on

authoritarian attitudes, and that splitting was not a significant mediator in this relationship. However, results showed a
significant relationship between PABs and authoritarian parenting, and a significant correlation between splitting and
need for closure. Future research should further investigate attitudes in alienated children.
Subjects: Authoritarian parenting; Authoritarianism; Parental alienation; Parenting styles; Political psychology;
Social psychology
Extra! Extra! Read All about It: Failures in the Association between Law and
Social Science
By: Hanock Spitzer (2021). Dissertation. The University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, Illinois. 252 pgs.
Abstract: This dissertation sheds new light on the tension apparent in the relationship between Law and Social
Science. In particular, this work examines the association between State Courts and Social Science academia to reveal
failures in their interaction, previously unidentified in the literature. Additionally, it provides a deeper understanding
of identified failures in the use of Social Science in court. Analysis utilizes two original datasets: The first dataset
includes the complete universe of sources participating in the debate regarding the Parental Alienation Syndrome,
in courts, academia, and other related sources (n=684). The second dataset includes a representative sample of State
Court litigation pertaining to three legal issues in Family Law: The Best Interest of the Child; Nuptial Agreements; and
Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege (n=5,132).
Subjects: Citations; Expert witness; Extra-legal knowledge; Law reviews; Networks; State courts; Academia
African American Fathers’ Experiences of Alienation from Their Children Due to

Texas Family Code
By: Fatima Thomas (2021). Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 306 pgs.
Abstract: Throughout the years, Texas Family Code: Title 5. The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the
Parent-Child Relationship has the coined termed best interest of the child. In fact, it has created an unintentional in-
doctrination to parental alienation therefore, leaving little to no access for courts to rectify and resolve the parent-child
relationship. Arguably, researchers have suggested that the legal system engages in gender ideologies that contributes
to parental alienation. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of African American noncusto-
dial fathers’ interaction and how Texas family code possession order impacts the father-child relationship. Social con-
struction and policy design theory was used to analyze their experience. Using a qualitative phenomenological study,
data from seven African American noncustodial fathers were collected. The results of these analyses indicated nine
themes that identified the African American noncustodial fathers experience with Texas family code. The nine themes
were: (a) great father-child relationship, (b) standard legal rights as a father; (c) child support system biased and unfair
treatment toward them as a father; (d) lack of understanding to the term best interest of the child; (e) equal parental
rights (time, roles, finances); (f) removing the label of being deadbeat; (g) wanting more parental time with children;
(h) updating the child support policies to be fair to mothers and fathers, (i) limited familial structure. Legislators may
benefit from the results by creating policies and laws based on scholarly research leading to positive social change.
Subjects: Best interest of child; Coparenting; Family law; Father child relationship; Parental alienation; Parental
involvement
Using Power Imbalances to Differentiate between Forms of Family Violence

By: Caitlyn Grubb (2021). Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. 65 pgs.
Abstract: Forms of family violence can be characterized by differences in power between the parties involved.
According to interdependence theory, power is the inverse of dependence, so the less powerful person in a relation-

ship is dependent on the more powerful one. It was predicted that participants who were trained on these power
dynamics would be able to better label situations involving family violence according to interdependence theory
and recognize the power imbalances. Results indicate that training did not help participants in labelling forms of
family violence using the terminology from interdependence theory. However, participants were able to recog-
nize the power imbalances among situations of family violence in predicted directions. It is important that family
violence is assessed accurately so that interventions are implemented appropriately and that interventions that are
used do not cause further harm to families.
Subjects: Assessment; Domestic violence; Parental alienation; Abuse; Classification; Labels
Alienación Parental: La invisibilización De Un Problema Social

(Parental alienation: the invisibility of a social problem)
By: Nivea Veronica Rosado Ramos (2021). University of Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras (Puerto Rico).
145 pgs. Spanish.
Abstract: In this research I intend to focus on parental alienation and how it has been explained. It incorporates
its manifestations, possible causes and the controversial pathologization. I am looking for a reclassification of
parental alienation that can yield results in the search for new solutions to the conflict. Linking it with Commu-
nity Social Psychology and explaining parental alienation from the theory of social construction, reclassifying
it as a constructed social problem. Through which I show an ideal means to transform and achieve social and
multidisciplinary changes that would contribute to recognizing and developing new forms of conceptualization
and intervention. I understand that through this new look, the course can be redirected to find new solutions, new
means of intervention and prevention to work with parental alienation.
Subjects: parental alienation, social problem, social construction, parents and children
Summer Camp Experiences of Children from Divorced Families: An Exploratory

