REBROADCAST: Parental Alienation in Divorce with Dr. Amy J.L. Baker, Part 2
Jun 29, 2023
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Dr. Amy J.L. Baker discusses high conflict divorce, parental alienation vs. estrangement, recommendations for lawyers when children resist contact, tips for mild to severe cases, and programs to help reconnect children with rejected parents.
Specialized training programs for family mediators can enhance skills in managing high conflict cases successfully, leading to improved settlement rates.
Parental alienation in high conflict divorce doesn't always result in permanent estrangement, as many adult children eventually reconnect with the alienated parent.
Deep dives
Training for Family Mediators and Handling High Conflict Cases
Family mediators can face challenges when dealing with high conflict personalities during mediations. To address this, specialized training programs are available for family mediators to enhance their skills in managing high conflict cases successfully. Bill Eddy's new mediation model has significantly improved settlement rates from around 75% to over 90% in high conflict cases, showcasing the effectiveness of these training programs. Participants can access these trainings through a combination of on-demand content and live Zoom sessions, offering a comprehensive learning experience to navigate high conflict situations.
Parental Alienation Impact on Adult Children
Dr. Amy J. L. Baker, an expert on parental alienation in high conflict divorce, highlights her research on adult children who experienced parental alienation in their youth. Through in-depth interviews and survey studies, Dr. Baker found that many adult children who were alienated from a parent during childhood eventually reconnected with the alienated parent, dispelling the myth of permanent estrangement. While specific reconnection percentages vary, ongoing research aims to understand primary parental alienation strategies and their long-term impacts on individuals.
Challenges in Reunification Therapy and Legal Advice for High Conflict Cases
Reunification therapy, designed to rebuild parent-child relationships in alienation cases, faces challenges in achieving meaningful outcomes. Dr. Baker emphasizes the importance of trained therapists who understand alienation dynamics and avoid reinforcing negative patterns. Legal advice for targeted parents should focus on strategic preparation for court proceedings, proactive goal-setting, and avoiding reactive responses to the alienating parent's behaviors. Lawyers should guide clients on navigating the legal system effectively and advocating for interventions tailored to each case's severity.
Effective Strategies for Parents and Grandparents in Alienation Situations
In cases of parental alienation, parents are advised to prioritize enhancing attachment with their children, employing positive parenting practices, and seeking education on alienation dynamics to avoid unintentional pitfalls. Grandparents involved in alienation situations should exercise caution in their interactions with grandchildren and other family members to prevent exacerbating conflict. Collaborative family approaches that promote constructive communication and boundary setting can play a pivotal role in mitigating alienation effects on family dynamics.
While on hiatus, we’re re-releasing some of our past episodes. This week, we’re finishing to our 2-part conversation with Dr. Amy J.L. Baker about high conflict divorce.
High conflict divorce and separation in the family courts consumes the majority of the courts’ time and resources and provides the most frustration and confusion.
In this episode Dr. Amy J.L. Baker, parental alienation expert and author of 9 books, including Co-parenting with a Toxic Ex; The High-Conflict Custody Battle; and Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome will talk with Bill and Megan about:
Whether favored parents ever recognize that they’re doing it
Parental alienation vs. parental estrangement
Recommendations for lawyers when a child resists or refuses contact
Tips for what can be done in mild, moderate, severe cases
Tips for lawyers and therapists
Tips for parents and grandparents
Programs that can help reconnect a child with a rejected parent