Parental Alienation
AFCC Boston Powerpoint - 6/1/17 - Part 1
This is the first part of the Boston AFCC Convention Powerpoint presentation of Dr. Childress and Dorcy Pruter. To keep the file size down, the Powerpoint from the 6/1/17 presentation has been divided into three parts.
Part 1 covers the description of an attachment-based model of "parental alienation."
AFCC Boston Powerpoint - 6/1/17 - Part 2
This is the second part of the Boston AFCC Convention Powerpoint
presentation of Dr. Childress and Dorcy Pruter. To keep the file size
down, the Powerpoint from the 6/1/17 presentation has been divided into
three parts.
Part 2 covers several important areas including issues of professional competence, the DSM-5 diagnosis of child psychological abuse, the protective separation, and the key for solving the family law response to the pathology.
AFCC Boston Powerpoint - 6/1/17 - Part 3
This is the third part of the Boston AFCC Convention Powerpoint
presentation of Dr. Childress and Dorcy Pruter. To keep the file size
down, the Powerpoint from the 6/1/17 presentation has been divided into
three parts.
Dallas Keynote Powerpoint
This is a handout from the Powerpoint from my Keynote address at the Parental Alienation Symposium in Dallas on 4/29/17.
Dallas Second (Afternoon) Presentation Powerpoint
This is a handout of my second Powerpoint presentation from the afternoon talk I gave at Symposium on Parental Alienation held in Dallas on 4/29/17 in which I addressed more therapist related issues surrounding the solution to "parental alienation."
Legislative Changes - Child Psychological Abuse
This is a general letter from me regarding the legislative changes to the mandated child abuse reporting laws that are needed in order to protect children from the psychological child abuse surrounding "parental alienation."
Description of Disordered Mourning Pathology
This is a description of the attachment-related pathology of "parental alienation" from the attachment construct of pathological mourning (Bowlby, 1980), with a linkage to narcissistic and borderline personality traits of the parent. This description also identifies the construct of pathogenic parenting (the creation of pathology in the child through aberrant and distorted parenting practices), and links the child's symptoms to the three diagnostic indicators of AB-PA and the DSM-5 diagnosis of V995.51 Child Psychological Abuse, Confirmed.
Top 15 Things to Know about Attachment-Based Parental Alienation
This is a list developed by Jason Hofer and reviewed by me regarding the
Top 15 Things Targeted Parents Need to Know About Attachment-Based Parental Alienation (AB-PA). I think Jason did a wonderful job of capturing all of the important information. I simply tweaked a word here and there and added my name with his permission to make the list an "official" Dr. C approved list.
Extended Diagnostic Checklist
This Checklist of symptom features contains both the three diagnostic indicators of attachment-based "parental alienation" along with a set of associated clinical signs of the pathology.
Parenting Practices Rating Scale
This is a checklist rating scale to organize the definition and assessment of parenting behavior. I would recommend that the Parenting Practices Rating Scale be included in the assessment practice of all court-involved mental health professionals, including child custody evaluators, court-involved therapists, and court-appointed parenting coordinators. Including the Parenting Practices Rating Scale would significantly improve reliability of professional assessment of parenting practices and the discussion surrounding the assessment of parenting practices.
Parent-Child Relationship Rating Scale
This is a relationship rating scale that can be used to systematically collect data regarding the quality of the parent-child relationship. This rating scale can be incorporated into an evidenced-based approach to decision making.
Parent-Child Relationship Rating Scale - Texting Modification
This is a modified version of the Parent-Child Relationship Rating Scale that adds a 5th item addressing excessive texting and phone contact.
Essays Book: Chapter 4 Diagnostic Indicators
This is Chapter 4 of my Essays in Parental Alienation book, which is also my blog on diagnostic indicators. This chapter (blog) is a companion description for the Diagnostic Checklist for Pathogenic Parenting
Treatment-Focused Assessment Protocol
I have recently been working with attorneys in trying to secure an appropriate assessment of the attachment related pathology of AB-PA from the court-involved mental health professionals.
Toward this end, I have developed this structured description of the recommended treatment-focused assessment protocol that can be requested from the Court. This assessment protocol and its subsequent reports are pretty straightforward, but I would also be available to consult with any court-involved mental health professional regarding the implementation of this assessment protocol if it would be deemed helpful.
Diagram of AB-PA Pathology
This is a diagram of the pathology traditionally called "parental alienation" in the popular culture. At its core, this is an attachment-related pathology created in the childhood attachment trauma of the allied narcissistic/(borderline) parent that produced a disorganized attachment, This disorganized attachment then constellated into the narcissistic and/or borderline personality disorder traits of this parent that then drive one component of the pathology.
