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Letter to NC State Attorney General 12-11-2017
November 13, 2017 Mr. Josh Stein Attorney General’s Office 9001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-9001 Dear Mr. Stein: Thank you so much for taking the time to read this very important request. My hope is that upon review of my correspondence and enclosed materials that you will find that an investigation is necessary into the actions/inactions of multiple individuals who were involved in a highly charged and emotional family law matter which I have been involved in for several years. My name is Kenneth Gottfried and I am the father of three beautiful girls, two of whom I believe, based on the wrongful conduct of others have been abused not only psychologically, but have been abused by the “system” as well. I write to you with the knowledge that the people I am asking you to investigate live for retribution, as they have proven that the rights and safety of children and families does not matter. Also, the inherent nature of their position(s) leads them to believe they are above the law. I am also hoping that your office’s involvement will prevent this from happening to any other parents or children in the State of North Carolina. The individuals I seek investigation of include: Judge Harrison, Judge Hughes, Judge Eggers (all of the Watauga County Court), and Attorney Tamera Divenere. I am seeking investigation of the before-mentioned individuals based on their involvement in:
To provide some background, I turn your attention to the attached Complaints I have filed with the Judicial Standards Commission against Judges Harrison, Hughes and Eggers. The narratives attached provide detailed allegations which support the above referenced claims I wish for your office to investigate. Judge Hughes Judge Hughes allowed an "expert witness" (Lyric Fitzgibbons) to testify against me. With only 1 and ½ day notice, this expert witness was allowed to testify. My attorney objected to the notification of time for an expert witness, which Judge Hughes overruled. My attorney objected to her testimony, Judge Hughes overruled. At the time, I had joint legal custody of my daughters. Mrs. Fitzgibbons was seeing my underage girls for approximately 4 months without my knowledge or consent. My attorney objected; Judge Hughes overruled and still allowed her to testify. Mrs. Fitzgibbons testified that I needed a psychological evaluation without ever meeting me. Once again, my attorney objected. Judge Hughes overruled. Judge Hughes refused to allow me to have any time (zero visitation-the DOJ's exact definition of domestic abuse, psychological abuse) with my daughters and ordered psychological evaluation for both me and Christy Gottfried. Judge Hughes then continued the case for 6 months. (continuing the child abuse and domestic violence EXACTLY described by the DOJ). Without any notice, Judge Hughes allowed my oldest daughter to testify in August 2015. She stated under oath to the exact phrases and symptoms of psychological child abuse described in both books, Foundations and Divorce Poison. Judge Hughes once again continued the case. (continuing the child abuse and domestic violence as exactly described by the DOJ). Continuing the child/domestic abuse, and again, refusing to allow me any time with my children and (zero visitation-the DOJ's exact definition of domestic abuse, psychological abuse). Judge Hughes completely ignored his last order in February 2016 and the results of the psychological evaluation(s). Results of Psychological evaluations: Kenneth Gottfried: Under stress, managing acceptably Christy Gottfried: Paranoid tendencies Mrs. Fitzgibbons continued to counsel my daughters for over a year without my knowledge or consent until she was ordered to stop by the NC Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and found guilty of ethics violations by The North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Counselors. As you are undoubtedly aware, there are rules/ethics for a Judge or attorney to report child abuse. As officers of the Court, they are mandatory reporters in the State of North Carolina. On December 2, 2015, after over 2 years with little to no contact, Judge Hughes ordered my daughters in private chambers and witnessed my daughters visibly abused, traumatized. My children were shaking, crying, and saying things like “I wish my dad was dead” (once again, exact phrases and symptoms of psychological child abuse described in both books) (Psychological abuse DSM-5 V995.51). Judge Hughes, seeing this, refused to report child abuse. Additionally, Tamera Divenere (then counsel for my ex-wife) met with and conferenced with my underage daughter without my consent when I had joint legal custody in December of 2015. Visual proof of discussion with my daughter who was visibly traumatized, crying and shaking in the halls of Watauga Courthouse. Tamera Divenere refused to report child abuse and engaged triangulating my daughter first hand with child abuse and engaged impersonating a therapist specialized in psychological child abuse. On December 3, 2015, I protested the actions of Judge F. Warren Hughes outside of the Watauga County Courthouse. See https://www.hcpress.com/news/business-owner-in-child-custody-battle-protests-in-front-of-watauga-county-courthouse-in-boone.html. Proper Identification of this type of psychological child abuse explained in the DSM-V V995.51 needs to have a specialist in this field of expertise as explained in the APA's code of ethics: Standard 2.01 Boundaries of Competence (a) Psychologists provide services, teach and conduct research with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study or professional experience. The symptoms of my child evidence a pronounced suppression of normal-range attachment bonding motivations toward a normal-range and affectionally available parent. The induced suppression of my child’s attachment motivations is the product of my child’s triangulation into the spousal conflict through the formation of a cross-generational coalition with one parent against the other parent (as defined and described by Jay Haley1 and Salvador Minuchin2). My child’s symptoms also evidence prominent narcissistic personality traits (e.g., grandiosity, entitlement, the absence of empathy, haughty and arrogant attitude, splitting) which are evidence of the influence on my child’s attitudes by a narcissistic personality parent. The assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of the forms of pathology evidenced in my child’s symptom display requires professional competence in the relevant domains of attachment-related pathology, including the potential transgenerational transmission of attachment trauma from the mothers' childhood to the current family relationships, ___________________________________ 1 Haley, J. (1977). Toward a theory of pathological systems. In P. Watzlawick & J. Weakland (Eds.), The interactional view (pp. 31-48). New York: Norton. Judge Harrison My case was then transferred to Judge Harrison. Judge Harrison started the Court hearing on December 3, 2015 by calling me, a father that has not been with his children for over 2 years, "DESPICABLE". 17 min, 55 seconds into the Dec 3, 2015 hearing. Judge Harrison also stated that he knew everything about this case shortly thereafter. I stated on the witness stand my daughters were being abused. At the end of the trial, my attorney asked for my children to be seen by a professional psychologist due to child abuse, Judge Harrison refused. Judge Harrison refused to protect my children and have them checked by a professional for abuse (Dec 3, 2015). Judge Harrison also denied my rights of free speech ordering if I protested again, he would through me in jail. Judge Harrison continued the child abuse and domestic violence (exactly as described by the DOJ), and refused to protect my children. Judge Harrison refused to allow me to be paid as ordered by Judge McIntyre's previously entered Court order from December 2014 for past and future payments which were withheld from me without any notice or due process. Egregiously, Judge Harrison, in a February 2016 court hearing, called my own attorney to the witness stand to testify against me without any notice. No due process. That attorney forged my name on the document in question while I was out of the state. I have e-mail correspondence proving this. Judge Harrison was working in collusion with my ex's attorney (Tamera Diviniri) and had her ask questions for him under oath. Following this egregious testimony, at the end of the hearing, Judge Harrison ruled:
On December 2, 2015, Judge Hughes ordered an accountant to go over the accusations from Christy Gottfried (my ex) and her attorney Tamera Divenere. In February 2016, Judge Harrison refused to have the accountant look over the accusations ordered by Judge Hughes 2 months earlier and subsequently ordered over $57,000 in business expenses deemed as personal. This unlawfully stripped me of income ordered by Judge McIntire from December 2014, and Judge Harrison also refused to change child support. On May 17, 2016, (without any notification), Judge Harrison entered a restraining order from me doing my business taxes and from going into or having anything to do with any of my own businesses or property. Judge Harrison Specifically ordered me to remove all online personal involvement (According to the Feb 2016 Judgment 100% of all online items were personal). Additionally, I was evicted from where I was living (I stated on the witness stand in the Feb 2016 trial that I was living on business property). To this day, I have no itemized records from 2015 or 2016 to file my personal taxes properly. On Thursday, May 20, 2016, I was handed a subpoena to be in court the very next day, May 21, 2016. This subpoena was for doing exactly what the May 17th restraining order ordered me to do. Judge Harrison even ordered me not to bring up the Feb 2016 decision while we were in court. This could be construed as double jeopardy. On Friday, May 21, 2016, I showed up in court, without the assistance of counsel and improperly dressed (due to eviction without notice 3 days earlier and less than 1 day to prepare for court.) When I asked for a continuance, Judge Harrison denied it, intentionally and with malice. Judge Harrison sent me to jail for 30 days. (Over my daughter's high school graduation, exponentially amplifying the child abuse and Domestic violence as exactly described by the DOJ). Judge Harrison sent me to jail for not answering questions without an attorney on the stand. On the witness stand, I stated that I did not understand. I did not understand the questions being asked or the process which was taking place. This was not held in family court, but the Juvenile court. Judge Harrison was well aware and worked in collusion to a $13,000 withdrawal (possible embezzlement) by Christy Gottfried out of Go Postal's business account the day after Judge Harrison's order dated May 17, 2016. While I spent time in jail, I:
When Judge Harrison saw in court July 2016 that I had PTSD and was ordered to take time off by my psychologist, Judge Harrison immediately ordered an arrest warrant for not showing up to court. Essentially abusing his power & position, and refusing to act in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. On August 18, 2016, Judge Harrison gave me an ultimatum: either go to jail or sign all of my parental rights over and almost everything I have ever owned or worked for since I was a child. The books Foundations and Divorce Poison are not just books. They are the stories of my life: The torture and abuse of myself and my children at the hands of these judges and attorneys. Judge Harrison considered fair and equitable an order giving my ex and I the following: Christy Gottfried receives:
Ken received:
Judges have much leeway in the courts but to my knowledge, they are not allowed to engage in and commit:
Please understand Mr. Stein that I was my daughter's soccer coach, school driver, hiking dad- I was and AM their father. I have no connection with them on any platform and have been blocked on every front (social, phone, mail, etc.). Every attempt of communication has gone unanswered. I have no idea where they are going to college, if they are going to college, what they are doing and absolutely no communication. This is a direct result of the psychological child abuse perpetrated upon them by the abovementioned individuals. It is one thing when you are fighting for your constitutional rights, protection of your children on a fair playing field. When you realize the game is rigged from the beginning and that malicious and sinister individuals are in charge. These Judges and lawyers not only disregard the rule of law but use constitutional rights, DOJ domestic violence and child abuse as weapons to wield at will. Judge Harrison, Judge Hughes, Judge Eggers, and Tamera Diveneri used the EXACT definition of domestic violence defined by the Department of Justice as a sinister and insidious weapon. I have not had time with my daughters in over 4 years. They now have aged out and it is not looking hopeful anytime soon for a reunification. The damage and loss caused by Judge Harrison, Judge Hughes, Judge Eggers, and Tamera Divenere is immeasurable. The pain, suffering, and torture are simply heartless. The kind of people that would do these types of abuse should be in jail, not on a judge’s bench or an attorney. These actions were calculated, intentional and without remorse and they should be investigated immediately. If at any moment these Judges or attorneys state that they did not know because they are not qualified to detect this abuse, then by the same answer they are guilty by committing these types of child abuse and domestic violence, because they had no right to take away my rights as a father or a US citizen. Again, I ask that you review the materials herein and initiate criminal investigations into the abovementioned individuals as soon as possible. Should you need any additional information, please feel free to contact me directly at the phone number below. Sincerely, Kenneth Gottfried 828-406-8760 Enclosures Attachments REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR YOUR REVIEW Definition of Domestic violence: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence This is the EXACT definition of the DOJ's psychological abuse. This is what exactly transpired and is the Exact definition. Emotional Abuse: Undermining an individual's sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem is abusive. This may include, but is not limited to constant criticism, diminishing one's abilities, name-calling, or damaging one's relationship with his or her children. Economic Abuse: Is defined as making or attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding one's access to money, or forbidding one's attendance at school or employment. Psychological Abuse: Elements of psychological abuse include - but are not limited to - causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partner's family or friends; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family, friends, or school and/or work. The Definition of Psychological Child Abuse from the DSM-V V995.51 What transpired is the Exact definition. The supreme court right to be a parent. https://mkg4583.wordpress.com/2010/07/28/constitutional-right-to-be-a-parent/ 14th amendment: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. List of the following professionals for determining psychological Child abuse: Dr. Craig Childress Dr. Amy Baker Dr. Michael J. Bone Dr. Richard Warshak Dr. Bill Bernet Edward Kruk Ph.D. Dr. Sue Cornbluth Linda J. Gottlieb, LMFT, LCSW-R Dr. Jennifer Jill Harmon Dr. Mark Roseman Dr. Les Linet M.D. Dr. Patricia Love Dr. Mark Otis Detailed Explanation and a complete breakdown in psychological terms by/in: Dr. Craig Childress's Book: Foundations Symptoms of and direct actions involving this type of child abuse. Dr. Richard Warshak's Book: Divorce Poison The APA's notification that psychological abuse as harmful as SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL abuse. http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/10/psychological-abuse.aspx Copies sent to media outlets. |
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Follow up email: sent 12/14/2017
Hi Karen,
Please attach this to my letter when it arrives. USPS tracking # 9510810721737345152762
Please let Mr. Stein aware that I am willing to testify under oath in front a magistrate/Judicial officer to these crimes committed by the named individuals that are described in the letter.
Thank you
Kenneth Gottfried
Attached
U.S. Code Title 18 Section 242
Deprivation Of Rights Under Color Of Law
Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
For the purpose of Section 242, acts under "color of law" include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of that official's lawful authority, if the
acts are done while the official is purporting to or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties.
Persons acting under color of law within the meaning of this statute include police officers, prisons guards and other law enforcement officials, as well as judges, care providers in public health facilities, and others who are acting as public officials. It is not necessary that the crime be motivated by animus toward the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin of the victim.
The offense is punishable by a range of imprisonment up to a life term, or the death penalty, depending upon the
circumstances of the crime, and the resulting injury, if any.
The Federal Rules Of Criminal Procedure
Rule 3. The Complaint
The complaint is a written statement of the essential facts constituting the offense charged. Except as provided in Rule
4.1, it must be made under oath before a magistrate judge or, if none is reasonably available, before a state or local
judicial officer.
Rule 4. Arrest Warrant or Summons on a Complaint
(a) Issuance. If the complaint or one or more affidavits filed with the complaint establish probable cause to believe that an
offense has been committed and that the defendant committed it, the judge must issue an arrest warrant to an officer
authorized to execute it. At the request of an attorney for the government, the judge must issue a summons, instead of a
warrant, to a person authorized to serve it. A judge may issue more than one warrant or summons on the same complaint.
If a defendant fails to appear in response to a summons, a judge may, and upon request of an attorney for the
government must, issue a warrant.
......................................
Criminality "Under Color Of Law"
Color of law refers to an appearance of legal power to act but which may operate in violation of law. For example, though a police officer acts with the "color of law" authority to arrest someone, if such an arrest is made without probable cause the arrest may actually be in violation of law. Color (law) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wikipedia › wiki › Color_(law) Feedback FBI — Color of Law Federal Bureau of Investigation (.gov) › ... That's why it's a federal crime for anyone acting under “color of law” to willfully deprive or conspire to deprive a person of a right protected by the Constitution or U.S.law. “Color of law” simply means the person is using authority given to him or her by a local, state, or federal government agency. Deprivation Of Rights Under Color Of Law | CRT | Department of ...www.justice.gov › crt › deprivation-right... Mobile-friendly - Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
Copies sent to media
Please attach this to my letter when it arrives. USPS tracking # 9510810721737345152762
Please let Mr. Stein aware that I am willing to testify under oath in front a magistrate/Judicial officer to these crimes committed by the named individuals that are described in the letter.
Thank you
Kenneth Gottfried
Attached
U.S. Code Title 18 Section 242
Deprivation Of Rights Under Color Of Law
Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
For the purpose of Section 242, acts under "color of law" include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of that official's lawful authority, if the
acts are done while the official is purporting to or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties.
Persons acting under color of law within the meaning of this statute include police officers, prisons guards and other law enforcement officials, as well as judges, care providers in public health facilities, and others who are acting as public officials. It is not necessary that the crime be motivated by animus toward the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin of the victim.
The offense is punishable by a range of imprisonment up to a life term, or the death penalty, depending upon the
circumstances of the crime, and the resulting injury, if any.
The Federal Rules Of Criminal Procedure
Rule 3. The Complaint
The complaint is a written statement of the essential facts constituting the offense charged. Except as provided in Rule
4.1, it must be made under oath before a magistrate judge or, if none is reasonably available, before a state or local
judicial officer.
Rule 4. Arrest Warrant or Summons on a Complaint
(a) Issuance. If the complaint or one or more affidavits filed with the complaint establish probable cause to believe that an
offense has been committed and that the defendant committed it, the judge must issue an arrest warrant to an officer
authorized to execute it. At the request of an attorney for the government, the judge must issue a summons, instead of a
warrant, to a person authorized to serve it. A judge may issue more than one warrant or summons on the same complaint.
If a defendant fails to appear in response to a summons, a judge may, and upon request of an attorney for the
government must, issue a warrant.
......................................
Criminality "Under Color Of Law"
Color of law refers to an appearance of legal power to act but which may operate in violation of law. For example, though a police officer acts with the "color of law" authority to arrest someone, if such an arrest is made without probable cause the arrest may actually be in violation of law. Color (law) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wikipedia › wiki › Color_(law) Feedback FBI — Color of Law Federal Bureau of Investigation (.gov) › ... That's why it's a federal crime for anyone acting under “color of law” to willfully deprive or conspire to deprive a person of a right protected by the Constitution or U.S.law. “Color of law” simply means the person is using authority given to him or her by a local, state, or federal government agency. Deprivation Of Rights Under Color Of Law | CRT | Department of ...www.justice.gov › crt › deprivation-right... Mobile-friendly - Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
Copies sent to media
Ethics Complaint Form
APA Ethics Office
Please type or print in ink. Please review the documents Information for Individuals filing APA Ethics Complaints and Submission of Information to the APA Ethics Office to assist you in completing this form.
Have you verified that the person you want to file against is an APA member? _X_Yes ___No
If no, please contact our membership office to make sure that the individual is a member of APA. Contact information is available on our complaint webpage.
APA cannot process complaints against non-members.
Person making complaint: ____XXXXXXXXXXXXX__________________________________
Address: _____XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX___________________
____________________________________________________________________
Phone: ______XXXXXXXXXXX_____________________
Are you a member of APA? ___Yes X___No
Member you are filing a complaint regarding: ______ Kurt Michael
Address: prior:
____________________Current:___
222 Joyce Lawrence Lane
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608-2109
___________________________
Phone: _____ XXXXXXXXX______ Kurt Michael <[email protected]>
___
Note: You must file a separate form for each individual you wish to file a complaint against.
When did the alleged unethical behavior begin? __May 2013__________________ What is the most recent date of the alleged unethical behavior? _July 2017__________________ Have you discussed this situation with the psychologist you are complaining about?
___Yes X___No
He has refused any response from my attempts at contacting him.
APA Ethics Complaint Form
Page 2
Have you filed a complaint with any other organization(s)? __X_Yes ___No If yes, please indicate below:
_X_Yes, State Licensing Board Date: ___9/13/17____ Status: __Just mailed___
__Yes, State Psychological Association Date: ____________ Status: ________________
__Yes, civil suit (e.g., malpractice suit) Date: ____________ Status: ________________
__Yes, other (e.g., university grievance) Date: ____________ Status: ________________
Please answer the following questions to help us to understand your complaint:
Summarize for us in 2-3 sentences the nature of the alleged ethical misconduct:
_I brought up my concerns in emails and when we met with my daughter. I explained that I thought this was more than a child acting up. He played it off and said this was normal Child separation. I explained that this is much more but he continued to say child separation. He refused to do a diagnostic evaluation.
Kurt has only responded to some emails in the beginning, He has not responded to any of my emails, Calls, messages, The emails have been attached.
I believe my child has been Psychologically abused according to the DSM-5 V995.51__
I believe he was practicing out of his field. section 2 competence 2.01______
I believe when he was working with my daughters,
I was pleading for him to get help. 4.05 disclosures mandated by the state ____________
List the Ethical Standards you believe have been violated:
____ section 2 competence 2.01_
___4.05 disclosures mandated by the state
_ _3.04 Avoiding Harm________
__9.01 Bases for Assessments__________
On separate paper, please type (or print neatly in ink) the following information while being as concise as possible:
(1) a summary of the events in chronological order leading up to the behavior including the most important dates related to the behavior by the psychologist,
(2) a complete account of the behavior at issue,
(3) any relevant information about what happened after the behavior occurred, and (4) any steps you have taken to address this situation.
APA Ethics Complaint Form
Page 3
Please send us photocopies (not originals) of any evidence you have related to your allegations. Note: Please only send documents directly relevant to your complaint. A large volume of unnecessary documentation may delay the completion of review of your complaint.
If this is a billing matter, have you included all the relevant bills?
__Yes _X__No ___NA
If this is related to an evaluation, have you included (i) any court order appointing the evaluator, (ii) the evaluation itself, and (iii) transcript(s) of any testimony by the member related to the evaluation?
__Yes _X__No ___NA
If this is related to therapy, have you included proof of the dates of treatment and any correspondence with the member?
