A new coaching practice is tackling one of family psychology’s most overlooked issues: parental alienation. Presence & Persistence Life Coaching, founded by Marisa Conway, aims to provide specialized support for parents and individuals affected by this form of psychological abuse while pushing for broader institutional recognition of the problem.
Conway, a registered nurse and mother who experienced parental alienation firsthand, established the practice to fill a critical gap in mental health services. The trauma-informed coaching program offers both virtual and in-person sessions specifically designed for those who have been emotionally erased from their children’s lives or dismissed by professionals unfamiliar with the complexities of alienation.
The practice arrives at a time when family courts and mental health systems often struggle to recognize or address parental alienation effectively. Many affected parents report feeling forced to educate the very professionals from whom they seek help, encountering skepticism or misunderstanding about their experiences.
Central to Conway’s approach is her recently published book, “Shattered Bonds, Resilient Heart,” which combines personal narrative with broader analysis of parental alienation’s impact on families and society. The memoir serves as both a resource for those experiencing similar situations and a call for systemic change in how institutions handle these cases.
The coaching practice extends beyond individual support sessions. Conway has outlined an ambitious agenda that includes educating healthcare providers about recognizing alienation in clinical settings, advocating for the condition’s inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and pushing for assignment of an ICD diagnostic code that would enable formal diagnosis and treatment protocols.
These goals reflect a growing movement among mental health advocates who argue that parental alienation deserves the same recognition as other forms of psychological abuse. Currently, the lack of formal diagnostic criteria often leaves affected families without clear pathways to intervention or support.
The specialized coaching services incorporate elements of lifestyle medicine and holistic healing strategies alongside traditional trauma recovery techniques. This multifaceted approach acknowledges the complex emotional, physical, and social impacts of alienation on targeted parents.
Conway’s vision extends to reforming family law practices and custody systems. She advocates for better training of judges, attorneys, and child advocates to identify signs of emotional manipulation and intervene appropriately. The practice also promotes the development of peer-led healing groups and interdisciplinary professional coalitions to create comprehensive support networks for affected families.
The establishment of Presence & Persistence Life Coaching represents a shift from viewing parental alienation as a private family matter to recognizing it as a public health concern requiring professional intervention and institutional response. By combining lived experience with professional healthcare training, Conway positions her practice at the intersection of personal healing and systemic advocacy.
As awareness of parental alienation grows within mental health circles, practices like Presence & Persistence may serve as models for specialized support services. The long-term success of Conway’s mission will likely depend on whether professional institutions embrace the need for formal recognition and standardized treatment approaches for this form of psychological abuse.