The divorce also activates "internal working models" (also called schemas) of attachment in the childhood trauma pattern of "abusive parent"/"victimized child"/"protective parent." This trauma pattern is then overlaid and transferred onto the current family members, with the targeted parent being ascribed the trauma reenactment role as the supposedly "abusive parent," the child is assigned the trauma reenactment role as the supposedly "victimized child," and the allied narcissistic/(borderline) parent self-adopts and conspicuously displays the coveted role as the supposedly wonderful "protective parent."
The divorce also activates "internal working models" (also called schemas) of attachment in the childhood trauma pattern of "abusive parent"/"victimized child"/"protective parent." This trauma pattern is then overlaid and transferred onto the current family members, with the targeted parent being ascribed the trauma reenactment role as the supposedly "abusive parent," the child is assigned the trauma reenactment role as the supposedly "victimized child," and the allied narcissistic/(borderline) parent self-adopts and conspicuously displays the coveted role as the supposedly wonderful "protective parent."
Attachment Related Pathology
It is absurd that targeted parents need to educate mental health professionals regarding the nature of mental health pathology. Unfortunately, the current state of professional psychology is so ignorant and medieval that this is the case; the patient must educate the professional.
This is a post from my blog that briefly describes the attachment-related, personality disorder related, and family systems pathology of "parental alienation," including the three diagnostic indicators and the DSM-5 diagnosis. Perhaps this handout and the Diagnostic Checklist for Pathogenic Parenting can be used to help educate mental health professionals regarding their professional obligations to know what they're doing. Perhaps not. But until the American Psychological Association and licensing boards start requiring professional competence, then patients educating professionals is the only option available.
This is a post from my blog that briefly describes the attachment-related, personality disorder related, and family systems pathology of "parental alienation," including the three diagnostic indicators and the DSM-5 diagnosis. Perhaps this handout and the Diagnostic Checklist for Pathogenic Parenting can be used to help educate mental health professionals regarding their professional obligations to know what they're doing. Perhaps not. But until the American Psychological Association and licensing boards start requiring professional competence, then patients educating professionals is the only option available.
Strategic Family Therapy Treatment Plan
This is a generic case conceptualization and Strategic family therapy treatment plan that I wrote for the pathology of "parental alienation" (i.e., the cross-generational coalition of the child with a narcissistic/(borderline) parent).
Treatment-Related Considerations
This handout describes treatment-related considerations in addressing a cross-generational coalition of one parent with the child against the other parent.
Inauthentic Confict Indicators
This is a handout in which I describe how authentic parent-child conflict can be differentiated from inauthentic parent-child conflict. All mental health professionals who are assessing, diagnosing, and treating the family pathology traditionally called "parental alienation" in the common culture need to be aware of this standard and established information in clinical psychology.
Recommended Assessment Protocol
This is a description of my recommended assessment protocol for AB-PA.
Treatment Needs Assessment Report Examples
This handout provides two examples of reports that can be produced by a focused Treatment Needs Assessment that employs the Diagnostic Checklist for Pathogenic Parenting and the Parenting Practices Rating Scale. A Treatment Needs Assessment represents an appropriate clinical assessment when the issue before the Court is the resolution of an attachment-related pathology within the family involving allegations of AB-PA.
Dr. Childress Declaration Regarding High Road Protocol
This is my declaration submitted to the Court regarding my professional analysis of the High Road to Family Reunification protocol of Dorcy Pruter.
Analysis of High Road Protocol
This is Appendix 2 from the booklet, An Attachment-Based Model of Parental Alienation: Single Case ABAB Assessment and Remedy.
This is a professional analysis by Dr. Childress of his review of the High Road to Family Reunification protocol of Dorcy Pruter.
Flying Monkey Newsletter: March 2016
According to the Urban Dictionary, a flying monkey is an ally of the narcissist who seeks to inflict greater suffering on the victim of the narcissist. In attachment-based "parental alienation" these allies of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent support maintaining the pathology involving the psychological abuse of the child by the narcissistic/borderline parent. They likely do so because of their own ignorance or because of trauma histories in their own background that resonate with the false trauma reenactment narrative being presented in attachment-based "parental alienation" (a process called "counter-transference" in professional psychology).
The Flying Monkey Newsletter will address the false justifications made by the allies of the pathology for maintaining the pathology of "parental alienation," with each edition of the newsletter addressing a specific false justification offered by the allies of the pathology. When targeted parents encounter one of these false justifications, they can provide the ally of the pathology with the relevant Flying Monkey Newsletter in response.
The March 2016 Flying Monkey Newsletter addresses the false justification that separating the child from the psychologically abusive narcissistic/(borderline) parent will somehow be harmful for the child.
Flying Monley Newsletter: April 2016
According to
the Urban Dictionary, a flying monkey is an ally of the narcissist who
seeks to inflict greater suffering on the victim of the narcissist. In
attachment-based "parental alienation" these allies of the
narcissistic/(borderline) parent support maintaining the pathology
involving the psychological abuse of the child by the
narcissistic/borderline parent. They likely do so because of their own
ignorance or because of trauma histories in their own background that
resonate with the false trauma reenactment narrative being presented in
attachment-based "parental alienation" (a process called
"counter-transference" in professional psychology).
The
Flying Monkey Newsletter addresses the false justifications made by
the allies of the pathology for maintaining the pathology of "parental
alienation,"
with each edition of the newsletter addressing a specific false
justification offered by the allies of the pathology. When targeted
parents encounter one of these false justifications, they can provide
the ally of the pathology with the relevant Flying Monkey Newsletter in
response.
Flying Monkey Newsletter: June 2016
According to
the Urban Dictionary, a flying monkey is an ally of the narcissist who
seeks to inflict greater suffering on the victim of the narcissist. In
attachment-based "parental alienation" these allies of the
narcissistic/(borderline) parent support maintaining the pathology
involving the psychological abuse of the child by the
narcissistic/borderline parent. They likely do so because of their own
ignorance or because of trauma histories in their own background that
resonate with the false trauma reenactment narrative being presented in
attachment-based "parental alienation" (a process called
"counter-transference" in professional psychology).
The
Flying Monkey Newsletter addresses the false justifications made by
the allies of the pathology for maintaining the pathology of "parental
alienation,"
with each edition of the newsletter addressing a specific false
justification offered by the allies of the pathology. When targeted
parents encounter one of these false justifications, they can provide
the ally of the pathology with the relevant Flying Monkey Newsletter in
response.
Flying Monkey Newsletter: July 2016
This is the July edition of the Flying Monkey Newsletter. In this edition the claim that the pathology of "parental alienation" is controversial and not accepted in professional psychology is addressed, with an emphasis on the role of professional competence in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of this pathology.
Flying Monkey Newsletter: August 2016
This is the August
edition of the Flying Monkey Newsletter. In this edition the claim protectively separating the child from the pathogenic parenting of the allied narcissistic/(borderline) parent is not
accepted professional standard of practice is addressed. Diagnosis guides treatment. The key is to first accurately diagnose the pathology.
Introduction Chapter to Foundations
This is the Introduction Chapter to my book An Attachment-Based Model of Parental Alienation: Foundations
Diagnosing Parental Alienation Blog
This is a pdf of my blog on the diagnostic indicators and associated clinical signs of attachment-based "parental alienation"
Diagnostic Checklist for Attachment-Based Parental Alienation
This is a diagnostic checklist for the three Primary Diagnostic Indicators and the secondary clinical signs of attachment-based "parental alienation."
Checklist of Component Pathology of Attachment-Based Model
In an effort to obtain serious and relevant critiques of an attachment-based model of “parental alienation” and limit critiques based on hopelessly abject ignorance, I decided to create a checklist of the component pathology described in an attachment-based model of “parental alienation” (as elaborated in Foundations).
The respondent can now check the box corresponding to what component pathology described in an attachment-based model of “parental alienation” the respondent disagrees with.
If the respondent does not disagree with any component aspect of the pathology listed on the checklist and as described in Foundations, then the respondent is essentially agreeing with an attachment-based model of parental alienation as representing an existing form of psychopathology (as elaborated in Foundations).
Note that none of the pathology listed on the checklist and described in Foundations is anything “new” that I am proposing. All of this pathology is well established in the scientific literature. None of this is my “theory.” All of the component pathology is established psychological fact.
If you would like peer-reviewed references for any of the component pathology I would be happy to provide you with a list of peer-reviewed and scholarly work by the major figures in professional psychology regarding any of the component pathology listed on the checklist and described in Foundations.
Single Case ABAB Chart
This is a descriptive chart from my booklet available on Amazon.com:
An Attachment-Based Model of Parental Alienation: Single Case ABAB Assessment and Remedy
This booklet is designed for attorneys (or for targeted parents if they are representing themselves) to give to judges as a proposed means of assessing whether "negative parental influence" (i.e., "parental alienation") is responsible for the child's rejection of the targeted parent and the child's non-cooperation with the court-ordered visitation schedule.
This booklet describes exactly how to structure the Single Case ABAB Assessment and Remedy protocol.
De-Identified Summaries of Report on Professional Practices
This pdf is the de-identified introductory and concluding summaries from a report I wrote for a targeted parent regarding my analysis, from the perspective of professional clinical psychology, of the professional practices of a court-appointed psychologist who was tasked with restoring the parent-child relationship damaged by the apparent pathology of attachment-based "parental alienation." These de-identified summaries from the report are offered for educational purposes only and are discussed more fully on my blog at: drcraigchildressblog.org
California Laws for Review of Records
This is a handout of the California laws regarding a patient's right to review treatment records.