_X_Yes ___No ___NA
*****Important***** Please sign each of the releases below without modification. We will only process your complaint form if these releases are complete. If they are incomplete, processing of your complaint will be delayed while we return this form to you for your signature.
Releases I hereby give the member(s) against whom I am making this complaint permission to give the APA Ethics Committee any confidential information regarding me, including any records of our interactions, and to answer all questions the Committee may have concerning such information.
Signature: _/Kenneth Gottfried/______________________________ Date: ___9/01/ 2017_______
I hereby give the APA Ethics Committee permission to send to the member(s) against whom I am making this complaint, copies of any materials submitted by me or on my behalf concerning this complaint.
Signature: ____/Kenneth Gottfried /________________ Date: __9/01/17______
I hereby waive any right to subpoena from APA or its agents, for the purposes of private civil litigation, any documents or information concerning this matter.
Signature: ______/Kenneth Gottfried/__________________________ Date: __9/01/07________
Return the completed form and documentation to: American Psychological Association Ethics Office, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002.
Form revised 9/2012
1. Violation of Standard 9.01a of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association.
2. Violation of Standard 2.01a of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association.
3. Violation of Standard 3.04 of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association.
4. The failure of to take affirmative actions consistent with his professional duty to protect my son from the evident psychological abuse inflicted on my son by his mother.
Substantiating Information:
Standard 9.01 Bases for Assessments
(a) Psychologists base the opinions contained in their recommendations, reports and diagnostic or evaluative statements, including forensic testimony, on information and techniques sufficient to substantiate their findings.
The professional services of DR. Kurt Michael were engaged to diagnose and treat family problems surrounding my child’s triangulation into the spousal conflict following divorce. In assessing and diagnosing the family conflict I specifically requested that DR. Kurt Michael assess for attachment related pathology involving the artificially induced suppression of my child’s attachment bonding motivations as a result of a cross-generational coalition of my child with the mother that was targeted against me. I also specifically requested that DR. Kurt Michael assess for the impact of parental narcissistic personality disorder pathology as it is being expressed in my child’s symptom display as evidence of influence on my child by the narcissistic pathology of a parent. I also asked DR. Kurt Michael to specifically assess for an intransigently held, fixed and false belief in my child that is maintained despite contrary evidence (i.e., an encapsulated delusion) regarding the supposedly “abusive” parenting practices of a normal-range and affectionally available parent.
Despite my direct requests for an assessment of specific forms of pathology, and for documentation in the patient record regarding the findings of this clinical assessment, DR. Kurt Michael declined to conduct the requested assessment of psychopathology and declined to document in the patient record the existence or absence of these forms of pathology with 2 my child. I believe the refusal of to assess for these forms of pathology, despite the specific requests of the client-parent of the child, represents ’s failure to base his diagnostic opinions on “information and techniques sufficient to substantiate [his] findings,” in violation of Standard 9.01a of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association.
Standard 2.01 Boundaries of Competence
(a) Psychologists provide services, teach and conduct research with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study or professional experience.
The symptoms of my child evidence a pronounced suppression of normal-range attachment bonding motivations toward a normal-range and affectionally available parent. The induced suppression of my child’s attachment motivations are the product of my child’s triangulation into the spousal conflict through the formation of a cross-generational coalition with one parent against the other parent (as defined and described by Jay Haley1 and Salvador Minuchin2). My child’s symptoms also evidence prominent narcissistic personality traits (e.g., grandiosity, entitlement, absence of empathy, haughty and arrogant attitude, splitting) which are evidence of the influence on my child’s attitudes by a narcissistic personality parent.
The assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of the forms of pathology evidenced in my child’s symptom display requires professional competence in the relevant domains of attachment related pathology, including the potential transgenerational transmission of attachment trauma from the mothers’s childhood to the current family relationships,
___________________________________
1 Haley, J. (1977). Toward a theory of pathological systems. In P. Watzlawick & J. Weakland (Eds.), The interactional view (pp. 31-48). New York: Norton.
“The people responding to each other in the triangle are not peers, but one of them is of a different generation from the other two… In the process of their interaction together, the person of one generation forms a coalition with the person of the other generation against his peer. By ‘coalition’ is meant a process of joint action which is against the third person… The coalition between the two persons is denied. That is, there is certain behavior which indicates a coalition which, when it is queried, will be denied as a coalition… In essence, the perverse triangle is one in which the separation of generations is breached in a covert way. When this occurs as a repetitive pattern, the system will be pathological.” (p. 37)
2 Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and Family Therapy. Harvard University Press.
“The boundary between the parental subsystem and the child becomes diffuse, and the boundary around the parents-child triad, which should be diffuse, becomes inappropriately rigid. This type of structure is called a rigid triangle… The rigid triangle can also take the form of a stable coalition. One of the parents joins the child in a rigidly bounded cross-generational coalition against the other parent.” (p. 102) “An inappropriately rigid cross-generational subsystem of mother and son versus father appears, and the boundary around this coalition of mother and son excludes the father. A cross-generational dysfunctional transactional pattern has developed.” (p. 61-62) “The parents were divorced six months earlier and the father is now living alone… Two of the children who were very attached to their father, now refuse any contact with him. The younger children visit their father but express great unhappiness with the situation.” (p. 101) 3 personality disorder pathology specifically involving the assessment and identification of narcissistic personality pathology that is influencing family relationships, and family systems pathology involving the child’s triangulation into the spousal conflict through the formation of a cross-generational coalition with one parent against the other parent (as described by Haley and Minuchin).
The curriculum vitae of Dr. Kurt Michael (Attachment 1) reflects no evidence of the necessary experience or training in attachment related pathology, personality disorder pathology, or family systems therapy. does not appear to possess knowledge, training, and experience in the domains of professional knowledge necessary for assessing, diagnosing, and treating the forms of pathology evidenced in my family. The apparent absence of professional competence in the relevant domains of professional knowledge necessary to assess, diagnose, and treat the pathology evidenced in my family represents a violation of Standard 2.01a of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association.
Standard 3.04 Avoiding Harm
Psychologists take reasonable steps to avoid harming their clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants, organizational clients and others with whom they work, and to minimize harm where it is foreseeable and unavoidable.
The failure of Kurt Michael to assess for relevant forms of pathology within my family, despite my specific request to do so, and to document in the patient record the results of this assessment, and Dr. Kurt Michael’s apparent absence of professional competence in the relevant domains of pathology being evidenced in my family resulted in significant and potentially irrevocable harm to my child and our family relationships. In not even assessing for the relevant domains of pathology, despite my direct requests that he do so, Dr. Kurt Michael did not take “reasonable steps to avoid harming [his] clients/patients.”
