Parental Alienation Silent Grief Database.Denmark 2017

Parental Alienation Silent Grief Database.Denmark 2017

Parental Alienation Silent Grief Danmark 2017 Parental Alienation Database was created out from 40 years living in This Abuse. The Database is apart of Bpm Parental Alienation Awareness Organization EU a non profit education organization


CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY STANDARDS OF PRACTICE:

http://www.drcachildress.org/asp/admin/getFile.asp?RID=230&TID=6&FN=pdf&fbclid=IwAR1cKiQD5M9VTvGi9LaT_AvaFbL3XGIgKwU2CEY6b6iO1TxLlDdCz_AjRvs

Professional-to-Professional

I just posted a YouTube video series for mental health professionals in which I discuss the assessment and diagnosis of attachment-related pathology surrounding divorce.

The discussion content is at a professional-level.

Opening:  In this opening segment I describe the series as a conversation with my colleagues in professional psychology, and then I do a little professional housekeeping in returning our professional-level discussion to standard and established constructs and principles of professional psychology.

1 – Intake Assessment:  This segment describes the importance of the intake assessment and begins to walk through the collection of information from the initial intake assessment, identifying the presenting problem of a “child rejecting a parent surrounding divorce” as fundamentally an attachment-related pathology, and then identifying the three sets of symptoms; hostile-conflict symptoms, excessive anxiety symptoms, attachment-related symptoms.

2 – Conflict Symptoms: This segment walks through the conflict symptoms, identifying the narcissistic personality traits being displayed by the child in the parent-child conflict, leading to a discussion surrounding the inauthenticity of this symptom feature and its cause in the cross-generational coalition with an allied narcissistic/(borderline) parent.

3 – Anxiety Symptoms:  This segment walks through the excessive anxiety symptoms sometimes displayed by the child in attachment-related pathology surrounding divorce.  Child anxiety symptoms surrounding attachment-related pathology require assessment for “dangerousness” from the targeted parent.  If the dangerousness of the targeted parent is ruled out as a causal factor by the assessment, then the inauthentic features of this excessive anxiety display are described and the role of the allied parent in creating the child’s excessive anxiety is identified.

4 – Attachment Symptoms: This segment provides information on the inauthenticity of attachment symptoms that involve a child rejecting a parent.  This segment describes how the attachment system (a neurologically embedded primary motivational system of the brain) functions, and how it characteristically dysfunctions, explaining why and how these child symptoms of attachment pathology are inauthentic to how the brain and the attachment system actually works.

5 – DSM-5 Diagnosis: This segment takes the information from the prior segments and discusses the appropriate DSM-5 (and ICD-11) diagnosis for the pathogenic parenting pathology.  This segment identifies the DSM-5 diagnosis of V995.51 Child Psychological Abuse as the appropriate categorical diagnosis for the pathogenic parenting evidenced in this type of attachment-related family pathology.

6 – Splitting: This segment discusses the origins of the splitting pathology in disorganized attachment (polarization of perception: all-good/all-bad), resulting in a neurologically imposed imperative for functional consistency in the brain networks of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent, in which the ex-spouse must also become an ex-parent; the ex-husband must become an ex-father, the ex-wife must become an ex-mother in order to maintain the neurologically imposed consistency of the “splitting” pathology embedded in the neurological networks of the brain.

7 – A Request: This segment concludes the conversation with a personal request from Dr. Childress to clinical mental health professionals to begin conducting an appropriate and adequate assessment of attachment-related pathology surrounding divorce, and to begin documenting their adequate assessments as a standard of professional practice.

In the final segment of this professional-to-professional conversation, I also urge my clinical psychology colleagues (clinical psychologists and family therapists) to begin fulfilling their standard of practice child protection obligations by making the DSM-5 diagnosis of V995.51 Child Psychological Abuse for this type of attachment-related family pathology.  Pathogenic parenting that is creating significant psychopathology in the child is a DSM-5 diagnosis of Child Psychological Abuse, and all mental health professionals have an established professional obligation – called a “duty to protect” – that mandates our role in the protection of children from child abuse.

We are going to bring standards of professional practice to the clinical assessment of attachment-related family pathology surrounding divorce.  (notice I did not say “parental alienation”).