Intervention Guidelines
This handout discusses guidelines for intervention with pathology of attachment-based "parental alienation" (attachment trauma reenactment pathology within the family)
Dr. Childress Website Resources for Parental Alienation
if you are interested in learning more about an attachment-based model of "parental alienation" I would refer you to my book available on Amazon.com:
An Attachment-Based Model of Parental Alienation: Foundations
I would also refer you to my two Masters Series Lectures through California Southern University that are available online at:
Treatment of Attachment-Based Parental Alienation
Parental Alienation: An Attachment-Based Model
Masters Lecture Series Powerpoint Handout
This is a handout of my Powerpoint slides from my November 21, 2014 seminar through the Masters Lecture Series of California Southern University regarding the Diagnosis and Treatment of an attachment-based model for "parental alienation."
Introduction to Professional Consultation
This is the Introduction to my booklet:
An Attachment-Based Model of Parental Alienation: Professional Consultation
This booklet is designed for targeted parents to give to mental health professionals and represents my professional-to-professional consultation, as indicated in this Introduction.
Consultation with Dr. Childress
In this discussion I address the
most common questions I'm asked by targeted parents regarding "parental alienation."
Reconceptualizing Parental Alienation
This is a professional-level article I have written that describes the psychological and interpersonal processes of "parental alienation" from an attachment system framework. Gardner's model of "parental alienation" represents a failed paradigm - primarily because its existence has not solved the challenges faced by targeted-rejected parents, the alienation continues and they can't make it stop. In my view, it is time to move beyond Gardner's model to one which addresses the valid criticisms of the established mental health community. I have spent the last several years working out the clinical features of "parental alienation" from entirely within standard and established psychological constructs. This article is the result of my efforts. From a clinical psychology perspective, this is what "parental alienation" is.
Letter to Minor's Counsel
This is a generic letter I drafted to minor's counsel in an effort to explain the pathology of attachment-based "parental alienation." I am not optimistic that minor's counsels or therapists will listen, people tend to do what they tend to do, and influencing them is hard. But, I'm trying to provide you, the targeted parent, with the words to (understand) and explain what's happening.
Testimony by a Treating Therapist
I am sometimes asked by a treating therapist for a consultation. This handout represents my thoughts regarding how a treating therapist might describe the family processes of attachment-based "parental alienation" in Court testimony.
Professional to Professional Consultation Handout
This is a handout that targeted parents can possibly provide to the mental health professionals involved with their families describing the nature of the family pathology and offering my professional consultation.
Professional to Professional Letter - Hostile Rejecting Child
This is a letter written by me to other mental health professionals describing "parental alienation" from entirely within standard and established psychological constructs, primarily focused on the narcissistic personality disorder dynamics of the alienating parent and the misinterpreted and un-metabolized grief response of the child. This Professional-to-Professional letter is followed by a series of quotes from the professional literature regarding narcissistic and borderline personality processes (Appendix 1). The purpose of this Professional-to-Professional Letter of Diagnostic Concern is to provide targeted parents with a resource that they can provide to mental health professionals who are assessing and/or treating the child and family dynamics, in which the dynamics of "parental alienation" are described using professionally established terminology. Of note is that this letter concludes with my offer for professional consultation with the mental health professional if this would be considered helpful.
Professional to Professional Letter Hyper-Anxiety Child Variant
This is an alternative Professional-to-Professional letter addressing the anxiety variant of attachment-based "parental alienation" in which the child displays hyper-anxious symptoms toward the targeted-rejected parent rather than the typical hostile-rejecting display. The anxiety variant tends to be displayed by younger children, who will develop the hostile-rejecting display as time goes by and they mature, and when the alienating parent has a stronger borderline personality presentation with less pronounced narcissistic traits.
Coping with the Trauma
This is a blog post on my website. I thought it might be more broadly helpful as a handout so I am posting to my website as well.
The Hostage Metaphor
Metaphors can capture and highlight certain features of a process. The two primary metaphors for attachment-based "parental alienation" are, 1) the Hostage Metaphor, and 2) the Computer Virus Metaphor. This essay describes the Hostage Metaphor, which illuminates the child's experience of psychological surrender to the psychopathology of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent and the central issue of child protection.
Therapy
Often the treatment of "parental alienation" is called "reunification therapy." However, there is currently no theoretical model for what "reunification therapy" entails, so therapists essentially just make it up as they go, without any clear understanding for what they are treating or how to go about treating it. This essay describes an appropriate treatment framework for resolving attachment-based "parental alienation." This essay can be provided to therapists, and hopefully it will provide some guidance as to how they can approach treating and resolving attachment-based "parental alienation."
