Turning Points for Families (TPFF) is a therapeutic vacation for families to jump-start the reconnection between a child and an unreasonably rejected parent. It is the beginning of the process to restore healthy family relationships and healthy family functioning.
Turning Points for Families – Safe and Effective Reunification Therapy
TPFF is recognized in the scientific community to be a safe and effective treatment intervention to heal the dysfunctional family relationships occurring in cases of severe parental alienation.
TPFF was peer-reviewed in a 2021 Colorado State University research study and was found to be safe and 96.4% effective in treating severe cases of parental alienation.
Courts in the United States and Canada rely upon TPFF to remedy the harmful effects children suffer from the abuse being inflicted upon them by alienating parents.
As a result of more than 100 Court orders throughout the United States and Canada, TPFF has helped 185 children. The treatments of all 185 children were Court-reviewed after the TPFF intervention. No child was found by the Court to have been harmed, contrary to some erroneous claims made by bad actors – read article below.
Lies Perpetuated by the Alienating Parents’ Industry
Healing for the Child by Court Order for Abusive Alienation Dynamics
The TPFF intervention is an intervention of last resort. That is, TPFF is typically ordered by the Court after multiple traditional reunification therapies were found to be an abysmal failure.
When the Court refers a family to TPFF, the Court had already found the alienating parent to be the abusive parent and the alienated parent to be a safe, protective, and nurturing parent.
The psychological abuse inflicted upon a child by the alienating parent is the most unhealthy dynamic of all family dynamics that occur in cases of severe parental alienation.
The Pathologically Enmeshed Relationship Between the Alienating Parent and Child
Alienating parents use coercive-control strategies which result in profound long-term psychiatric disabilities for children. Severely alienated children have a poor prognosis in life.
The relationship between a severely alienating parent and child is characterized by “pathological enmeshment.” Pathological enmeshment is a severe psychiatric condition for the child.
In this pathologically-enmeshed relationship, the alienating parent employs coercive-control and manipulative strategies to:
- Violate the child’s boundaries.
- Compromise the child’s autonomy.
- Create dependency.
- Undermine the child’s critical reasoning skills.
- Harm the child’s interpersonal relationships.
- Strip the child of the child’s true opinions about and wishes and needs for the alienated parent.
- Engage in antisocial behaviors in the manner by which the child maltreats the alienated parent and extended family members.
- Cause the child to suddenly develop severe psychiatric symptoms.
Alienating Parents Commit Domestic Violence & Domestic Violence by Proxy Upon Their Children
Children have a powerful instinct for their parent, which is exceedingly difficult to override. Alienating parents employ coercive-control behaviors to compel children to maltreat and reject their other parent.
These coercive-control alienating behaviors rob children of their deeply-rooted, instinctual feelings and need for the alienated parent.
Alienating parents use coercive-control behaviors which meet the standard definition of “domestic violence of a child.”
Alienating parents encourage their children to maltreat their other alienated parent. This behavior meets the standard definition of “domestic violence by proxy.”
Child Protection is Our TOP Priority at Turning Points for Families
WE REMEDIATE THE ALIENATION DYNAMICS CAUSED BY
- Child psychological abuse
- Domestic violence
- Domestic violence by proxy
Once a child has been protected from these abusive alienating behaviors, we begin the healing of the alienated parent-child relationship.
Child Safety Is Our #1 Priority at Turning Points for Families
Turning Points for Families Memorabilia Intervention
Our MEMORABILIA INTERVENTION is an incomparably successful technique for healing family relationships.
The memorabilia intervention provides the unparalleled opportunity for family members to experience healing interactions with each other.
Through the use of photographs, videos, cards, presents, and other mementos, I walk the family down memory lane. The mementos reconnect the family to the loving, meaningful history that they once had had with each other.
The success of the memorabilia intervention derives from its reliance upon experiences rather than on talking. Actions speak louder than words.
Through the memorabilia intervention, the child experiences the alienated parent’s actions as the true markers of that parent’s character, qualities, attitudes, feelings, hopes, and intentions.
Through the memorabilia intervention, the alienated parent reveals whom he or she really is.
The memorabilia intervention paves the way for honest and respectful communication and problem solving. This healing development is a natural outgrowth of the range of human feelings – positive, negative, and all in between – that were aroused during the memorabilia intervention. Only after feelings are revealed, acknowledged, and accepted can positive communication and problem solving ensue.
Virtually every child who had participated in the TPFF intervention became fully engaged in and thoroughly enjoyed the memorabilia intervention.
These children become enraptured by viewing photographs and videos of their birth and early childhood.
Who does not become intrigued by re-experiencing family adventures, trips, vacations, and other excursions?
Who does not become impassioned by re-experiencing special family events, holiday celebrations, birthday parties, graduations, births of siblings and cousins, family weddings, and more?
Who does not appreciate re-experiencing difficult situations and/or growing pains that had been overcome with a parent’s support, encouragement, advocacy, presence, and unconditional love?
Who does not enjoy going back in a time capsule to recover and re-experience forgotten memories of loving, happy, exciting times that had occurred within all the family relationships?
Who does not revel in re-experiencing a loving, protective family at all stages of growth and development?
I credit the effectiveness of the Turning Points for Families intervention to the therapeutic philosophy and guidance of my mentor, child psychiatrist, Salvador Minuchin. The most meaningful way to impart Dr. Minuchin’s therapeutic philosophy is to quote him directly. The following is from his book entitled, Family Healing:
“I see connections and possibilities. I help families search for alternatives. I encourage tolerance of differences and acceptance of limitations….As I see families, I am amazed by the variety of resources people have and the ways they can change–that is, use their resources differently….It also means hope–for new ways of living together. (pp. 285, 287)”
Conclusion
I designed and implemented the TPFF intervention with the goals of restoring healthy, satisfying, and growth-producing family functioning and re-establishing normal family hierarchy – treating only one family at a time.
In the TPFF intervention, I provide an environment that protects, nurtures, and advocates for children so that they can maximize their potentials and grow up to become the best and happiest people they can be.
