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.
For a deeper insight into Lisa Goodpaster’s thoughts on Gen X alienated adult children and parental alienation, watch my interview with her. Bring your tissues, it’s a devastating story that’s filled with courage and hope for all.
Kevin R Webb (MEd.L, BEd., BA Found., QTS), Somatic Trauma Informed Narcissistic Abuse Coach
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