The failure to possess the necessary knowledge and professional competence in the relevant domains of pathology being evidenced in my child and family, and his failure to even assess for the relevant domains of pathology despite my direct request to do so, led to significant and potentially irrevocable harm to my child and family in apparent violation of Standard 3.04 of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
Duty to Protect
Dr. Kurt Michael failed to conduct a professionally appropriate assessment that would have collected information “sufficient to substantiate” his diagnostic findings, and he failed to conduct an appropriate assessment and collect the relevant information necessary to protect my child from the evident psychological abuse being inflicted on my child by the pathogenic parenting of the child’s mother Pathogenic parenting that is creating significant developmental pathology in the child (i.e., induced suppression of the child’s attachment system), personality disorder pathology in the child (i.e., the presence of specific narcissistic personality disorder traits in the child’s symptom display), and delusional-psychiatric pathology in the child (an intransigently held fixed and false belief in the 4 supposedly “abusive” parenting practices of a normal-range and affectionally available parent), would warrant a DSM-5 diagnosis of V995.51 Child Psychological Abuse (at least at the lower threshold of “suspected” and more reasonably at the higher threshold of “confirmed”). Yet Dr. Kurt Michael failed to conduct an assessment of the relevant pathology and as a result he failed to provide an accurate diagnosis based on “information and techniques sufficient to substantiate [his] findings” (Standard 9.01a).
The failure of Dr. Kurt Michael to make an accurate diagnosis of the pathology within the family as representing psychological child abuse, due to the refusal of Dr. Kurt Michael to even assess for the relevant pathology despite direct requests to do so, and his absence of the necessary professional knowledge and professional competence in the relevant domains of pathology evidenced within my family, led to a failure by Dr. Kurt Michael in his duty to protect my child from the psychological child abuse being inflicted on my child by the mother.
Remedy Sought
My hope in registering this complaint is that Dr. Kurt Michael will receive formal sanctions on his license related to violations of Standards 9.01a, 2.01a, and 3.04 of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association, and for a failure in his duty to protect my child from the psychological abuse inflicted on my child by the child’s mother. In my view, Dr. Kurt Michael should be formally required to obtain additional education and training in the relevant domains of attachment related pathology, personality disorder pathology, and family systems theory and therapy necessary for professionally competent practice with children and families evidencing these form of family pathology, and he should be required to obtain additional training in the recognition and diagnosis of a pathogenic role-reversal parent-child relationship in which the child is used (manipulated and exploited) by the parent as a regulatory object to stabilize the emotional and psychological pathology of the parent.
The refusal of Dr. Kurt Michael to even assess for the relevant domains of pathology despite the direct requests made to him by the client-parent also suggests a cavalier disrespect for the collaborative participation of the client in psychological services. Additional education and training should also be required regarding the formation of a respectful, collaborative, and responsive approach to psychotherapy with clients and client families that demonstrates greater respect for the client’s self-autonomy and collaborative self-determination in the psychological services they receive.
Thank you for your consideration of this complaint. Additional evidence and documentation is available upon request.
Dear APA,
I am a parent who has had a deeply troubling experience with a psychologist, and I am seeking advice on what options I may have for a course of action.
After reviewing the treatment that my child and family received, I am deeply concerned that the psychologist who assessed, diagnosed, and treated my child and our family did not have the necessary professional competence based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience, and that their assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of my child and family therefore violated Standard 2.01a of the APA ethics code.
Through my research, I am further deeply concerned that because of this psychologist’s limited knowledge and lack of professional competence in required areas of pathology, that this psychologist did not conduct an assessment based on information and techniques sufficient to substantiate their diagnostic findings and forensic testimony, in apparent violation of Standard 9.01a of the APA ethics code.
As a result of this psychologist’s seeming professional ignorance and practice beyond the boundaries of professional competence, great and possibly irreparable damage was caused to my child and our family, seemingly creating another breach of Standard 3.04 of the APA ethics code.
Can you please advise me on what remedy I may have for my concerns regarding the professional practices of this psychologist?
What recourse would you recommend for a parent who is concerned that the psychologist who assessed, diagnosed, and treated a child and family failed to possess the necessary professional competence in the pathology (in apparent violation of Standard 2.01a of the APA ethics code), and who therefore failed to conduct an adequate assessment based on information and techniques sufficient to substantiate the diagnostic and forensic statements of the psychologist (in apparent violation of Standard 9.01a of the APA ethics code), and who, as a result of practice beyond the boundaries of professional competence thereby caused substantial and possibly irreparable harm to the client child and family (in apparent violation of Standard 3.04 of the APA ethics code)?
I HAVE HAD NEXT TO ZERO CONTACT WITH MY DAUGHTES SINCE KURTS INVOLVEMENT. I HAVE MADE MANY ATTEMPTS TO ASK FOR HIS HELP AND HE HAS NOT RESPONDENED. KURT MICHAEL HAS AVOIDED AND DENYED MY DAUGHTERS CHILD ABUSE AND IT HAS CAUSED EVEN MORE IREPUTABLE HARM IN BOTH OF MY 2 YOUNGEST DAUGHTERS.
What would be the proper path for addressing my concerns?
Sincerely,
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Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 5/6/14
to Alex, Crystal
Hi Alex and Crystal,
Let me know when we are good to meet with the girls(Separately).
Thank you
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Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/7/14
to me
Mr. Gottfried,
I will not be able to this week or next on account of final exams, graduation, and being out of town for a conference. I will speak with Megan and we will figure out when would be a good time within the next 2-3 weeks.
Alex
Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 5/7/14
to Alex
Maybe we could have Kirt sit in on this one, rather than waiting until school is almost out.
Things are not getting better and I am worried that this hatred (that has been going on for over 6 months)
will continue to manifest itself detrimentally. I believe the longer you allow her to harbor those feeling the
more ingrained they will become especially over the summer.
Thank you
Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/8/14
to me
XXXXXXXXXXX
Unfortunately Kurt is operating on the same schedule with finals, graduation, and attending the out-of-state conference next week. The week of the 18th - 24th is the earliest we would be able to arrange for something. I will talk with Megan today and figure out when we might be able to plan for that.
Crystal Thornhill <[email protected]> 5/13/14
to me
Hi Kenneth,
I will not be able to meet with you and Ellie again this semester. Ellie does not appear to feel like it is needed again at this time. In addition, Ellie and I are terminating our work together next week because I am wrapping up my work with student here at the high school since the end of the year is approaching. I would encourage you to set up that meeting during the summer with another clinician if you feel it is something that would be helpful for you all's relationship. Thanks for getting in touch with me.
Best Wishes,
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Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/23/14
to me
Mr. Gottfried,
After talking with Megan, we were hoping to have another meeting with both you and Kurt next Thursday (5/29/2014) at 9 am at Watauga High School. Would that be possible?
Thank you for your patience in this process, I know it's been a hectic couple of weeks for scheduling.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 5/23/14
to Alex
It is looking like I will be out of town Thursday and Friday of this week.
The following week would be better.
Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/23/14
to me
Do you know what your general schedule will look like the following week (June 2 - June 6)?
XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 5/23/14
to Alex
Lets go ahead and do Thursday. of this week I will move my plans around.
Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/23/14
to me
That sounds good. So we will plan for 9 am on Thursday 5/29/2014 at Watauga High School.
Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 5/25/14
to Alex
Hi Alex,
Had another episode this weekend with Megan. I am still pretty much in the dark about what you are doing with my daughter and how you are handling her emotional stability.
I am very concerned that you are not looking out for her short term and long term well being.
I would like to look into a different route for Megan with a certified professional.
Can you please give me your bosses names, email addresses, and the program that this falls under for ASU.
Thank you
Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/25/14
to me
Mr. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
You can reach Kurt tomorrow around 12 pm at his office number, 828-262-2272 ext. 432.
Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/26/14
to me
XXXXXXXXXXX,
Kurt seems to be having some issues with his campus phone for receiving calls. You can reach him by email at [email protected], and then you two can arrange a means to discuss your concerns.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 5/26/14
to michaelkd
Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 5/26/14
to michaelkd
Hi Kurt,
I have forwarded you my concerns in the email to Alex. Can you pleas address these issues so I can proceed.
Thank you
Ken
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 5/26/14
to me
Hi ken, please call me tomorrow at 828-262-2272, ext 432. I will be in by 8. Also, Alex scheduled a meeting between the 4 of us this Thursday at 9am. Are you planning on attending?
Kurt D. Michael, Ph.D., Sent from my iPhone
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 5/26/14
to Kurt
Yes
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 5/27/14
to me
Ken,
I just tried to call you, but your phone won't accept my call.
Are you free to talk?
__________________________________________________
Kurt D. Michael, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Licensed Psychologist
http://psych.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/kurt-d-michael
Principal Investigator/Project Director
ASC Center University-School Partnerships
Associate Editor
Journal of Child and Family Studies
Voice: (828) 262-2272, ext. 432; email: [email protected]
222 Joyce Lawrence Lane
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608-2109
__________________________________________________
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 5/28/14
to me
Hi Ken, can you make it at 8:30 so we can talk alone for a few minutes?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 5/28/14
to Kurt
Yes
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 5/30/14
to me
Ken,
I found our series of discussions to be helpful yesterday. I hope you did as well.
By the way, I failed to extend my apologies from Crystal. She was ill yesterday and unable to meet with you.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 9/14/16
to Kurt
Kurt,
I figured you may want an update.
There has been no contact between any of my children in almost 3 years. With the exception of the little work by Alex Kurt over 2 years ago.
Megan has gone off to a college that I am not even aware of.
Every attempt to communicate has been cut off. Facebook, i dont have phone numbers etc.
I personally have symptoms of ptsd, depression, anxiety and more.
I miss my children everday and can't even talk to them.
Please do not let this happen to any other parent!
Ken
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Jan 8
to Kurt
Hi Kurt,
Here is some reading material about attachment based parental alienation.
https://sites.google.com/site/centralohiopa/dsm5#dsm5-authors
The top two books Dr. Craig Childress on this page are extremely educational.
Foundations
single case abab acessment
http://www.parentalalienationedu.com/learn-about-parental-alienation.html
Here is a super video:
https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=nvUn45-dCDA
Kenneth Gottfried
March 9th 2017
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Mar 9
to Kurt
Hi Kurt,
It has now been 3 and a half years since I have had and contact alone with my daughters.
It is what you called Normal attachment separation when we spoke in WHS approximately 3 years back when you were in the session with Alex Kirk and Megan.
Here is Video that goes into Parental Alienation much better than I can write or come across. I hope you find It educational.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LShhQhPjqsE&feature=youtu.be
It is a great representation.
When you have a parent that states my child is being abused, is it your policy to shut them and pretend that nothing is happening?
This is not a custody issue, it is a child protective issue.
Attachments area
Preview YouTube video Address to the Board of Behavioral Sciences 3 3 17
Address to the Board of Behavioral Sciences 3 3 17
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Jun 8
to jordanna, Kurt
Hi Kurt and Jordan,
I have included Jordan on this email because he seams to be quite understanding on attachment issues and took the time to email back on linked-in.
I would like him to weigh in on this. and please, If you come up with "you think I am nuts", my feelings will not be hurt in the least.
FYI: I was seeing Bob Hill for about 3 years while I went through this.
Still blocked from all forms of contact from my daughters. I do not even know what college
Elli (my youngest) is going to.
I am guessing this is normal separation in Kurt's book.
These are some of the things that scare me the most.
Here is a link that has worried me from the beginning about my daughters.
http://www.votefamily.us/suicide-family-courts-children-vets-divorce-industry-connectionsuicide-family-courts-children-vets-divorce-industry-connection/
I've seen the psychological and emotional change in my daughters from a distance.
They seem to be turning into borderline and narcissistic traits.
Is this normal with your childhood separation?
I can't figure out something. By you not commenting, getting involved or at least emailing me back for the last 3 years, does this make you:
1. A child abuser
2. A child abuse conspirator/enabler
3. Negligent
4. Guilty of malpractice
5. Incompetent
6. All the above
7. None of the above
8. I will give you the benefit of the doubt, me being totally wrong and out of my gourd.
If 8 is the answer, please, explain because if I am kinda nuts this will alleviate my stress a little. (Not kidding)
In case you are wondering.This is a DIAGNOSIS.
DSM-5 diagnosis of V995.51 Child Psychological Abuse
http://drcachildress.org/asp/site/parentalalienation/index.asp
Below is a post by Dr Craig Childress..
The attachment system is the brain network that manages all aspects of love and bonding across the lifespan (including loss and grieving) .
The pathology I describe in Foundations (i.e., an attachment-based model of "parental alienation") is caused by a constellation of distorted and damaged information structures in the attachment system of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent that are being transferred to the attachment system of the child through aberrant and distorted parenting practices.
These information structures of the parent were damaged by childhood trauma experienced by this parent.
During adolescence and young adulthood, these distorted and damaged information structures of the now narcissistic/(borderline) parent coalesced into the narcissistic and borderline personality characteristics (the Dark Triad personality traits and the Vulnerable Dark Triad personality traits) that are now being expressed in current family relationships.
The rejection and abandonment inherent to divorce activates the distorted and damaged information structures in the attachment system of the narcissistic/(borderline) personality parent due to the need to process loss and grieving. The narcissistic/(borderline) parent then triangulates the child into the spousal conflict (manipulates and exploits the child) as a means to stabilize the collapsing personality structure of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent.
The child is manipulated and exploited by the pathology of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent (the Dark Triad parent) through techniques of psychological control (e.g., Barber; Kerig - e.g., guilt induction, contingent withdrawal of love, etc.) into forming a cross-generational coalition (Minuchin; Haley) with the narcissistic/(borderline) parent against the other parent.
The core manifestation of this pathology is through the creation in current relationships of a false trauma reenactment narrative from the childhood trauma of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent which is contained in the childhood trauma pattern of “abusive parent”/”victimized child”/”protective parent” (Bowlby: an internal working model; Beck: a schema).
According to Perlman and Courtois: “Reenactments of the traumatic past are common in the treatment of this population and frequently represent either explicit or coded repetitions of the unprocessed trauma in an attempt at mastery. Reenactments can be expressed psychologically, relationally, and somatically and may occur with conscious intent or with little awareness. One primary transference-countertransference dynamic involves reenactment of familiar roles of victim-perpetrator-rescuer-bystander in the therapy relationship. Therapist and client play out these roles, often in complementary fashion with one another, as they relive various aspects of the client’s early attachment relationships.” (p. 455)
According to Prager: “Freud [in Moses and Monotheism] suggests that overwhelming experience is ‘taken up into what passes as normal ego and as permanent trends within it.' and, in this manner, passes trauma from one generation to the next. In this way, trauma expresses itself as time standing still… Traumatic guilt - for a time buried except through the character formation of one generation after the next - finds expression in an unconscious reenactment of the past in the present.” (p. 176)
According to van der Kolk: “When the trauma fails to be integrated into the totality of a person’s life experiences, the victim remains fixated on the trauma. Despite avoidance of emotional involvement, traumatic memories cannot be avoided: even when pushed out of waking consciousness, they come back in the form of reenactments, nightmares, or feelings related to the trauma… Recurrences may continue throughout life during periods of stress.” (p. 5)
The term “parental alienation” is a common-culture label for a form of pathology. It is not an accepted construct in clinical psychology. That’s why I always put the term in quotes. It is a common-culture term, not a clinical psychology construct.
