Parental Alienation: Healing Through Awareness, Advocacy, and Hope

Parental alienation is one of the most painful experiences a parent can face after divorce. It happens when one parent manipulates or influences a child to reject the other parent—often without justification. The result? Emotional trauma that ripples through families for years.

In a recent episode of Bent Not Broken, I sat down with advocate and mom Kindra Foley, who bravely shared her journey through divorce, false accusations, and years of separation from her children. What began as heartbreak became her mission to raise awareness, educate others, and push for legislative change. Her story is a reminder that while alienation can break your heart, it doesn’t have to break your spirit.

Kindra’s advice to parents experiencing alienation is powerful: educate yourself, find community, and never lose faith. She encourages parents to embrace what she calls the Three P’s — Patience, Persistence, and Prayer. Healing takes time, but it begins with staying grounded in love, setting healthy boundaries, and working on your own emotional recovery.

There is hope for reconnection. Children grow, learn, and often come to see the truth in time. In the meantime, focus on rebuilding yourself—because when they return, they’ll need the strongest version of you.

If you or someone you know is navigating parental alienation, visit National Parent Organization or explore books by Dr. Amy J. L. Baker to better understand the psychology behind it.

Remember—you are not alone, and healing is possible.