I don’t know how long this will take, but established standards of professional practice in the assessment of attachment-related pathology surrounding divorce are on their way.

Establishing professional standards of practice begins with establishing a semi-structured and flexibly standardized protocol for the assessment of attachment-related pathology surrounding divorce (notice I did not say “parental alienation”).

We are also going to establish standards of professional practice for the professional knowledge-base needed by mental health professionals for professional competence in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of attachment-related pathology surrounding divorce (notice I did not say “parental alienation”).

By defining the pathology entirely within standard and established constructs and principles of professional psychology, AB-PA established defined domains of knowledge required for professional competence:

The Attachment System
Personality Disorder Pathology
Family Systems Therapy
Complex Trauma

Failure to possess a professional-level knowledge in these four domains of scientifically and professionally grounded knowledge when assessing, diagnosing, and treating attachment-related family pathology that involves the psychological collapse, and subsequent dysfunctional stabilization, of a narcissistic/(borderline) parent surrounding divorce would likely represent practice by the mental health professional that is beyond their boundaries of professional competence.

Craig Childress, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist, PSY 18857



An Example of Professional Competence in an Initial Assessment of Pathology:

As an example of what a professional standard of practice looks like for an initial intake assessment and documentation protocol, I have provided an example from the field of early childhood mental health:

Early Childhood Mental Health Intake Assessment Form

The assessment of attachment-related pathology surrounding divorce will not require anything as involved and detailed as this example of an intake form from the field of early childhood mental health, and the content of information collected during the initial intake assessment would be different in many ways from the information collected by an early childhood initial intake assessment, but I am providing this initial intake assessment form from early childhood mental health as an example of what standard of practice for an initial intake assessment looks like in other fields of professional psychology.



In Chapter 11 of Foundations, I provide my recommended reading list for establishing a ground of professional competence:

From Foundations: “Recommendations for professional literature of vital importance for the development of professional expertise in this area would include:

Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and Loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. NY: Basic Books.

Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and Loss: Vol. 2. Separation: Anxiety and Anger. NY: Basic Books.

Bowlby, J. (1980). Attachment and Loss: Vol. 3. Loss: Sadness and Depression. NY: Basic Books.

Fonagy, P., Target, M., Gergely, G., Allen, J.G., and Bateman, A. W. (2003). The developmental roots of Borderline Personality Disorder in early attachment relationships: A theory and some evidence. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 23, 412-459.

Fonagy P. and Target M. (2005). Bridging the transmission gap: An end to an important mystery in attachment research? Attachment and Human Development, 7, 333-343.

Fonagy, P., Luyten, P., and Strathearn, L. (2011). Borderline personality disorder, mentalization, and the neurobiology of attachment. Infant Mental Health Journal, 32, 47-69.

Lyons-Ruth, K., Bronfman, E. and Parsons, E. (1999). Maternal frightened, frightening, or atypical behavior and disorganized infant attachment patterns. In J. Vondra & D. Barnett (Eds.) Atypical patterns of infant attachment: Theory, research, and current directions. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 64, (3, Serial No. 258).

Main, M. and Hesse, E. (1990). Parents’ unresolved traumatic experiences are related to infant disorganized attachment status: Is frightened and/or frightening parental behavior the linking mechanism? In M.T. Greenberg, D. Cicchetti, & E.M. Cummings (Eds.), Attachment in the preschool years: Theory, research, and intervention (pp. 161–182). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

van IJzendoorn, M.H., Schuengel, C., and Bakermans-Kranenburg, M.J. (1999). Disorganized attachment in early childhood: Meta-analysis of precursors, concomitants, and sequelae. Development and Psychopathology, 11, 225–249.

Kerig, P.K. (2005). Revisiting the construct of boundary dissolution: A multidimensional perspective. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 5, 5-42.

Macfie, J. Fitzpatrick, K.L., Rivas, E.M. and Cox, M.J. (2008). Independent influences upon mother-toddler role-reversal: Infant-mother attachment disorganization and role reversal in mother’s childhood. Attachment and Human Development, 10, 29-39

Macfie, J., McElwain, N.L., Houts, R.M., and Cox, M.J. (2005) Intergenerational transmission of role reversal between parent and child: Dyadic and family systems internal working models. Attachment & Human Development, 7, 51-65.

