Surviving Parental Alienation: A Journey of Hope and Healing

by Amy J.L. Baker, Paul R. Fine

Half of all marriages end, and, when they do, most parents hope to achieve a “good divorce” in which they can amicably raise their children with their former spouse. Unfortunately, about 20% of divorces are high-conflict, involving frequent visits to court, allegations of abuse, and chronic disagreements regarding parenting schedules.

In response to this conflict, some children become aligned with one parent against the other – even a parent who has done nothing to warrant the hostile rejection of their formerly loving children. These “targeted” parents suffer from the loss of time with their children, the pain of watching their children become distant, even cruel, and the uncertainty of not knowing if and when their children will come back to them. These parents are on a painful journey with an uncertain outcome. Surviving Parental Alienation fills the tremendous need for concrete help for these parents.

Too often parental alienation stories that are shared by word of mouth, on the internet, or in books depict unending pain and frightening outcomes. Surviving Parental Alienation provides true stories and information about parents who have reconnected with their lost and stolen children, and offers better insight and understanding into what exactly parental alienation is and how to handle it.

Targeted parents are desperate to be understood and to find cause for hope, even as they search for answers. Surviving Parental Alienation is where they can start to find this hope.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help

184 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

I was born in Philly and went to college in at Bennington and then Barnard. I graduated from Teachers College Columbia University with a doctorate in Developmental Psychology. I am currently the director of research at the Fontana Center for Child Protection in New York City. I am the author or co-author of several books and close to a 100 publications. My areas of specialization include parent-child relationships, child abuse, psychological maltreatment, and parental alienation. I am an expert witness in court cases around the country and provide parenting coaching.

Reviews

[Randall Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great stuff inside such as: “Being a targeted parent required living with an open wound”. “Knowing their child was ‘out there’… growing, learning – represented a kind of slow torture”. “In some ways, it might have become more difficult than a death because there was no easy way to explain to other people what was happening.” “Future alienators… determine which schools the children would attend, as well as most, if not all, of the major decisions.” “I realized there was virtually no relationship between what my ex claimed about me in court and reality”. “Mommy must be guilty because Mommy is not allowed to see me. She must have done something bad, just like Daddy said”. “The child’s sense of indebtedness can be increased if the alienating parent creates the appearance of ‘going to battle’ for the child.” “If the alienating parent can convince the child to make a small act of betrayal or unkindness to begin with, it is more likely the child will engage in a larger act of betrayal or unkindness later.” “It’s bad enough one of her parents is forcing her to choose, she doesn’t need both parents pressuring her.” Terrific book that tells you stories of real people who lost their kids to PAS, so you can hear their multiple perspectives directly instead of only just a doctor’s perspective.

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't remember when I started seeing the links but it is amazing to read it in print of stories of parental alienation. This book gave me hope and healing that I could not imagine possible. Thank you is not enough to Baker and Fine. Much obliged!

[Stacie Spaunhorst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope you never have need for this book, but if you do, it’s really good. And really sad. I’m glad I read it because it helps me understand and accept this crazy reality I’m living.

[Sarah Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alienation must read book

Awesome book - sad and dead on subject ..painful to read at Times but I pushed through it so I could understand better

[Crystal Chavez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated this book.
When it happened to me, I was mortified. Then my neighbor told me her story. Then others came out and told their stories. This is the unspoken crime against children. Someday the legal system will know how to deal with the perpetrators. If you are an erased parent, this is a good book to read. It doesn’t solve anything but there are ways to deal with the pain and mortification that comes along with it. We could only pray that the children see the light when they get older.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

only wish I had found this book years ago.

The stories resounded with me. My experience of parental alienation was over thirty years ago, and my daughters and I still live with the impact. Now I understand our story much better.

[Kuba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zbierać informacje o alienacji. Czuć się rodzicem na wydarzeniach bez względu na to co powiedział innym drugi rodzic. Wracać do dziecka powoli i jego tempem. Ono jest jak opętane i boi się że straci jednego rodzica dlatego odrzuca drugiego.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Not the topic I was looking for.) PAS stories and characteristics. It was heartbreaking to read about this syndrome.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with relatable stories.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

1000% recommend this book. So much information on what parental alienation is, how to identify it, how to combat its effects and what your resources are. 10 out of 10.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spot on.

[PetraReads2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re going through something like this… I HIGHLY recommend this book. The audio was great but I definitely need a physical copy!