Single Case ABA Remedy
When attachment-based "parental alienation" is identified, treatment requires the protective separation of the child during the active phase of treatment and a recovery stabilization period. Courts, however, may sometimes be reluctant to do what is necessary. The single-case ABA design for "parental alienation" offers an approach to a remedy that might be acceptable to the Court. Dr. Childress is a psychologist, not an attorney. For legal advice, consult an attorney and follow the advice of the attorney.
Strategic Behavioral Systems Intervention
The Strategic-Behavioral-Systems Intervention (SBS Intervention) for attachment-based "parental alienation" represents a possible compromise solution to the alternative of a complete protective separation of the child from the pathogenic parenting of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent during the active phase of the child's treatment and recovery stabilization.
Attachment-Based Parental Alienation in a Legal Context
This article discusses the constructs and possible advantages of employing an attachment-based model of "parental alienation" relative to the legal system.
Of note is that Dr. Childress is a psychologist, not an attorney, and
nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice. For legal
advice, seek the counsel of an attorney and follow the recommendations
of your attorney.
Proposed Treatment Team Model
The attached document proposes a treatment team model for resolving attachment-based "parental alienation." It also includes a discussion of RTI (Response-to-Intervention) trials for sub-threshold cases of attachment-based "parental alienation," and Appendices presenting samples of potential "Treatment Needs Assessment" reports that can be produced from an attachment-based model of "parental alienation, as well as a set of associated clinical features and a checklist for diagnostic indicators and associated clinical features.
Levels of Parental Alienation Diagrams
These diagrams are part of an upcoming article I'm working on describing the three levels of "parental alienation" processes, 1) the Family level, 2) the Personality Disorder level, and 3) the Attachment System level.
I'm not sure when I'll be able to get this article completed so I
thought I would put up the descriptive diagrams in the meantime.
Attachment-Based Model Diagrams
This handout contains a series of diagrams illustrating the "parental alienation" process from an attachment system framework, along with text descriptions of how the child's symptoms are induced, why the child adopts the false beliefs of the alienating parent, what the child's DSM-5 diagnosis is for this type of family process, and what the recommended treatment approach should entail.
Attachment Model DSM-5 Diagnosis
This is a professional-level article describing "parental alienation" from an attachment system framework, leading to an analysis of the appropriate DSM-5 diagnosis for the child's symptomatology.
Compendium of Parent-Child Conflict
It seems to me that the mental health assessment of family processes surrounding parent-child conflict suffers from a lack of established clarity in identifying the variety of possible causes for the parent-child conflict, and then systematically evaluating the supportive clinical evidence for each of the causal attributions. This document represents my effort to establish greater clarity in the potential causal factors surrounding
parent-child conflict generally, with a focus in this document on the
differing attributions of causality surrounding a child's expressed
desire to terminate a relationship with a parent.The "Compendium of Parent-Child Conflict" is part
of a larger piece I'm working on in which I identify the symptom
indicators and treatment considerations associated with each type of
parent-child conflict. But I'm not sure when I'll have this more
extensive Compendium completed, so I thought I'd share this work-in-progress first.
Invitation for Writing Collaboration
This handout offers an invitation to psychology graduate students and colleagues for possible writing collaboration. I'm fairly busy and I could use the help in getting this material submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Gardner's Model is a Failed Paradigm
This is a casual article in which I discuss my view that Gardner's model for "parental alienation" represents a failed paradigm. In my view, the needs of targeted parents and their children can best be served by recognizing the legitimacy of the professional criticism of Gardner's model and moving beyond it to a more exacting professional description of the processes of "parental alienation" from entirely within standard and established mental health constructs. An
attachment-based model offers this professional-level alternative to
Gardner's model that allows for the establishment of a clear standard of
practice in both the diagnosis and treatment of the family processes
classically described as "parental alienation."
Attachment Model of Parental Alienation Boundaries of Competence
An attachment-based model of "parental alienation" allows for the establishment of a standard of professional practice regarding this "special population" of children and families. This handout identifies the set of professional knowledge that is relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of the child and family processes traditionally referred to as "parental alienation"
Attachment Based Alienation Brochure
This is a brochure regarding attachment-based parental alienation that I wrote for a seminar. I thought I'd share it in case others might find it helpful.
Treatment Presentation Slide Handout
This is a handout of my slides regarding the treatment of "parental alienation" from a recent webinar presentation hosted by PAAO.
Social Skills Handout
In my therapy work with targeted parents and their children, one of the important issues is the restoration of the child's capacity for normal-range empathy. An initial step in this process is to establish an expectation for normal-range social skills from the child. I wrote this to illustrate that social skills and social graces are expected, not because the other person is nice, but because you are.
Online Seminars
This is a handout regarding the online seminars I have developed regarding the Origins; Diagnosis; and Treatment of the pathogenic parenting processes associated with what has classically been referred to as "Parental Alienation." This seminar series is available through Digital Chalk at:https://craigchildress.digitalchalk.com/dc/guest/login 1.