Study on Camp Staff Perspectives
By: Kevin D. Rowen (2021). Alliant International University, Los Angeles, CA. 228 pgs.
Abstract: Research has shown that parental divorce can have long-term negative impacts on children across
multiple outcomes. Various interventions focus on promoting protective factors and reducing risk factors to help
these children adjust to new family dynamics. Summer camp may be an environment which naturally addresses
these factors. Both general recreational camps and population-specific camps have been shown to have signif-
icant positive effects on youth. Some research has examined camps that assist families experiencing parental
alienation after divorce or separation. However, no research appears to have considered how general recreation-
al camps may address protective factors for children from divorced families. As such, the primary aim of this
study was to explore if and how recreational summer camps have a positive impact on the lives of children from
divorced families, through the perspective of camp staff members. In this study, 265 camp staff members (ages
18-74) completed a survey with a demographic questionnaire, 30 Likert-style questions, and three open-end-
ed questions. Results indicate that camp staff strongly believe recreational summer camp experiences have a
positive impact on children from divorced families, while being divided on whether these campers have largely
different camp experiences than their peers from non-divorced families. Results further suggest that recreational
camps are beneficial for children from divorced families possibly because they provide experiences at camp that
parallel factors known to be protective for this group of children as well as family-like experiences at camp that
these children may be less likely to experience in their home lives.
Subjects: Divorce; Positive youth development; Summer camp

Parental Alienation: an Exploratory Study of Legal Professionals’ Views and
Experiences in Northern Ireland
By: Mairead McCormack (2021). Queen’s University Belfast (United Kingdom), Northern Ireland. 231 pgs.
Abstract: Parental alienation is a term that is used to refer to an estrangement between a child and one of their
parents, and sometimes that parent’s extended family. It is perceived as unjustified by the alienated parent and
follows the alleged formation of a coalition between the parent thought to be carrying out the alienation and
the child. This estrangement is classified as unjustifiable where the estranged parent and professionals involved
with the family can identify no plausible reason to explain the estrangement, such as neglect or abuse. It occurs,
mainly, when parents are engaged in high conflict divorce or separation with the child appearing to align him
or herself to one parent and rejecting the other as a result of the alienating influence of the aligned-with parent.
Parental alienation, while contentious, is increasingly being recognised across the world, and the topic is gain-
ing recognition in Northern Ireland. Worldwide there has been limited research from the perspective of legal
practitioners, despite parental alienation typically manifesting itself within contested and difficult divorces and
separations. The study explores the perspectives of legal professionals on the nature and presentation of paren-
tal alienation in private law proceedings in Northern Ireland and draws on feminist theory to understand these
perspectives. Twenty legal practitioners who work in family law in Northern Ireland participated in the study;
interviews were conducted with solicitors, barristers and judges in order to hear their views and experiences of
parental alienation in their working lives. Using an exploratory, qualitative approach to gather the data, in-depth,
semi-structured interviews were conducted with solicitors (12), barristers (6) and judges (2). The professionals
who took part practice in rural and urban settings and included equal numbers of men and women. This research
provides an analysis of the accounts of a small number of legal professionals. It contributes to the research on
parental alienation by providing insight into how lawyers perceive, describe and explain the phenomenon with-
in Northern Ireland. It looks at the subtle form of control which the alienating parent is perceived as exercising
over the child. It considers this as a form of coercive control, fortifying a child’s refusal to engage in a relation-
ship with the alienated parent. This paper has identified how this behavioural dynamic is facilitated through
many subtle facets. It also produced interesting findings in respect of the role which the legal professionals
may play as agents of the phenomenon and how drivers for power, money and status may also contribute to its
manifestation in Northern Ireland. The role of money having been identified as a conceivable contributor to the
alienation of children within Northern Ireland - either as a tool by which to influence the child or as a driving
force in the alienation of the child when in the pursuit of a beneficial financial settlement. The link with money
was also identified with legal practitioners being accused of seeking greater remuneration by prolonging cases
and potentially contributing to parental alienation because of a correlation between protracted court cases and
parental alienation. This study is positioned within a feminist legal theory framework, drawing primarily on the
work of Judith Butler, Catharine A MacKinnon and Katharine T. Bartlett. The feminist framework was used to
consider legal professionals perceptions of differential treatment of mothers and fathers during contested contact
and residency proceedings and how the gender dynamics of power and control influence all levels of relationship
within this context - parents’ relationships with each other, parent/child relationships and those of client/legal
representative. It has identified how support is offered to fathers to maintain their relationship with the child
whilst children are removed from mothers without any support offered to the mother to assist in re-establishing
her relationship with her child as a result of Fathers’ Rights groups having established the “essentialness” of the
father, without mother’s similar “essentialness” to the child being acknowledged. This thesis presents findings
that show gendered perceptions of parenting roles, unfavourable descriptions of women and a lack of empa-
thy toward maternal mental health. It reports lawyers’ perceptions of gender bias within court proceedings and
gender dynamics involved in the representation of mothers and fathers. It contributes to research within the field
of feminist legal theory suggesting that the established processes and systems in place within Northern Ireland’s
legal system may continue to replicate and represent men’s methods of problem solving rather than incorporate
women’s solutions and thinking.
Subjects: Parental alienation; divorce/separation; Northern Ireland; Legal professionals; coercive control;
Stockholm Syndrome; power and control; estrangement; feminist theory.
Alienação Parental: Possíveis Respostas Legislativas
(Parental Alienation: Possible Legislative Responses)
By: Marlene Filipa Soares Cardeira (2021). Universidade de Lisboa (Portugal). 103 pgs. Portuguese.
Abstract: This essay aims at presenting a detailed view on parental alienation, its consequences and possible
solutions. I feel you can not be indifferent to using a child as a weapon of a war which is not theirs. To make this
topic easy to understand I first tried to clarify that Parental Alienation is different from Parental Alienation Syn-
drome as I believe the latter does not exist. Along the written assignment I enhanced that in our legal order there
are civil laws that can be applied to Parental Alienation cases. There are also criminal laws which are applied
when the parent commits domestic abuse crime, child maltreatment crime or kidnapping. I believe that the most
important is not the creation of new laws, but allowing people to know about the Parental Alienation phenom-
enon, so that the existing law can be applied and, thus, protect the children and foster a good relationship with
both parents. Although the number of cases of manipulation by parents is not as high as GARDNER suggested,
that does not mean that the existing minority should not be protected.
Subjects: Parental Alienation Syndrome, Parental Alienation, Children, Parents, Protection 