The correct clinical psychology term for the pathology typically subsumed under the common-culture label of “parental alienation” is pathogenic parenting (patho=pathology; genic=genesis, creation). Pathogenic parenting is the creation of significant psychopathology in the child through aberrant and distorted parenting practices.
The construct of pathogenic parenting is an established professional construct in early childhood mental health surrounding attachment-related pathology, since distortions to the normal-range functioning of the attachment system are always the product of pathogenic parenting. The attachment system never spontaneously dysfunctions. It only dysfunctions as a result of pathogenic parenting. (the term "pathogenic caregiving" was used in the DSM-IV in reference to attachment-related pathology).
Pathogenic parenting. The creation of significant psychopathology in the child as a result of severely aberrant and distorted parenting practices.
Pathogenic parenting that is creating significant developmental pathology in the child (diagnostic indicator 1), personality disorder pathology in the child (diagnostic indicator 2), and delusional-psychiatric pathology in the child (diagnostic indicator 3) represents a DSM-5 diagnosis of Child Psychological Abuse, Confirmed.
Pathogenic parenting is not a child custody issue, it is a child protection issue.
Diagnosis guides treatment.
The treatment for all forms of child abuse, physical child abuse, sexual child abuse, and psychological child abuse, is to protectively separate the child from the abusive parent, treat the psychological damage to the child created by the child abuse, require that the abusive parent receive collateral therapy to gain insight into the cause of the prior abuse before restoring the abusive parent's relationship with the child (so that the abuse is not repeated), and then to restore the child’s relationship with the previously abusive parent as warranted and with sufficient safeguards to ensure that the child abuse does not resume upon resumption of the child’s relationship with the formerly abusive parent.
This is the standard mental health response to physical child abuse. This is the standard mental health response to sexual child abuse. This is the standard mental health response to psychological child abuse.
Pathogenic parenting that is creating significant developmental pathology in the child (diagnostic indicator 1), personality disorder pathology in the child (diagnostic indicator 2), and delusional-psychiatric pathology in the child (diagnostic indicator 3) represents a DSM-5 diagnosis of Child Psychological Abuse, Confirmed.
Diagnosis guides treatment.
Craig Childress, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist, PSY 18857
References
Pearlman, C.A., Courtois, C.A. (2005). Clinical Applications of the Attachment Framework: Relational Treatment of Complex Trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18, 449-459.
Prager, J. (2003). Lost childhood, lost generations: the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Journal of Human Rights, 2, 173-181.
van der Kolk, B.A. (1987). The psychological consequences of overwhelming life experiences. In B.A. van der Kolk (Ed.) Psycological Trauma (1-30). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press, Inc.
The reason I keep emailing you is to get some closure or some help. If you realized that maybe you had a missed diagnosis or would like to just look into AB-PA, you may be inclined to reach out to Dr. Childress for a better understanding of Attachment Based Parental Alienation (Yes he is available) and then check in with my girls. Any contact with knowledgeable people in this field I believe would help.
Thank you for your time
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"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel"
Mya Angelou
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 6/25/14
to Alex
Hi Alex,
Last time we met with Meg, your suggestion was for us to meet 1-2 times per week.
Can you please send me that in an email. It seems there is a bit of confusion.
Thank you
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Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 7/21/14
to Kurt, Alex
Kurt and Alex,
Kurt can you please tell me who your supervisor is.
Alex Have you been seeing Megan?
Ken
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 7/21/14
to me, Alex
Hi Ken,
Alex has seen M once or twice this summer. He is under my supervision.
My supervisor is Jim Denniston.
Feel free to call me on my cell 828-773-1139.
Kurt D. Michael, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
PI, ASC Center Partnerships
Licensed Psychologist
Appalachian State University
http://psych.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/kurt-d-michael
Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 7/21/14
to Kurt
Hi Kurt,
I have mentioned P.A.S. in our meetings prior and feel the situation has gotten much worse. The last time I met with Meg and Alex
we had scheduled to meet 1-2 days a week. Meg and I have only met once.
All 3 girls are not returning texts and we have not been together in almost 2 months.
I have been doing a bit of research on P.A.S. and am very worried that this will continue, and affect the girls with all relationships they
will encounter.
I reached out to Alex to document that we had reached an agreement for me and Meg to see each other 1-2 times per week and have not received anything from him.This worries me.
Christy has told me that she has prevented the girls from any communication with me.This combined with their anger/hatred of me reads like the layout for further problems they will encounter without proper treatment.
I am reaching out once more to see what platform/methods you are using to work with Meg.
Thank you.
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 7/21/14
to me
Hi Ken,
Thank you for your email. Alex’s work with M is very limited due to the summer, but we wanted to keep some contact going to maintain continuity. I will follow up with Alex. There is no definitive plan for work with M this fall but I certainly recommend M continue to see someone for on-going concerns.
Kurt D. Michael, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
PI, ASC Center Partnerships
Licensed Psychologist
Appalachian State University
http://psych.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/kurt-d-michael
From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2014 1:10 PM
To: Kurt Michael
Subject: Re: Please send
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 7/22/14
to me
I spoke with Alex and confirmed he met with M once since school ended.
__________________________________________________
Kurt D. Michael, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Licensed Psychologist
http://psych.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/kurt-d-michael
Principal Investigator/Project Director
ASC Center University-School Partnerships
Associate Editor
Journal of Child and Family Studies
Voice: (828) 262-2272, ext. 432; email: [email protected]
222 Joyce Lawrence Lane
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608-2109
__________________________________________________
Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 6/6/15
to Kurt
Hi Kurt,
Just wanted to let you know it has been over a year since I have spoken or heard from Elli or Megan.
You should really take a look at this psychologists videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OCWXO6oJvA
It may help, before you fuck up another persons children and family.
Thank you
Ken Gottfried
Attachments area
Preview YouTube video 11 Parental Alienation Dynamics - Interviewing the Child
_______________________________________________________________________________________
This was also included in the packet I sent them:
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/10/psychological-abuse.aspx
Entire Site News & Events EventsPress Releases ABOUT APA TOPICS PUBLICATIONS & DATABASES PSYCHOLOGY HELP CENTER NEWS & EVENTS SCIENCE EDUCATION CAREERS MEMBERSHIP
Home//News & Events//Press Room//Press Releases
October 8, 2014
Childhood Psychological Abuse as Harmful as Sexual or Physical Abuse
Often unrecognized, emotional abuse prevalent form of child abuse, study finds
WASHINGTON — Children who are emotionally abused and neglected face similar and sometimes worse mental health problems as children who are physically or sexually abused, yet psychological abuse is rarely addressed in prevention programs or in treating victims, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association.
