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Alienated: When Parents Won't Parent
This gripping read will floor readers with a child’s view of the hurt parental alienation can cause even into adulthood. But it is Lisa’s story of transformation and healing that will give the reader’s hope. Parental Alienation will break your heart, but the truth will set you free.
—Ginger Gentile, director of the Erasing Family Documentary Lisa Goodpaster’s book Alienated When Parents Won’t Parent gives the play by play of her alienator’s game exposing the secretive strategies she used and gives us a personal glimpse of the effects this type of child abuse has on the innocent bystander child who is used as a pawn to harm the other parent. This book is groundbreaking work from a true trailblazer in the field of conquering parental alienation.
—Jennifer Szeghi, The Alienator’s Chess Game Podcast Host, Reunification Specialist, Parenting Coordinator, Co-parenting Coach & Owner of Successful Parenting, LLC My parents’ divorce and the consequences of not protecting me left me sad, lonely, disappointed and unimportant—like a sacrificial lamb. I rebelled and had to learn to defend and protect myself. I acted it out by getting angry, and I did and said whatever I needed to say and do to keep myself safe. I ignored my needs and protected everyone, and I expected everyone else to handle my emotions. I had over four hundred survival patterns, which turned into long-term survival patterns. When we are operating in a pattern state, we are not living our authentic selves; rather, we are reactive, suppressing, numbing ourselves, and overthinking. This was for me how I imagine it’s like for most alienated kids. I was angry and unprotected, and my parents’ inability to co-parent and their lack of awareness became the danger that allowed my stepmom to write and do what she did.
—Ginger Gentile, director of the Erasing Family Documentary Lisa Goodpaster’s book Alienated When Parents Won’t Parent gives the play by play of her alienator’s game exposing the secretive strategies she used and gives us a personal glimpse of the effects this type of child abuse has on the innocent bystander child who is used as a pawn to harm the other parent. This book is groundbreaking work from a true trailblazer in the field of conquering parental alienation.
—Jennifer Szeghi, The Alienator’s Chess Game Podcast Host, Reunification Specialist, Parenting Coordinator, Co-parenting Coach & Owner of Successful Parenting, LLC My parents’ divorce and the consequences of not protecting me left me sad, lonely, disappointed and unimportant—like a sacrificial lamb. I rebelled and had to learn to defend and protect myself. I acted it out by getting angry, and I did and said whatever I needed to say and do to keep myself safe. I ignored my needs and protected everyone, and I expected everyone else to handle my emotions. I had over four hundred survival patterns, which turned into long-term survival patterns. When we are operating in a pattern state, we are not living our authentic selves; rather, we are reactive, suppressing, numbing ourselves, and overthinking. This was for me how I imagine it’s like for most alienated kids. I was angry and unprotected, and my parents’ inability to co-parent and their lack of awareness became the danger that allowed my stepmom to write and do what she did.
160 pages, Paperback
Published July 20, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 29, 2023
“Alienated: When Parents Won’t Parent” by Lisa Goodpaster, is a powerful parenting and self-help book that dives deep into parental alienation and its devastating effects. Told from a child and victim’s point of view, the topic of alienation and how it affects families, especially children who are harmed by it, is addressed. If you think alienation ends with adulthood, you need to read this book, because it sheds light from a personal and professional viewpoint.
Lisa’s story is meant to enlighten and heal, but the story is also a way to inform and educate others about the life-altering dynamics surrounding parental alienation. The contents aren’t always easy to read, but you will come away with a great understanding. Parental alienation is defined as when a parent uses their child against the other parent. Once understood, readers can learn about the patterns involved.
Goodpaster goes into great detail explaining how she endured this type of abuse and how she learned to navigate its dark waters and come out a survivor. You will find in reading the book that parental alienation has been going on far longer than has been professionally recognized, so this means that for many years children have suffered through this without intervention.
Divorce itself can wreak havoc on children. Add parental alienation and the inability to co-parent on top of that, you have a recipe for trauma that can last a lifetime. As a former social worker, what I like about this book is the layout, which, with its easy-to-find topics and appendix, acts as a reference guide you can refer to again and again.
