Transcript Welcome To

Welcome To
Parental Alienation:
Unrecognized Abuse
Presented to
FASP Annual Conference
October 28, 2009
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Presented By
Robert A. Evans, Ph.D.
Certified/Licensed School Psychologist
Pinellas County Schools
&
The Center for Human Potential of American, Inc.
2706 Alternate 19 North
Ste 214
Palm Harbor, FL 34685
727-669-5707
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Parent Alienation
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Parental alienation refers to the
child’s strong alliance with one
parent and rejection of a relationship
with the other parent without
legitimate justification
Parental Alienation Disorder (coming
to a DSM-V near you – soon)
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Dx Criteria
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Child’s parents engaged in a hostile
divorce
Child allies self with one parent
(preferred parent)
Rejects a relationship with other
parent (alienated parent)
No legitimate justification
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PA Behaviors
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Campaign of Denigration
Weak, frivolous and absurd
rationalizations
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Lack of ambivalence
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Independent-thinker phenomenon
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PA Disorder Behaviors
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Reflexive support of preferred parent
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Absence of Guilt
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Borrowed Scenarios
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Animosity toward extended family
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CHAPTER 39 PROCEEDINGS RELATING
TO CHILDREN
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39.001 Purposes and intent
(3) GENERAL PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN:
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(a) Protection from abuse, abandonment,
neglect, and exploitation.
(b) A permanent and stable home.
(c) A safe and nurturing environment which
will preserve a sense of personal dignity and
integrity.
(e) Effective treatment to address physical,
social, and emotional needs, regardless of
geographical location.
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What Is Abuse?
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(b) "Child abuse" means abandonment, abuse,
harm, mental injury, neglect, physical injury, or
sexual abuse of a child as those terms are
defined in s. 39.01, 827.04, and 984.03
(2) "Abuse" means any willful act or threatened
act that results in any physical, mental, or sexual
injury or harm that causes or is likely to cause
the child's physical, mental, or emotional health
to be significantly impaired. Abuse of a child
includes acts or omissions.
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FL Statute 61
61.13 Custody and support of children;
visitation rights; power of court in making
orders
 Establishing/modifying parental
responsibility
 Parenting plans: time-sharing with the
minor child
 The best interest of the child shall be the
primary consideration
 Determination of the best interests shall be
made by evaluating all the factors affecting
the welfare and interests of the minor child
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61.13 Dissolution of Marriage, Support,
Time Sharing
19 Factors some of which include the words:
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facilitate and encourage a close and continuing
parent-child relationship
consider and act upon the needs of the child
capacity …to communicate with and keep the other
parent informed … adopt a unified front on all major
issues
Evidence of … child abuse, …
refraining from disparaging comments abut the
other parent to the child.
capacity and disposition of each parent to meet the
child’s developmental needs
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Parental Alienation Syndrome
First introduced in 1985
 Child is preoccupied with
deprecation and criticism
 More than brainwashing
 1980’s Proliferation of literature on
disturbing trends, including false
allegations of abuse to influence the
outcome in a divorce/custody case.
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History
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Three (3) other syndromes were identified:
 1986 Blush & Ross Sex Abuse Allegations in Divorce
(SAID) [typologies for the falsely accusing parent,
the child and the accused parent]
 Jacobs (NY) & Wallerstein (CA) reported MEDEA Syn
1994: Turkat described the “Malicious Mother Syn.”
Clawar and Rivlin published Children Held Hostage by
the Am. Bar Assoc. in 1991
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80% programming of some level
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20% programming at least once a day
J. Johnson’s work on high conflict divorce studied
children who refused visitation
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History
When PAS is studied from the
standpoint of parts and subprocesses
which creates the whole, the
literature on Parental Alienation
and/or PAS is enormous!
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Parent Alienation
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Specific actions by an Alienating Parent
Includes:
Criticizing
 Attacking the other (target) parent in front
of and ultimately with the children.
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An attempt to remove “Target Parent” (TP)
Make it appear it is the child who feels this
way
These behaviors are predictable and form an
identifiable pattern.
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Parental Alienation
The pattern of these behaviors forms four Criteria:
1.
Visitation or access blocking
2.
False allegations of abuse/or unfit parenting
against the TP
3.
Deteriorated relationship between child and TP
since separation
4.
Exaggerated fear reaction by the child at
displeasing the Alienating Parent
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External/Internal Deterioration
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External
 Refers to how the child behaves in
front of various audiences.
Internal
 The subjective deterioration of the
child’s view of the TP
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Fear Reaction Regarding Displeasing the AP
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The AP may actually reject the child
Child overtly fearful of the AP
The AP infantilized by the child;
“enmeshed”; lines of responsibility
misplaced; lots of blame
These are common in divorce when PA is
not present. However, if present with all
three other criteria, they serve to shape
and intensify these behaviors very distinctly
to a point where they become a relational
theme.
When alienation is present this quality of
enmeshment forms the core of the
Alienating Parent-child relationship.
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Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)
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PAS can occur with or without abuse
accusations
There is an increase in PAS type cases with
accusations by the AP that the TP is the
parent who is practicing PAS
PAS only applies where abuse, neglect and
other conduct by the TP, which would
reasonable justify the alienation, are
relatively minimal.
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Child’s Underlying Psychodynamics
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Maintaining the Primary Psychological
Bond
Stronger bond with primary caretaker
Fear of losing primary psychological
bond
Reaction Formation
Obsessive hatred can be a disguise for
deep love
The opposite of love is not hate, but
indifference
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Child’s Underlying Psychodynamics
Identification with the aggressor
 Seeking protection from that
aggressor
 Compensation for feeling insecure
 Identification with an idealized
person
 Alienating parents may idealize
themselves to the child
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Child’s Underlying Psychodynamics
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Child loses their ability to identify with
the TP
Expresses hostility
The expression of PAS can be a release
of emotions
Power
Venting rage creates a feeling of power
within the child
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Child’s Underlying Psychodynamics
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Need to exercise caution with accusations of
abuse
Infectiousness of the Energy of Emotions
 Emotions are contagious
 APs infect, albeit sometimes unknowingly,
with their negative feelings
Sexual Rivalry
TP’s involvement with another adult may
cause problems
Combined with a custody dispute increases
the chance of PAS
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Teaching To Hate
In its worst form, a child may be
taught to believe that a parent
has abused them when it’s not
true.
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Teaching To Hate
Dr. Garbarino identified 5 patterns of
parental behavior which constitute
psychological maltreatment:
1. Rejecting
2. Ignoring
3. Isolating
4. Terrorizing
5. Corrupting
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Interference with Social Competence and
Self Esteem
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Conflict resolution skills: squelched
Learning healthy self-esteem: deprived
Child learns to act manipulatively and
aggressively towards others.
Child fails to learn empathy; a critical,
social skill condition for successful adult
functioning
Child learns to be paranoid and adopt the
pathology of the favored parent
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Teaching To Hate
The loss of a caring parent is an
extreme loss. The best interest
of the child is to have both loving
parents in their lives. The child is
not the only victim of parental
alienation. The entire family is a
casualty and suffers from this
problem.
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3 Types of Parental Alienation
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Mild
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Moderate
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Severe
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Specific PAS behaviors
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Destroying TP’s items
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Deprive children contact with TP
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Communicates to the child the TP was
so despicable and hateful all evidence
of their existence must be obliterated
Destroying photographs of pleasant
and joyful experiences
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Specific PAS behaviors
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Destruction of extended family photos
Frequently begins when child learns
about impending custody dispute
AP discloses child custody dispute to
the child
Child allowed to read legal documents
involved in the case.
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Specific PAS behaviors
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Exaggerate a parent’s minor
psychological problems
Labeling a parent an “alcoholic”
because they have a drink
Distant history of drug
experimentation warrants a label of
“drug addict”
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Specific PAS behaviors
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An AP threatens child
“I can see why you hate him, but
you’ll have to go and visit or else the
judge will get made at me.”
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Clinical manifestations of PAS in the
TP
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Confusion and Guilt re: Parent – Child Relationship
Generate self-blame
Feeling Impotent - Rage
Fail to understand what has happened
Enormous frustration which leads to anger, then rage
then fury
 No-Win Situation
 If the TP presses to see their children, they are
criticized for “harassment” by the AP.
 If the TP pulls back and does nothing, hoping the
children will come to their senses, they are labeled
“abandoners.”
 Schools
 APs commonly attempt to obstruct the TP’s
involvement in school activities.
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Clinical manifestations of PAS in the
TP
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Passive parents will allow themselves to be
excluded from school activities
Alienators attempt to enlist the help of
school administrators who frequently do not
want to “make waves” and go along with the
alienator’s wishes.
