RTL News
This month Right to Love writes with concern on an issue the general public is unaware of. It impacts all parents and children. The government are working on proposals to further erode the rights of all parents and children to a relationship after divorce/separation.
We have started an official parliamentary petition and ask that all parents sign and share with everyone they know. Find out about our concerns and links to the petition to stop government removing the presumption of parents being involved in their child’s life when parents split up. We can’t complain about any changes they bring in if we’ve done nothing to stop it.
RTL would like to thank all members of the public who have signed so far and one parent in the North who has made it their personal mission to turn the UK map yellow by getting at least one person in every area to sign – amazing work.
Last time in our series looking at attachment pathology, we focused on people who have too much unhealthy narcissism. This month we look at those who do not have enough, Codependents. We recommend reading the articles from the bottom of the list up.
RTL is excited that Dr Craig Childress is adding Artificial intelligence to his consultancy service. As this develops we hope it will be of great value to professionals in the family court and parents who are looking to evidence child psychological abuse in family courts.
RTL has also made submissions to government on the proposed changes to court Practice Directions on expert witnesses and the inquiry into improving family court services for children (see links for calls to input).
Wider News
Press
Ban on unregulated experts in family courts proposed for England and Wales | Children | The Guardian
Shorter family court hearings ‘encouraging’, says minister – BBC News
Improving family court services for children – NAO report
Teacher and judge who ran abusive household cannot be named,… | TBIJ
Case Law & Judiciary
Parliamentary Committee has been set up to look at Improving family court services for children – make submissions by 9th June 2025.
The Courts and Tribunals Service has opened a Consultation on Standards Required of Expert Witnesses – see our response and make submissions by 6th June 2025.
Research
If you have any information research which is related to child/partner psychological abuse, contact us at info@righttolove.uk.
Events
Past
Dr Craig Childress Sunday Coffee Sessions:
- Speaking with Court Mediators
- Speaking w/ the Attorney for the Targeted Parent
- Clinical Case Vignettes w/ Dr. Childress
- Clinical Case Vignettes w/ Dr. Childress
- Clinical Case Vignettes w/ Dr. Childress: Williams Family
- Clinical Case Vignette: Johnson Family
- Clinical Case Vignette: Miller Family (professionals)
- AI in the Family Courts
Upcoming
If you have any information about upcoming events which are related to child/partner psychological abuse, contact us at info@righttolove.uk.
Professional Spotlight – Bessel van der Kolk
Bessel van der Kolk MD is a Psychiatrist, researcher and author based in the USA who has dedicated his life to researching how children and adults adapt to traumatic experiences. Initially through his work with war veterans experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and later with those who experienced severe abuse.
His work focuses on the latest knowledge in neuroscience and attachment. Bessel’s best known work is his book The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma where he explains that trauma is making us both physically and mentally ill. This has significant implications for children and parents going through family courts where psychological abuse is a factor.
On his website he describes how ‘I made it my life’s work to understand how people survive horrendous conditions, and how different countries and cultures deal with social opportunities, distribution of power, child rearing, and the delivery of justice.’
Bessel has been highlighting that the treatments offered to those who have experienced trauma are largely ineffective and has been looking at alternative methods to heal trauma without medication.
Right to Love – Key Links
RTL raises awareness of child/partner psychological abuse in the context of parental separation. Our leaflet provides a brief overview of this issue for busy professionals and families.
This should not be confused with “parental alienation” and have outlined Why Right to Love Doesn’t Use the Term. Instead we support the diagnostic model used by Dr Craig Childress to identify cases of child psychological abuse.
Our newsletters contain links to vital information and real life examples through case law and media. If you’ve only recently signed up and want to look at our historical newsletters you can find them here. We recommend reading from the bottom up.