Click the <New Account> button 2.
Complete the registration information (i.e.,
name; email; password creation) 3.
Click the <Catalog> tab for a list of
available seminars from Dr. Childress
Ju-jitsu Parenting Communication
The communication dynamics associated with "parental alienation" processes are filled with unavoidable traps and intense double-bind control dynamics. Targeted parents are getting pummeled at every communication turn. This handout offers some suggestions for a different approach to parenting communication that I'm calling "ju-jitsu parenting: fighting back from the down position."
Parental Alienation and Personality Disorder Processes
This handout discusses a framework for understanding "parental alienation" processes within the family entirely from within standard, accepted mental health constructions.
Presenting the Mental Health Information
This handout offers one approach to presenting the mental health information related to pathogenic parenting and the attachment system in a question and answer format.
Enmeshed Relationship Questions and Answers
This handout discusses, in a question and answer format, the family systems construct of an enmeshed psychological relationship
Narcissistic Decompensation in Divorce
This handout discusses parental alienation as the characteristic decompensation (i.e., descent into psychological disorganization) of a narcissistically organized personality in response to the psychological stresses of divorce and family dissolution.
Parental Alienation and the Attachment System
One of the key features of parental alienation is its impact on the child's attachment system. The attachment system is a neuro-biologically embedded relationship system first identified and described by John Bowlby in the 1960s. It is a very strong and resilient motivational drive system fostering children's emotional and psychological bonding with parents. This handout discusses one facet of the impact of parental alienation processes on the attachment system; the initial suppression of attachment system functioning and the development of the chronic anger (hatred) necessary to sustain the suppression of attachment system functioning.
Structural Family Systems Constructs
In this handout I discuss the standard Structural Family Systems constructs of "triangulation" and "alliance" relative to the family processes of parental alienation. Structural Family Systems therapy is considered a basic and fundamental family systems approach. The Structural Family Systems model was developed by Salvador Minuchin, who was recently voted by psychologists as one of the most influential theorists of the latter part of the 20th Century. In my view, a familiarity with Structural Family Systems constructs is an essential component of professionally competent assessment and therapy with children and families.
Boundaries of Professional Competence
This handout was
developed as a support for targeted parents to provide to therapists
diagnosing or treating the issues involved in parental alienation.
Joint Custody and De Facto Sole Custody
This essay addresses the
issue of Court Orders for joint custody that essentially become orders
for de facto sole custody to the alienation-pathological parent unless
the underlying psychopathology being induced in the child by the
alienating parent is effectively resolved (requiring separation of the
child during treatment from the source origin of the psychopathology).
Construction of Meaning Article
This is an article in which I describe the role of parental influence within normal developmental expectations during childhood.
Response to Parent Regarding Diagnosis
A parent asked me how I make the diagnosis of the pathogenic parenting associated with "parental alienation" processes. I thought my response might be helpful to other parents and to mental health professionals.
Response to Parent Regarding Treatment
This is a
(de-identified) response to a parent who requested my advice through
e-mail regarding her parental alienation situation. I receive many such
requests through e-mail and unfortunately professional standards of practice prevent me from commenting on specifics of individual
cases without having established a professional relationship.
Hopefully, however, my de-identified response to "Mary" offered here
might help other parents in understanding my views and suggestions for
addressing the issues.
DSM-IV TR Diagnosis of the Alienation Dynamic
An attachment-based model of "parental alienation" differs from Gardner's proposal for an alienation syndrome. One of several criticism of Gardner's syndrome proposal is the absence of professional diagnostic support for a "new" syndrome concerning parental alienation processes. An attachment-based model of "parental alienation" differs from the syndrome proposal of Gardner in that the alienation dynamic is organized around a specific set of existing DSM-IV TR diagnoses. Dr. Childress has posted a set of video seminars related to the DSM-IV TR diagnoses on Youtube at padchildress. This handout identifies the specific set of four diagnoses involved with an attachment-based model of "parental alienation."
DSM-IV TR Diagnostic Criteria and Information
This handout compiles information from the DSM-IV TR (the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association) regarding the diagnosis of Shared Psychotic Disorder and Delusional Disorder. I have highlighted some of the information relevant to parental alienation processes.
Alternative DSM Diagnostic Conceptualization
The degree of cognitive distortions relative to the child and alienating parent warrant the DSM diagnosis of a Shared Psychotic (delusional) Disorder. However, some mental health professionals may be uncomfortable asserting the degree of cognitive distortion involved with this diagnosis. An alternative DSM diagnostic conceptualization that focuses on the child's triangulation into the spousal conflict would be an Adjustment Disorder. This handout discusses this alternative diagnostic conceptualization.
