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Dr. Craig Childress, Psy.D. — Attachment-Based PA Framework

Clinical psychologist who developed an alternative-framing approach to PA grounded in attachment theory, personality-disorder dynamics, and DSM diagnostic codes. His framing is contested within the field but influential among practitioners working with severe cases.

Key contributions

  • An Attachment-Based Model of Parental Alienation: Foundations (Oaksong Press) — the foundational text of his framework.
  • Foundations of Diagnostic Restoration — practitioner-facing protocol.
  • "Trauma-coerced attachment" — diagnostic framing distinguishing induced rejection from genuine attachment disruption.
  • Multiple YouTube lectures and online seminars for parents and clinicians.

Where to find his work

  • Personal site: https://drcraigchildress.com/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CraigChildress
  • Books via Oaksong Press.

Why he matters here

For severe-case work — particularly where personality-disorder dynamics in the alienating parent are clinically obvious — Childress's framework gives practitioners a DSM-anchored language. Note: contested by Bernet/Lorandos-aligned researchers on methodological grounds. Worth knowing both schools to engage either.

— Catalogued by Alan Markson · AntiAlienate.com · CC BY 4.0