Pearlman, C.A. and Courtois, C.A. (2005). Clinical applications of the attachment framework: Relational treatment of complex trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18, 449-459.

Prager, J. (2003). Lost childhood, lost generations: the intergenerational transmission of trauma.  Journal of Human Rights, 2, 173-181.

Shaffer, A., and Sroufe, L. A. (2005). The developmental and adaptational implications of generational boundary dissolution: Findings from a prospective, longitudinal study. Journal of Emotional Abuse. 5(2/3), 67-84.

Sroufe, L. A. (2005). Attachment and development:  A prospective, longitudinal study from birth to adulthood, Attachment and Human Development, 7, 349-367.

Bacciagaluppi, M. (1985). Inversion of parent-child relationships: A contribution to attachment theory.  British Journal of Medical Psychology, 58, 369-373.

Benoit, D. and Parker, K.C.H. (1994). Stability and transmission of attachment across three generations. Child Development, 65, 1444-1456

Brennan, K.A. and Shaver, P.R. (1998). Attachment styles and personality disorders: Their connections to each other and to parental divorce, parental death, and perceptions of parental caregiving. Journal of Personality 66, 835-878.

Bretherton, I. (1990). Communication patterns, internal working models, and the intergenerational transmission of attachment relationships. Infant Mental Health Journal, 11, 237-252.

Sable, P. (1997). Attachment, detachment and borderline personality disorder. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 34(2), 171-181.

Cassidy, J., and Berlin, L. J. (1994). The insecure/ambivalent pattern of attachment: Theory and research. Child Development, 65, 971991.

Mikulincer, M., Gillath, O., and Shaver, P.R. (2002). Activation of the attachment system in adulthood: Threat-related primes increase the accessibility of mental representations of attachment figures. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 881-895.

Tronick, E.Z. (2003). Of course all relationships are unique: How co-creative processes generate unique mother-infant and patient-therapist relationships and change other relationships. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 23, 473-491.

van der Kolk, B.A. (1987). The separation cry and the trauma response: Developmental issues in the psychobiology of attachment and separation. In B.A. van der Kolk (Ed.) Psychological Trauma (31-62). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press, Inc.

van der Kolk, B.A. (1989). The compulsion to repeat the trauma: Re-enactment, revictimization, and masochism. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 12, 389-411

van Ijzendoorn, M.H. (1992) Intergenerational transmission of parenting: A review of studies in nonclinical populations.  Developmental Review, 12, 76-99

Holmes, J. (2004). Disorganized attachment and borderline personality disorder: a clinical perspective. Attachment & Human Development, 6(2), 181-190.

Lopez, F. G., Fuendeling, J., Thomas, K., and Sagula, D. (1997). An attachment-theoretical perspective on the use of splitting defenses. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 10, 461-472.

Raineki, C., Moriceau, S., and Sullivan, R.M. (2010). Developing a neurobehavioral animal model of infant attachment to an abusive caregiver.  Biological Psychiatry, 67, 1137-1145.

Cozolino, L. (2006): The neuroscience of human relationships: Attachment and the developing social brain. WW Norton & Company, New York.

Siegel, D. (1999). The developing mind: Toward a neurobiology of interpersonal experience (New York: Guilford Press, 1999)

Iacoboni, M., Molnar-Szakacs, I., Gallese, V., Buccino, G., Mazziotta, J., and Rizzolatti, G. (2005). Grasping the intentions of others with one’s own mirror neuron system. Plos Biology, 3(3), e79.

Kaplan, J. T., and Iacoboni, M. (2006). Getting a grip on other minds: Mirror neurons, intention understanding, and cognitive empathy. Social Neuroscience, 1(3/4), 175-183.

Fraiberg, S., Adelson, E., and Shapiro, V. (1975). Ghosts in the nursery. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 14, 387–421.

Millon. T. (2011). Disorders of personality: introducing a DSM/ICD spectrum from normal to abnormal. Hoboken: Wiley.

Beck, A.T., Freeman, A., Davis, D.D., and Associates (2004). Cognitive therapy of personality disorders. (2nd edition). New York: Guilford.

Kernberg, O.F. (1975). Borderline conditions and pathological narcissism. New York: Aronson.

Moor, A. and Silvern, L. (2006). Identifying pathways linking child abuse to psychological outcome: The mediating role of perceived parental failure of empathy. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 6, 91-112.

Trippany, R.L., Helm, H.M. and Simpson, L. (2006). Trauma reenactment: Rethinking borderline personality disorder when diagnosing sexual abuse survivors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 28, 95-110.

Rappoport, A. (2005). Co-narcissism: How we accommodate to narcissistic parents. The Therapist.

Carlson, E.A., Edgeland, B., and Sroufe, L.A. (2009). A prospective investigation of the development of borderline personality symptoms.  Development and Psychopathology, 21, 1311-1334.

Juni, S. (1995).  Triangulation as splitting in the service of ambivalence. Current Psychology: Research and Reviews, 14, 91-111.

Barnow, S. Aldinger, M., Arens, E.A., Ulrich, I., Spitzer, C., Grabe, H., Stopsack, M. (2013). Maternal transmission of borderline personality disorder symptoms in the community-based Griefswald Family Study. Journal of Personality Disorders, 27, 806-819,

Dutton, D. G., Denny-Keys, M. K., and Sells, J. R. (2011). Parental personality disorder and its effects on children: A review of current literature.  Journal of Child Custody, 8, 268-283.

Fruzzetti, A.E., Shenk, C. and Hoffman, P. (2005). Family interaction and the development of borderline personality disorder: A transactional model.  Development and Psychopathology, 17, 1007-1030.

Garety, P. A. and Freeman D. (1999) Cognitive approaches to delusions: A critical review of theories and evidence. The British Journal of Clinical Psychology; 38, 113-154.

Hodges, S. (2003). Borderline personality disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: Time for integration? Journal of Counseling and Development, 81, 409-417.

Levy, K.N. (2005). The implications of attachment theory and research for understanding borderline personality disorder. Development and Psychopathology, 17, p. 959-986

Stepp, S. D., Whalen, D. J., Pilkonis, P. A., Hipwell, A. E., and Levine, M. D. (2011). Children of mothers with Borderline Personality Disorder: Identifying parenting behaviors as potential targets for intervention. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment. 1-16.

Svrakic, D.M. (1990). Functional dynamics of the narcissistic personality. American Journal of Psychiatry. 44, 189-203.

Widiger, T.A. and Trull, T.J. (2007). Plate tectonics in the classification of personality disorder: Shifting to a dimensional model. American Psychologist, 62, 71-83.

Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. Harvard University Press.”

(Foundations: Childress, 2015, p. 344-351)



Alternatively, Foundations brings all of this information together into a coherent and comprehensive explanatory model for attachment-related pathology surrounding divorce.

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.

Part 3 covers the professional-level description the High Road protocol of Dorcy Pruter. Some of these slides have been redacted to protect the intellectual property of Ms. Pruter. To obtain an un-redacted version of this portion of the presentation, contact Ms. Pruter at: clientcare@coparentinginstitute.com; (888) 379-7279
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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).
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Recommended Assessment Protocol

This is a description of my recommended assessment protocol for AB-PA.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.

The April 2016 Flying Monkey Newsletter addresses the false justification that peer-reviewed research is needed in order to make an accurate diagnosis of the pathology as pathogenic parenting representing a DSM-5 diagnosis of V995.51 Child Psychological Abuse, Confirmed.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.

The June 2016 Flying Monkey Newsletter addresses the false assertion that the child’s expressed “preference” for a parent is authentic and is not being manipulated and influenced by the pathology of the allied narcissistic/(borderline) parent – the Dark Triad personality parent.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Introduction Chapter to Foundations

This is the Introduction Chapter to my book An Attachment-Based Model of Parental Alienation: Foundations
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

The Domestic Violence of Parental Alienation

I believe this to be an important essay.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Diagnosing Parental Alienation Blog

This is a pdf of my blog on the diagnostic indicators and associated clinical signs of attachment-based “parental alienation”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Possible Causes of Action
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

California Laws for Review of Records

This is a handout of the California laws regarding a patient’s right to review treatment records.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Intervention Guidelines

This handout discusses guidelines for intervention with pathology of attachment-based “parental alienation” (attachment trauma reenactment pathology within the family)
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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: and bpm-juristfirma in Europa.

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 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.”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Consultation with Dr. Childress

In this discussion I address the most common questions I’m asked by targeted parents regarding “parental alienation.”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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 button 2. Complete the registration information (i.e., name; email; password creation) 3. Click the tab for a list of available seminars from Dr. Childress
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Enmeshed Relationship Questions and Answers

This handout discusses, in a question and answer format, the family systems construct of an enmeshed psychological relationship
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child Abuse.

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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).
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Construction of Meaning Article

This is an article in which I describe the role of parental influence within normal developmental expectations during childhood.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.”
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child Abuse

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.”
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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child Abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.html I have also posted a video seminar on the psychological fusion process on Youtube at pad3childress.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Therapy Framework for Treatment of Parental Alienation Dynamic

This is a treatment framework for addressing the attachment-based “parental alienation”.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.

PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Response to Karen Woodall

This is my Response to Karen Woodall’s Critique of Foundations
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.

PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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).

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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).

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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).

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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).
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Three Principles of Child Custody Decisions

This handout provides my three principles regarding professional recommendations for child custody.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

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.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Grandparent Alienation Powerpoint – Part 1

This is a handout for Part 1 of a Powerpoint presentation from 5/31/17 to the Massachusetts state legislature on Grandparent and Family Alienation.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Grandparent Alienation Powerpoint – Part 2

This is a handout for Part 2 of a Powerpoint presentation from 5/31/17 to the Massachusetts state legislature on Grandparent and Family Alienation.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Grandparent Alienation Powerpoint – Part 3

This is a handout for Part 3 of a Powerpoint presentation from 5/31/17 to the Massachusetts state legislature on Grandparent and Family Alienation.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Family Court Pilot Program Proposal

This is a booklet supporting a pilot program proposal for solving “parental alienation” and high-conflict divorce in the family law system.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Silence is Complicity

This is an international adaptation of my blog post: The Silence of the APA
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Levels of Pathology Diagram

This is a schematic visual representation of the levels of the pathology. I will be using this diagram in Advanced AB-PA Certification training.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Numbered Pathology Schematic Diagram

This is the same diagram of pathology across levels, except that the component parts are numbered.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

The Underbelly of the Pathology Diagram
This is a second (companion) diagram to the Levels of the Pathology diagram.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Minuchin: Structural Family Diagram

This is the structural family diagram for a cross-generational coalition from Minchin & Nichols’ (1993) book Family Healing.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child Abuse

Professional Consultation Pushback Letter

This is a generic letter I have developed for targeted parents from me that they can pass along to any therapist who refuses professional-to-professional consultation with me. Targeted parents can contact me through email and provide me with the specific information about the parent’s name and the therapist’s name (and gender) that will allow me to complete the letter format. Targeted parents should be aware that the therapist may not like getting this letter and the therapeutic relationship with the therapist may be harmed as a result.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child Abuse

Dr Childress Reference List: AB-PA

This is my personal reference list for AB-PA.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Dr Childress Reference List: Psychological Control
This is my personal reference list for the construct of Psychological Control, extracted from my personal reference list for AB-PA.

PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Dr Childress Reference List: Dark Triad Personality

This is my personal reference list for the Dark Triad personality, extracted from my personal reference list for AB-PA

PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Therapy Techniques Letter

This is a general letter to family therapists working with attachment-related pathology in high-conflict divorce that offers some possible suggested techniques.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Dear APA Letter

This is a letter format to the APA from parents asking for guidance on how to respond to apparent violations by a psychologist of the APA’s ethic’s code.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child abuse

Parent-Child Conflict Coding System
Categories for the Parent-Child Conflict Coding System and the code for AB-PA.
PDF of Knowledge to stop child Abuse

Conflict Codes for Attributions of Causality

The set of causal attributions from family members for the parent-child conflict of AB-PA
PDF of Knowledge to stop child Abuse 

Checklist of Applied Knowledge in Clinical Psychology
Standards of Practice: Summary Page

Standards of Practice

http://bpm-parental-alienation-support-group-skandinavien.dk/professional-training-course-for-family-counselorsfamily-law-attorneys/pasg/pasg-denmark-parental-alienation-database-2017/

http://drcachildress.org/asp/Site/ParentalAlienation/index.asp