What the Research Shows About Family Court, Reunification Therapy, and Why It Matters for Newcomers
For years, parents navigating family court have shared eerily similar experiences. Disbelief, minimization and outright denial of abuse. Pressure to cooperate at all costs. Children forced into unsafe contact. These stories are often dismissed as emotional, biased, or anecdotal. Academic research, legal scholarship, and investigative reporting show they are neither rare nor accidental.
Research published in the Journal of Child Custody by Stephanie Dallam and Joyanna Silberg examined the treatments commonly recommended when children are labeled as “alienated.” Their analysis raises serious concerns. Many of the interventions relied upon by family courts are rooted in discredited theories and may cause foreseeable and lasting psychological harm to children.
So-called reunification therapy is often presented to courts as a therapeutic solution. What is rarely acknowledged is that there is no legitimate diagnosis for a child resisting contact with a parent. Instead, resistance is frequently attributed to “parental alienation,” a discredited theory with a dark history and a concerning present day movement. This framework did not emerge from child development or trauma science. It originated in custody litigation and continues to be used to override abuse allegations, discredit protective parents, and silence children.
The treatments that flow from this ideology are not therapeutic in any meaningful sense. They are coercive, threatening, and often abusive in nature. Children may be isolated from their primary attachment figure. Communication with the protective parent is cut off. Abuse disclosures are reframed as false memories or brainwashing. Compliance is rewarded. Resistance is punished.
Dallam and Silberg document how these practices mirror cult deprogramming techniques that were widely rejected decades ago. Forced isolation, restricted communication, psychological pressure to renounce prior beliefs and threats of punishment. These methods were found to violate civil rights and cause significant psychological harm.
Despite this history, family courts have revived these tactics under new labels. Reunification camps and intensive programs often operate without transparency or meaningful oversight. Judges rely on experts who may benefit financially from the very treatments they recommend. Parents who object are labeled uncooperative and children who resist are punished.
Notably, we have yet to identify a single credible research paper supporting these unscientific, experimental treatments that was not authored or promoted by individuals or organizations with a direct financial stake in the alienation industry. The absence of independent, unbiased evidence should give courts and parents serious pause.
For parents new to family court, this information is not shared to frighten. It is shared to replace confusion with clarity. It confirms that the system often prioritizes ideology and parental access over child safety. These patterns are systemic, profitable, and expanding.
For those who want to learn more about the history, players, and financial incentives behind these practices, additional information can be found at www.alienationindustry.com. Parents navigating custody cases may also benefit from education on how to safeguard against alienation claims and from working with trained coaches who understand these dynamics and specialize in this area.
Founded in 2011, One Mom’s Battle exists because these patterns repeat. Education and strategy are not pessimism. They are harm reduction. Preparation matters.
The fine print: I am not an attorney and I am not qualified to provide legal advice. Everything I share is based on personal experience and over a decade of work supporting others through high conflict custody battles. It is essential to consult with your attorney before making any legal decisions or implementing strategies discussed here. Your attorney is your legal voice and your advocate in the courtroom. They can help you understand the law in your jurisdiction, evaluate potential risks, and determine the best approach for your unique situation.
About me: My name is Tina Swithin. I am a survivor, a mom, and someone who understands this battle firsthand. I acted as my own attorney and successfully protected my children in a system that I can only describe as inhumane. I am also a blogger, a certified divorce coach, a best selling author, and a fierce advocate for reform in the family court system. I divorced a narcissist and I prevailed. You can read more about me here. If you would like to know my full story, you can read Divorcing a Narcissist: One Mom’s Battle.