Contact Information for PASG Officers and PAI Editors
Mailing Address Editors-in-Chief
1313 Twenty-First Avenue South Mandy Matthewson, Ph.D.
209 Oxford House Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Nashville, TN 37232, USA mandy.matthewson@utas.edu.au
Board of Directors Donna-Maria Logue

William Bernet, M.D., President La Dolce Vita Project
Nashville, Tennessee, USA Derry City, Northern Ireland
william.bernet@vumc.org donnamaria.vita@gmail.com
Amy J. L. Baker, Ph.D., Secretary Managing Editor

New York, New York, USA Amanda Sillars
amyjlbaker@aol.com Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
amanda.sillars@emmm.org.au
Phillip Hendrix, M.A., M.B.A., Treasurer
Castle Rock, Colorado, USA Column Editors
info@covenantcounselors.com Targeted Parents’ Column
Editors: Holly Mattingly & Diana Alberter
J. Michael Bone, Ph.D. Kentucky & Pennsylvania, USA
Winter Park, Florida, USA h.mattingly@yahoo.com
michael@jmichaelbone.com dmalberter@gmail.com
Jennifer Harman, Ph.D. Interventions Column

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Editors: Mary Alvarez, Ph.D., &
Jennifer.Harman@ColoState.edu Chris Turner
Texas, USA
Lena Hellblom Sjögren, Ph.D. dralvarez@resetting-the-family.com
Siljansnäs, Sweden cturner@resetting-the-family.com
mail@testimonia.se
Legal Column
Ashish S. Joshi, L.L.M. Editor: Brian Ludmer
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA Toronto, Canada
a.joshi@joshiattorneys.com Brian@ludmerlaw.com
Mandy Matthewson, Ph.D.

Hobart, Tasmania, AUS Book Review Editor
Mandy.Matthewson@utas.edu.au Abe Worenklein, Ph.D.
Montreal, Canada
Abe Worenklein, Ph.D. abew@videotron.ca
Montreal, Canada
abew@videotron.ca Events Editor
TBA
PASG Archivist
Robert Ferrer
Urbana, Illinois, USA
r-ferrer@illinois.edu

About the Parental Alienation Study Group
Parental Alienation Study Group, Inc. (PASG) is an international, not-for-profit corporation. PASG has over
670 members—mostly mental health and legal professionals—from 55 countries. The members of PASG are
interested in educating the general public, mental health clinicians, forensic practitioners, attorneys, and judges
regarding parental alienation. PASG members are also interested in developing and promoting research on the
causes, prevention, evaluation, and treatment of parental alienation.
About Parental Alienation International

Parental Alienation International (PAI) is published bimonthly by PASG. PAI seeks to lead and promote the
scholarly discussion and debate concerning parental alienation practice, research, prevention, education, and
advocacy to promote development of informed practice and policy in this field.
Contributor Guidelines Contributors may submit articles or links to articles

that are already published or considered elsewhere.
How to contribute: Please send all your contribu- It is the responsibility of contributors to obtain the
tions to your local editor or to the editors-in-chief. necessary permission where required to submit their
article to Parental Alienation International and to
Format: Submit manuscript as a Word file (.doc, appropriately acknowledge prior publication.
.docx ) as an email attachment.
PASG retains the final decision of the suitability
Content: News, case studies, pilot studies, of articles and which articles are selected for
literature reviews, announcements, research, publication in Parental Alienation International.
research studies or proposals, advocacy, publicity,
promotion, requests for support or funding. Advertising and Editorial
Editorial Policy: Articles may be subject to editing. PASG will maintain differentiation between
Authors will be consulted and will be sent their advertising content and editorial content. Parental
final article for proofing and approval prior to Alienation International will not publish
publication. “advertorial” material.
The editorial team may solicit information and ar- Copyright © 2022 Parental Alienation Study Group
ticles for publication and will appropriately consult (PASG) Inc. All rights reserved. You are receiving
contributors about the article to be prepared based this newsletter because you are a member of PASG.
upon their contribution.
www.pasg.info


PAI_Newsletter_September_2022

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

PAI_Newsletter_September_2022

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Parental Alienation International

Advancing worldwide understanding in the field of parental alienation

September 2022 Parental Alienation Study Group Volume 7 • Issue 5

News About PASG

Parental Alienation Study Group

WELCOME TO THE FIFTH ISSUE of the Parental Alienation International newsletter.

PASG have announced their next conference date.

Donna-Maria Logue requests if you wish to provide information on up-and-coming training,

Robert Ferrer provides recent publications on parental alienation.

Parental Alienation Study Group

If you have questions about the content of the propo

This is the second announcement to PASG members regarding our proposal

Several PASG members collaborated in developing a rather elaborate

That is, Mandy Matthewson is keeping track of endorsements by…

And Jennifer Harman is keeping track of endorsements by…

Parental Alienation Study Group

REQUEST FOR DONATIONS

Parental Alienation Study Group

Mark Your Calendars for the 2023

You can earn money for PASG effortlessly.

Parental Alienation Study Group

Global Alienation Starts Small

Parental Alienation Study Group

An important question arises. Why do the Russian people tolerate violence?

Parental Alienation Study Group

Find PASG on Facebook

Visit our Facebook page, become a friend, and write a comment.

Parental Alienation Study Group

The walk saw people traveling from all across Ireland to

Parental Alienation Study Group

We had hoped the walk would generate some

Parental Alienation Study Group

Lived experience of being a targeted parent

Parental Alienation Study Group

Parental Alienation Study Group

Parental Alienation Study Group

Send an email to: donnamaria.vita@gmail.com or h.mattingly@yahoo.com to include:

1. Name of training, event, conference, or educational course.

2. Location (Include postal, zip code).

4. Guest speakers and or facilitators

5. Details on how to register and costs incurred.

6. Details CPD points, hours if attend.

We’re looking forward to sharing your events. 

Parental Alienation Study Group

Post Graduate Certificate in Parental Alienation Studies 2022/2023

Parental Alienation Study Group

Check out Parental Alienation Events

Blended Family Frappe

Parental Alienation Study Group

Divorce, Parental Alienation, Anxiety and Depression

Parental Alienation Study Group

Phenomenological Study on Noncustodial Mothers Suffering Complex Trauma

Parental Alienation, Authoritarian Parenting, and Their Effects on Attitudes in

Parental Alienation Study Group

African American Fathers’ Experiences of Alienation from Their Children Due to

Using Power Imbalances to Differentiate between Forms of Family Violence

Parental Alienation Study Group

Alienación Parental: La invisibilización De Un Problema Social

Summer Camp Experiences of Children from Divorced Families: An Exploratory

Parental Alienation Study Group

Parental Alienation Study Group

Board of Directors Donna-Maria Logue

Amy J. L. Baker, Ph.D., Secretary Managing Editor

Jennifer Harman, Ph.D. Interventions Column