Checklist of Child Personality Disorder Symptoms
This is a checklist of Personality Disorder features that are typically displayed by the children as a result of pathogenic parenting that is being expressed through parental alienation processes. This checklist can help guide forensic evaluators and mental health therapists in recognizing the constellation of Personality Disorder symptoms being expressed by the child.
Pathogenic Parenting Concern Scale
The Pathogenic Parenting Concern Scale is designed to document the clinical
judgment of the mental health assessor regarding a set of features that are associated with
pathogenic parental caregiving. This scale is available for targeted parents to provide to mental health therapists and court-ordered evaluators.
Trans-Generational Structure of the Alienation Dynamic
Attachment-based "parental alienation" involves the trans-generational transmission of psychological-relationship trauma across three generations of the family. In order to discuss the form and nature of the alienation dynamic, a descriptive nomenclature is needed that labels the participants.
Traditional approaches to indicating the family participants have referred to the "alienating parent," and the "target parent." This descriptive framework only addresses the current cross-sectional relationships within the family. In order to understand the psychological and relationship issues involved in the alienation dynamic a more longitudinal framework is needed that incorporates multiple generations of the family process.Dr. Childress has developed a descriptive framework involving three levels of the family process, 1) the Alpha level of the initial psychological-relationship injury involving the parent-child relationship of the "alienating parent" as a child in relationship with his or her own parent, 2) the Beta level of transmission from the "alienating parent" as a child to the "alienating parent" as an adult in relationship with his or her own spouse and child, and 3) the Delta level of the spouse and child of the "alienating parent" onto whom the Alpha level psychological-relationship injury is re-enacted through the Personality Disorder dynamics of the "alienating parent."
Traditional approaches to indicating the family participants have referred to the "alienating parent," and the "target parent." This descriptive framework only addresses the current cross-sectional relationships within the family. In order to understand the psychological and relationship issues involved in the alienation dynamic a more longitudinal framework is needed that incorporates multiple generations of the family process.Dr. Childress has developed a descriptive framework involving three levels of the family process, 1) the Alpha level of the initial psychological-relationship injury involving the parent-child relationship of the "alienating parent" as a child in relationship with his or her own parent, 2) the Beta level of transmission from the "alienating parent" as a child to the "alienating parent" as an adult in relationship with his or her own spouse and child, and 3) the Delta level of the spouse and child of the "alienating parent" onto whom the Alpha level psychological-relationship injury is re-enacted through the Personality Disorder dynamics of the "alienating parent."
Dr.
Childress has posted video seminars regarding the trans-generational
transmission of trauma relative to the Parental Alienation Dynamic on
Youtube at pad2childress. This pdf describes this trans-generational descriptive framework.
Description of Re-Enactment Narrative
Attachment-based "parental alienation" represents a current re-enactment of relationship patterns formed during the early childhood of the Beta parent. This pdf describes the elements of the Re-Enactment Narrative.
Psychological Fusion Diagrams
This is a set of diagrams I developed for use in my video seminars to visually represent the processes involved in the psychological fusion that occurs between the child and the narcissistically organized alienating parent. - With regard to understanding this psychological fusion process it will likely be helpful to watch a PBS video segment on "mirror neurons" at:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/mirror-neurons I have also posted a video seminar on the psychological fusion process on Youtube at pad3childress.
Therapy Framework for Treatment of Parental Alienation Dynamic
This is a treatment framework for addressing the attachment-based "parental alienation".
Pathogenic Parenting Concern Scale Instructions
This is a companion discussion the the Pathogenic Parenting Concern Scale regarding the identification of parent and child features of concern relative to identifying pathogenic parenting. This is written for mental health professionals regarding the use of the Pathogenic Parenting Concern Scale, and is available for targeted parents to provide to mental health professionals associated with their family's treatment.
Parental Alienation and Shared Personality Disorder Features
This is a full-scale discussion of the DSM-IV TR Axis II Personality Disorder features that are expressed through the child's symptomatology within a parental alienation dynamic. This is written and targeted for mental health professionals and provided targeted parents with a handout to provide to treating therapists and court-ordered evaluators
Parental Alienation as Child Abuse
The processes of attachment-based "parental alienation" represent a severe form of psychological child abuse. Furthermore, the processes of attachment-based "parental alienation" represent a severe form of domestic violence toward both the targeted parent and the child. The legal and mental health response to parental alienation processes should be commensurate with the legal and professional responses to other forms of severe child abuse and domestic violence, and this response should be supported by the force of legal statute.This pdf discusses these issues.
PASG Newsletter Articles
Here are two articles from the September 1, 2015 Newsletter of the Parental Alienation Study Group. The first is a Commentary by Drs. Bernet and Rey on my book Foundations. The second article is my response to their Commentary.
Karen Woodall Critique of Foundations
This is a critique offered by Karen Woodall of an attachment-based model of "parental alienation." This is for general reference regarding my Response to Karen Woodall's Critique of Foundations.
Domestic Violence Support Letter
This is a letter of support I provided to a mental health professional seeking to obtain recognition of the domestic violence variants of the "parental alienation" pathology.
2016 Parental Alienation Awareness Day Statement
This is the transcript of the 2016 Parental Alienation Awareness Day statement of Dr. Childress to the Michigan rally.
Legislative Proposal for Amending Child Abuse Reporting Laws
This is a letter I wrote in response to a targeted parent's request. This targeted parent was seeking a legislative approach to addressing the pathology of "parental alienation" through her state legislator, and wanted my recommendation regarding a legislative approach. I suggested adding a single clarifying sentence to child abuse reporting laws that addressed pathogenic parenting as a form of psychological child abuse reportable under state child abuse reporting laws.
A Letter to Mary - Mother/daughter
A targeted parent asked if I could write a letter to the child that explained things. So I did, and this is it. There are four versions, this one, A Letter to Mary, is when the mother is the targeted-rejected parent and the child is her daughter.
The other versions are for a targeted mother and her son (A Letter to John); a targeted father and his daughter (A Letter to Jessica); and a targeted father and his son (A Letter to Jason).
Unless we can first protect the child from the pathology of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent, we can't ask the child to expose his or her authenticity. Unless we can first protect the child, then the child has to do what's necessary to survive with the narcissistic/borderline parent. But maybe understanding will help a bit. I don't know if these letters will be helpful or not, but I'm trying.
A Letter to Jason - Mother/son
A targeted
parent asked if I could write a letter to the child that explained
things. So I did, and this is it. There are four versions, this one, A
Letter to Jason, is when the mother is the targeted-rejected parent and
the child is her son.
The
other versions are for a targeted mother and her daughter (A Letter to Mary); a
targeted father and his daughter (A Letter to Jessica); and a targeted
father and his son (A Letter to John).
A Letter to Jessica - Father/daughter
A targeted
parent asked if I could write a letter to the child that explained
things. So I did, and this is it. There are four versions, this one, A
Letter to Jessica, is when the father is the targeted-rejected parent and
the child is his daughter.
The
other versions are for a targeted mother and her daughter (A Letter to Mary), a targeted mother and her son (A Letter to John); and a targeted
father and son (A Letter to Jason).
A Letter to John - Father/son
A targeted
parent asked if I could write a letter to the child that explained
things. So I did, and this is it. There are four versions, this one, A
Letter to John, is when the father is the targeted-rejected parent and
the child is his son.
The
other versions are for a targeted mother and her daughter (A Letter to Mary, a targeted mother and her son (A Letter to Jason); and a
targeted father and his daughter (A Letter to Jessica).
Licensing Board Complaint Letter Template
This is a sample template letter to file a licensing board complaint against a psychologist who fails to assess for the personality disorder and attachment trauma pathology of "parental alienation" (as described in Foundations).
Recovering the Now Adult Child
This is an essay regarding recovering the now adult child of "parental alienation" that examines the pathology of attachment-based "parental alienation" from the child's perspective.
Not a New Pathology Essay
This is an essay from my blog in which I describe that an attachment-based model of "parental alienation" is not a "new form" of pathology, but is all standard and established stuff in professional psychology.
Letter to Bystanders
Many targeted parents have asked that I write a letter to school personnel and other "bystander" participants describing the pathology of the cross-generational coalition. Here is my offer.
The role of the "Bystander" in the trauma reenactment narrative of the narcissistic/(borderline) parnet is twofold, 1) to socially validate the false trauma reenactment narrative as being true, and 2) to provide public shaming of the targeted parent. It is important that bystanders (teachers, coaches, family friends, parenting coordinators, guardians ad litem and minor's counsel) understand that things are not always as they first appear. Caution and balance are advisable.
Behavior-Chain Assessment of Parent-Child Conflict
The behavior-chain interview is a type of assessment procedure derived from Applied Behavioral Analysis. This handout describes the behavior-chain interview procedure for parent-child conflict. This handout is a resource in training mental health professionals in the balanced and comprehensive assessment of parent-child conflict.
Three Principles of Child Custody Decisions
This handout provides my three principles regarding professional recommendations for child custody.
Cover Letter to State Legislators
This is a cover letter I wrote to State Legislators in support of a parent's amazing efforts to have a bill introduced in her state legislature amending child abuse reporting laws to specifically reference child psychological abuse and pathogenic parenting.
Individual Letter to Parents
This is a individualized letter to targeted parents describing the pathology of "parental alienation" in an attachment-based nutshell. To request a copy of this letter email Dr. Childress with the heading "Letter Request" and provide your name and address for the letter's heading.