Discover the emotional impact of parental alienation through Lisa Goodpaster’s powerful memoir Alienated, a must-read for parents, therapists, and advocates navigating high-conflict divorce and child trauma.
Every so often, a book comes along that hits you straight in the heart — and Alienated: When Parents Won’t Parent by Lisa Goodpaster is one of those rare reads. As someone who’s passionate about family dynamics and child advocacy, I found this book to be not only eye-opening but also deeply moving.
Lisa Goodpaster shares her personal story of growing up caught in the middle of a high-conflict divorce, where parental alienation wreaked emotional havoc on her childhood. Through vivid storytelling and raw honesty, she brings readers into her world — a world where loyalty is weaponized, where manipulation erases bonds, and where a child is forced to choose between parents when no child ever should.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term, what is parental alienation? It’s a form of emotional abuse where one parent influences a child to reject the other parent unjustly — and it has devastating long-term effects.
From an SEO standpoint, let’s call it what it is: Alienated is an essential read on parental alienation, emotional abuse in divorce, child custody battles, and healing from family trauma. But beyond the keywords and topics, it’s also a book that gives a face to the silent suffering so many children endure when adults fail to co-parent with empathy and respect.
What I admire most is how Lisa takes her pain and transforms it into purpose. She doesn’t just tell her story — she uses it to advocate for change. Her non-profit, The Stephood Project, provides support and education to others affected by parental alienation, from survivors to family law professionals.
If you’re a parent navigating divorce, a therapist working with children of separation, or just someone who cares deeply about mental health and child welfare, this book belongs on your shelf. Goodpaster’s statistics are chilling — like the fact that every four seconds a child is alienated from a parent due to manipulation or false accusations. But she doesn’t stop at the numbers; she humanizes them with her lived experience.
The book has been praised by experts, including Ginger Gentile, director of the Erasing Family documentary, who called it “a gripping read” and a source of hope. And I agree. Despite the trauma, Alienated is ultimately a story of survival and healing — and that’s what makes it so powerful.
Reading Lisa’s journey felt like having a conversation with someone who truly gets it. Her voice is real, compassionate, and strong — and it left me thinking about the long-term impact divorce can have on children when handled without care.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up: Lisa Goodpaster’s Alienated: When Parents Won’t Parent is more than a memoir — it’s a movement. It’s a wake-up call for anyone involved in the lives of children, and a beautifully written reminder that healing is possible, even after years of emotional damage.
Kevin R Webb (MEd.L, BEd., BA Found., QTS), Somatic Trauma Informed Narcissistic Abuse Coach
If this resonated with you, please join me on Zoom to share your story. Your voice matters. Let’s raise awareness about the silent epidemic of parental alienation and narcissistic abuse. Contact info@thepowerandcontrolwheel.co.uk for more information.
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