This book should be read by all parents, grandparents, counselors, attorneys, teachers–any professional whose work or role involves children. I especially respect how the author tells her own story, especially how it affected her life and caused great pain, confusion, and anger, and how she acted out those emotions in life.
She speaks of reacting instead of acting. Suppression. Numbing. Overthinking. If you recognize yourself in these terms and behavior, and you’re a child of divorce, this book could be a great help to you. It’s easy to read, with lots of bullet points and takeaways. For a concise, powerful personal story on what it feels like to be an alienated child, “Alienated: When Parents Won’t Parent” by Lisa Goodpaster, is a must-read.
Lisa’s story is meant to enlighten and heal, but the story is also a way to inform and educate others about the life-altering dynamics surrounding parental alienation. The contents aren’t always easy to read, but you will come away with a great understanding. Parental alienation is defined as when a parent uses their child against the other parent. Once understood, readers can learn about the patterns involved.
Goodpaster goes into great detail explaining how she endured this type of abuse and how she learned to navigate its dark waters and come out a survivor. You will find in reading the book that parental alienation has been going on far longer than has been professionally recognized, so this means that for many years children have suffered through this without intervention.
Divorce itself can wreak havoc on children. Add parental alienation and the inability to co-parent on top of that, you have a recipe for trauma that can last a lifetime. As a former social worker, what I like about this book is the layout, which, with its easy-to-find topics and appendix, acts as a reference guide you can refer to again and again.
This book should be read by all parents, grandparents, counselors, attorneys, teachers–any professional whose work or role involves children. I especially respect how the author tells her own story, especially how it affected her life and caused great pain, confusion, and anger, and how she acted out those emotions in life.
She speaks of reacting instead of acting. Suppression. Numbing. Overthinking. If you recognize yourself in these terms and behavior, and you’re a child of divorce, this book could be a great help to you. It’s easy to read, with lots of bullet points and takeaways. For a concise, powerful personal story on what it feels like to be an alienated child, “Alienated: When Parents Won’t Parent” by Lisa Goodpaster, is a must-read.
January 19, 2024
"Alienated: When Parents Won't Parent" written by the author Lisa Goodpaster is an intriguing read. This book makes the readers aware about the impact of parental alienation on a child's life. Lisa's story tells us how her stepmother psychologically abused her by telling her lies about her mother. She made Lisa feel as if she was the problem but in reality the problem was the stepmother.
Lisa's life changed a lot since the time her stepmother entered her life. During her divorce, she was well aware of how she should care for her children and what not to do.
“Don’t ever let anyone intimidate you. When they get into your head, they control you,”
The above one is a very important lesson from the book that I learned the hard way in my life. Through this book, the author wants to mention how important positive co-parenting is. The author has suggested anyone to take help if they need it and that too without feeling ashamed.
I appreciate the author for sharing her story with us. It gives us hope. If you are looking for a book on parent alienation then go ahead with this book. I am glad to know Lisa's story. This book opened my mind and eyes as well. I strongly recommend this book to my fellow readers. The cover photo of the book is very thoughtful.
Lisa's life changed a lot since the time her stepmother entered her life. During her divorce, she was well aware of how she should care for her children and what not to do.
“Don’t ever let anyone intimidate you. When they get into your head, they control you,”
The above one is a very important lesson from the book that I learned the hard way in my life. Through this book, the author wants to mention how important positive co-parenting is. The author has suggested anyone to take help if they need it and that too without feeling ashamed.
I appreciate the author for sharing her story with us. It gives us hope. If you are looking for a book on parent alienation then go ahead with this book. I am glad to know Lisa's story. This book opened my mind and eyes as well. I strongly recommend this book to my fellow readers. The cover photo of the book is very thoughtful.
July 28, 2023
I know the author. She is a stunning woman with impeccable character and who is devoted to helping people cope with Parental Alienation, and for others to simply understand how much children are adversely affected by this terrible tragedy of parenting through mind controlling the children.💔
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews