Beyond Divorce Casualties: Reunifying the Alienated Family

I am a social worker and do a lot of reunification therapy. Rarely is that therapy needed without some sort of parent alienation occurring. This book is excellent for both professionals and divorced parents. It helps them understand the common issues and dynamics that contribute to parent alienation. The book presents information a parent can absorb that will help them open up to taking some responsibility for being an alienating parent. The problem is that these people are generally very defensive and controlling and "know better than anyone else."If you are student or therapist trying to learn more about parent alienation this book will contribute volumes to your knowledge. If you are a parent involved in a contentious post divorce relationship, it will help you understand what role you may be playing in the conflict with your ex spouse. This book is well worth the price.

If you are looking to reunite a family that has been torn apart by parental alienation this is a seminal work, that shows how your own behavior as the targeted parent can help recover your children. A situation that seems helpless can be turned around as a degree of control over your children's future returns to you. A life affirming read for those who maybe on the verge of giving up.

I like this book and the original. This one is good if you are giving it to your EX that is alienating, as it helps call out the behavior without labeling with negative personality traits. Divorce Poison is a better organized book overall and gives better examples and explanatinos.

Dr. Darnall's book is most helpful to those learning to cope with the problem of alienation. He is so learned, so even-handed, so well-researched. I wish every state of the Union was blessed with an expert of this caliber to help educate those who lead the legal and mental health systems in high-conflict divorces.

Very satisfied. Excellent content. Very helpful. Helped to understand my situation.

I just purchased this book and was very disappointed. Yes, it does give reunification strategies, however the strategies are only useful in situations where both parents are willing to cooperate/participate. Our family is dealing with a relentlessly angry alienating parent that has NO concept of what she is doing to everyone involved (including her own child) and has no intention of changing. I was hoping this book would provide more insight into what we could expect from our infrequent visits with the alienated child and appropriate reactions to the child's negative behaviors. But instead it focused more on developing the relationship between the divorced parents. That is not currently a possibility for us and we're already doing everything this book instructs within our control in regards to our interactions with the alienating parent. We really want to shift our focus from working with the unreasonable parent to strenghtening our relationship with the child at this point.

As the parent of a teenager I've had no contact with for nearly two years, I'm looking at all the literature to better understand our situation, and to make a better proposal to the court that may help our daughter reconcile, and come to love both of her parents.I agree with KellyO that this book leaves those of us dealing with a case of severe PA hungering for more than I found in this book. It's fine, I suppose, for more typical mid-and post divorce bickering, and it is a quick read.I'd recommend Divorce Poison by Warshak or Adult Children of PAS: Breaking the Ties that Bind by Amy J.L. Baker

I read a good chunk of the book in one sitting. It was very encouraging content. What's more, the personal accountability system is something I began to instill that very day. It was a little humbling to discover the way I have inadvertently alienated my daughter from her father and failed to recognize the symbols between us. I realize now the divided between us exists in part because I have maternal symbols and he has romantic symbols. Now that I know that I can do something about it by respecting the value of them!I wouldn't have seen these things without the book. It's comforting to know that I can have control over my behavior even if I can't control the situation with my daughter. Dr Darnell, thank you so much.