New Partners
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PAS can have a devastating effect on new
relationships
Sometimes PAS doesn’t begin until there is a new
partner
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Children Held Hotage
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Am. Bar Assoc. research authored by
Stanley S. Clawar, Ph.D. and Bryne Rivlin,
M.S.S., 1991
Sample: N=700
Age range of children=infancy through 20
yo
Case focus 75% over custody
Occupations of Parents (15% professional;
25% Business; 20% skilled; 15% semi-
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How Children Are Effected
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Anger
Loss or lack of impulse control
Loss of self-confidence
Development of fears and phobias
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Fear of abandonment
School phobia
Hypochondriasis
Fear of the future
Fear of death
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How Children Are Effected
School-Related problems
 Sibling problems
 Anger issues
 Behavioral regression
Depression & Suicidal ideation
Sleep problems
Eating problems
Academic problems
Withdrawal
Confusion
Enuresis
Daydreaming
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How Children Are Effected
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Drug abuse/other self-destructive behaviors
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Peer group problems
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Psychosomatic disorders
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Obsessive-compulsive behavior
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Anxiety
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Excessive guilt
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School-Related Problems
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Acting out
Social withdrawal
Grade fluctuations
Insubordination
Truancy
Feeling life is chaotic and
uncontrollable
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Adult Children of PAS
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Amy J. L. Baker
Published 2007
N=40
Interviews
Low Self-Esteem (n=26, 65%)
Depression (n=28, 70%)
Drug & Alcohol Problems (n=14, 35%)
Lack of Trust (n=16, 40%)
Alienated from their own children (n=14,
50%)
Divorce (n=23, 57.5%)
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Amy J. L. Baker
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Other areas (less prominent) of impact:
 Problems with identity
 No sense of belonging or roots
 Choosing not to have children to avoid
rejection
 Low academic and career achievement
 Anger and bitterness of time lost from a
parent
 Problems with memory
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Long Term Effects of Trauma
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November 2009 American Journal of
Preventive Medicine
14-year-old Adverse Childhood
Experiences Study
17,337 adults
Medical questionnaire that included
questions about their childhood
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Traumatic childhood takes 20 years
off life expectancy
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Asked about 10 types of child trauma
Three types of abuse (sexual, physical and
emotional)
Two types of neglect (physical & emotional)
Five types of family dysfunction (having a
mother who was treated violently, a
household member who’s an alcoholic or
drug user, who’s been imprisoned, or
diagnosed with mental illness, or parents
who are separated or divorced).
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Traumatic childhood
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Findings have stunned researchers
Strong link: adverse childhood
experiences and adult onset of chronic
illness
Significantly higher rates of heart disease
and diabetes
Chronic pulmonary lung disease increased
390 percent; hepatitis, 240 percent;
depression, 460 percent; suicide, 1,220
percent.
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Traumatic childhood
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4,600 percent increase in the likelihood of
becoming an IV drug
Died nearly 20 years earlier on average
— 60.6 years versus 79.1 years
a person who has been emotionally
abused, physically neglected and grew up
with an alcoholic father who beat up his
wife would have an ACE score of 4
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Controversies
surrounding PAS
PAS oversimplifies the causes of alienation
PAS:
 leads to confusion in clinical work with
alienated children
 is not reliable as a clinical concept
 is not a valid concept
 is not a syndrome
 lacks adequate scientific foundation to be
considered a syndrome
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Controversies
surrounding PAS
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The Frye rule: from a 1923 decision
which holds that for scientific
evidence to be admissible it must
be gathered using techniques that
have gained general acceptance in
their field.
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Controversies
surrounding PAS
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In 1993 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a
decision in Daubert v. Merrell Dow
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. set the guidelines for the
admissibility of scientific expert testimony. The
factors in Daubert are: (a) is the theory or
technique based on methodology that can or
has been tested?; (b) has the theory or
technique been the subject of peer review and
publication?; (c) what is the known or potential
rate of error?; (d) does the technique enjoy
general acceptance within the scientific
community?
Does PAS meet the criteria set forth in either
Frye or Daubert?
 PAS has not passed peer reviews
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Controversies
surrounding PAS
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PAS unfairly blames one parent for
the family’s dysfunction
PAS recommends forced time to be
spent with the targeted parent
PAS is not real because it is not in
the DSM-IV (yet)! Putting the pieces
together.
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Case Law
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Kilgore vs. Boyd Case No. 94-7573
PAS passes the Frye Test
 Testimony on PAS will assist in deciding
best interest
 PAS has been sufficiently established
general acceptance
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Case Law
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Schutz v. Schutz, 522 So. 2d 874 (Fla. 3rd Dist. Ct. App. 1988).
Blosser v. Blosser, 707 So. 2d 778; 1998 Fla. App. Case No. 9603534.
Tucker v. Greenberg, 674 So. 2d 807 (Fla. 5th DCA 1996).
Berg-Perlow v. Perlow, 15th Circuit Court, Palm Beach County,
Fl.,Case no. CD98-1285-FC. Mar 15, 2000.
An exceptionally strong family court decision in which five
experts testified to the diagnosis of PAS.
Loten v. Ryan, 15th Circuit Court, Palm Beach County, FL., Case
No. CD 93-6567 FA. Dec 11,2000.
Kilgore v. Boyd, 13th Circuit Court, Hillsborough County, FL.,
Case No. 94-7573, 733 So. 2d 546 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000) Jan 30,
2001.
Boyd v. Kilgore, 773 So. 2d 546 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000) (Prohibition
Denied)
Court ruling that the Parental Alienation Syndrome has gained
general acceptance in the scientific community and thereby
satisfies Frye Test criteria for admissibility.
McDonald v. McDonald, 9th Judicial Circuit Court, Orange
County, FL. Case No. D-R90-11079, Feb 20, 1001.
Blackshear v. Blackshear, Hillsborough County, FL 13th Jud.
Circuit: 95-08436.
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Wrap Up
“You have to be taught to love
and to hate…
you have to be carefully
taught.”
(from South Pacific)
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The End
Thank you for attending.
If you are interested in learning more please
go to
TheCenterforHumanPotentialofAmerica.
com
And take the Parent Alienation course for
mental health professionals for CE credit.
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