An Attachment-Based Model of Parental Alienation: Foundations

by C.A. Childress

The construct of “parental alienation” has a controversial history. An attachment-based model of “parental alienation” brings the controversy to an end.

An attachment-based model of “parental alienation” uses established constructs and principles of professional psychology to fully describe the psychological and interpersonal processes that create the symptom features of “parental alienation.”

By defining “parental alienation” within standard and established psychological principles and constructs, an attachment-based model identifies a set of specific diagnostic indicators that can reliably identify "parental alienation" while differentiating "parental alienation" from other sources of parent-child conflict.

An attachment-based model for the construct of "parental alienation" also identifies specific domains of professional expertise and knowledge necessary for the professionally competent diagnosis and treatment of this special population of children and families.

Children deserve a childhood free from the stress of their parents’ conflict, and parents deserve to love and be loved by their children.

An attachment-based model of "parental alienation" represents an important step in creating a solution to the family tragedy of "parental alienation" in high-conflict divorce.

Genres: Psychology, Parenting

370 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2015

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is painfully clinical, but I agree with Howie, it may become the most important book ever created to combat child emotional and psychological abuse. Brian Ludmer, an associate of Dr. Childress, a high profile lawyer in Toronto, and a high profile "parental alienation" expert stated that "someone like Dr. Childress only comes around once every 20 years".

Dr. Childress' work is incredibly important for all families who suffer from "parental alienation". This book explains every nuance of the pathologies involved. This is not just another book on "parental alienation", this is THE book that therapists can use to make a proper diagnosis of "child psychological abuse, confirmed", right out of the DSM-V.

I created a complete index of all of Dr. Childress' work, which can be found here: http://dr-childress-index.droppages.com/

If you are suffering from a narcissistic ex who has turned your children against you, I highly recommend that you spend the next few weeks devouring everything he has done.

[Howie Dennison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book might turn out to do more kids more good than any book written in the last 200 years. It takes a subject that is notoriously tricky to understand correctly and explains it using standard, universally accepted psychology. That psychology is very deep, but it is standard.

So many people assume that if children reject a parent, that parent has done something wrong.

This book identifies a clear signature for knowing when the child rejected a parent because the other, favored parent caused the child to believe something was wrong with the rejected parent.

So very often, courts reward the favored parent for turning the child against the targeted parent.

When a child is turned against a rejected parent, tremendous harm is done to the child.

[Charaty · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a literary standpoint, it's a solid three stars due to significant amounts of repetition. Although, as a parent on the receiving end of parental alienation, my rating is five stars. The author effectively brings findings, research, case studies and a point of view that convey how much he just, "gets it". Well-meaning friends, family, therapists and attorneys aren't equipped to provide the kind of support and clarity that Dr. Childress offers throughout this ground breaking work.

[Holly B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read!