Caught Between Parents

Parental Alienation

How Targeted Parents Should Respond to Unfair Accusations

Amy J.L. Baker Ph.D. on April 29, 2024

When your alienated child accuses you of something you didn't do, you might think that the obvious response is to correct them. But that may backfire—focus on this instead.

When your alienated child accuses you of something you didn't do, you might think that the obvious response is to correct them. But that may backfire—focus on this instead.

Parenting

How You Say No to Your Child Matters

Amy J.L. Baker Ph.D. on April 25, 2024

Children can be manipulated by one parent to ask for things that don't make sense, whether it is a new puppy or ice cream for breakfast. What should a targeted parent do?

Children can be manipulated by one parent to ask for things that don't make sense, whether it is a new puppy or ice cream for breakfast. What should a targeted parent do?

Why it is better to embrace criticism than to fight against it.

Parental Alienation

Planning a 2019 Conference on Parental Alienation

Amy J.L. Baker Ph.D. on March 13, 2019

Do you have an interesting case to discuss, a research idea to propose, or insight into a legal predicament?

Do you have an interesting case to discuss, a research idea to propose, or insight into a legal predicament?

Parental Alienation

The Role of Hope and Skill in Navigating Parental Alienation

Amy J.L. Baker Ph.D. on January 2, 2019

New years can be a painful time for targeted parents. Knowing that many alienated children do reconnect with the targeted parent can provide the hope needed to persevere.

New years can be a painful time for targeted parents. Knowing that many alienated children do reconnect with the targeted parent can provide the hope needed to persevere.

Depression

Coping with the Holidays: Tips for Targeted Parents

Amy J.L. Baker Ph.D. on November 8, 2018

Holidays can be a sad time for targeted parents.

Holidays can be a sad time for targeted parents.

Coaching

Looking for the Good News

Amy J.L. Baker Ph.D. on July 26, 2018

An assumption I had been making in my coaching practice turned out to be at least partly false, and that is a good thing!

An assumption I had been making in my coaching practice turned out to be at least partly false, and that is a good thing!

Parental Alienation

Protecting Children From Parental Alienation

Amy J.L. Baker Ph.D. on April 26, 2018

What values can you instill in your children to help inoculate them from becoming alienated?

What values can you instill in your children to help inoculate them from becoming alienated?

My experiencing training judges about parental alienation

In parental alienation cases, a presumption of equal blame can be unfair.

The runaway bunny's mother is a role model of unwavering unconditional love

What does it mean when your ex is saying bad things about you inside your own head?

Sometimes the only way out of a painful parent-child conflict is to go deeper into the child's pain.

When is an ACE a bad thing? Parental alienation as an adverse childhood experience.

Having expert knowledge isn't the same as being a credible witness in the courtroom

When saying no to authority is the right thing to do

Helping parents and children restore their family connections

A blog post argues that "what goes around comes around" is based on a faulty premise about what parental alienation is.

Children who are alienated push the targeted parent away when what they really need is reassurance that they are loved.

Reconnecting is not the same as restoring the relationship.