“Given the prevalence of childhood psychological abuse and the severity of harm to young victims, it should be at the forefront of mental health and social service training,” said study lead author Joseph Spinazzola, PhD, of The Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute, Brookline, Massachusetts. The article will appear in a special issue of the APA journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy®.
Researchers used the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Core Data Set to analyze data from 5,616 youths with lifetime histories of one or more of three types of abuse: psychological maltreatment (emotional abuse or emotional neglect), physical abuse and sexual abuse. The majority (62 percent) had a history of psychological maltreatment, and nearly a quarter (24 percent) of all the cases were exclusively psychological maltreatment, which the study defined as caregiver-inflicted bullying, terrorizing, coercive control, severe insults, debasement, threats, overwhelming demands, shunning and/or isolation.
Children who had been psychologically abused suffered from anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, symptoms of post-traumatic stress and suicidality at the same rate and, in some cases, at a greater rate than children who were physically or sexually abused. Among the three types of abuse, psychological maltreatment was most strongly associated with depression, general anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, attachment problems and substance abuse. Psychological maltreatment that occurred alongside physical or sexual abuse was associated with significantly more severe and far-ranging negative outcomes than when children were sexually and physically abused and not psychologically abused, the study found. Moreover, sexual and physical abuse had to occur at the same time to have the same effect as psychological abuse alone on behavioral issues at school, attachment problems and self-injurious behaviors, the research found.
“Child protective service case workers may have a harder time recognizing and substantiating emotional neglect and abuse because there are no physical wounds,” said Spinazzola. “Also, psychological abuse isn’t considered a serious social taboo like physical and sexual child abuse. We need public awareness initiatives to help people understand just how harmful psychological maltreatment is for children and adolescents.”
Nearly 3 million U.S. children experience some form of maltreatment annually, predominantly by a parent, family member or other adult caregiver, according to the U.S. Children’s Bureau. The American Academy of Pediatrics in 2012 identified psychological maltreatment as “the most challenging and prevalent form of child abuse and neglect.”
For the current study, the sample was 42 percent boys and was 38 percent white; 21 percent African-American; 30 percent Hispanic; 7 percent other; and 4 percent unknown. The data were collected between 2004 and 2010 with the average age of the children at the beginning of the collection between 10 and 12 years. Clinicians interviewed the children, who also answered questionnaires to determine behavioral health symptoms and the traumatic events they had experienced. In addition, caregivers responded to a questionnaire with 113 items pertaining to the child’s behavior. Various sources, including clinicians’ reports, provided each child’s trauma history involving psychological maltreatment, physical abuse or sexual abuse.
Article: “Unseen Wounds: The Contribution of Psychological Maltreatment to Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Risk Outcomes,” Joseph Spinazzola, PhD, and Hilary Hodgdon, PhD, The Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute, Brookline, Massachusetts; Li-Jung Liang, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine; Julian D. Ford, PhD, University of Connecticut Medical School; Christopher M. Layne, PhD, and Robert Pynoos, MD, National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, Los Angeles, and University of California, Los Angeles; Ernestine C. Briggs, PhD, National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, Durham, North Carolina, and Duke University School of Medicine; Bradley Stolbach, PhD, University of Chicago; Cassandra Kisiel, PhD, Northwestern Medical School, publication TBD, Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.
Article is available upon request from the APA Public Affairs Office.
Joseph Spinazzola can be contacted by email.
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes nearly 130,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.
I am also sending this to media outlets.
APA Ethics Office
Please type or print in ink. Please review the documents Information for Individuals filing APA Ethics Complaints and Submission of Information to the APA Ethics Office to assist you in completing this form.
Have you verified that the person you want to file against is an APA member? _X_Yes ___No
If no, please contact our membership office to make sure that the individual is a member of APA. Contact information is available on our complaint webpage.
APA cannot process complaints against non-members.
Person making complaint: ____XXXXXXXXXXXXX__________________________________
Address: _____XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX___________________
____________________________________________________________________
Phone: ______XXXXXXXXXXX_____________________
Are you a member of APA? ___Yes X___No
Member you are filing a complaint regarding: ______ Kurt Michael
Address: prior:
____________________Current:___
222 Joyce Lawrence Lane
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608-2109
___________________________
Phone: _____ XXXXXXXXX______ Kurt Michael <[email protected]>
___
Note: You must file a separate form for each individual you wish to file a complaint against.
When did the alleged unethical behavior begin? __May 2013__________________ What is the most recent date of the alleged unethical behavior? _July 2017__________________ Have you discussed this situation with the psychologist you are complaining about?
___Yes X___No
He has refused any response from my attempts at contacting him.
APA Ethics Complaint Form
Page 2
Have you filed a complaint with any other organization(s)? __X_Yes ___No If yes, please indicate below:
_X_Yes, State Licensing Board Date: ___9/13/17____ Status: __Just mailed___
__Yes, State Psychological Association Date: ____________ Status: ________________
__Yes, civil suit (e.g., malpractice suit) Date: ____________ Status: ________________
__Yes, other (e.g., university grievance) Date: ____________ Status: ________________
Please answer the following questions to help us to understand your complaint:
Summarize for us in 2-3 sentences the nature of the alleged ethical misconduct:
_I brought up my concerns in emails and when we met with my daughter. I explained that I thought this was more than a child acting up. He played it off and said this was normal Child separation. I explained that this is much more but he continued to say child separation. He refused to do a diagnostic evaluation.
Kurt has only responded to some emails in the beginning, He has not responded to any of my emails, Calls, messages, The emails have been attached.
I believe my child has been Psychologically abused according to the DSM-5 V995.51__
I believe he was practicing out of his field. section 2 competence 2.01______
I believe when he was working with my daughters,
I was pleading for him to get help. 4.05 disclosures mandated by the state ____________
List the Ethical Standards you believe have been violated:
____ section 2 competence 2.01_
___4.05 disclosures mandated by the state
_ _3.04 Avoiding Harm________
__9.01 Bases for Assessments__________
On separate paper, please type (or print neatly in ink) the following information while being as concise as possible:
(1) a summary of the events in chronological order leading up to the behavior including the most important dates related to the behavior by the psychologist,
(2) a complete account of the behavior at issue,
(3) any relevant information about what happened after the behavior occurred, and (4) any steps you have taken to address this situation.
APA Ethics Complaint Form
Page 3
Please send us photocopies (not originals) of any evidence you have related to your allegations. Note: Please only send documents directly relevant to your complaint. A large volume of unnecessary documentation may delay the completion of review of your complaint.
If this is a billing matter, have you included all the relevant bills?
__Yes _X__No ___NA
If this is related to an evaluation, have you included (i) any court order appointing the evaluator, (ii) the evaluation itself, and (iii) transcript(s) of any testimony by the member related to the evaluation?
__Yes _X__No ___NA
If this is related to therapy, have you included proof of the dates of treatment and any correspondence with the member?
_X_Yes ___No ___NA
*****Important***** Please sign each of the releases below without modification. We will only process your complaint form if these releases are complete. If they are incomplete, processing of your complaint will be delayed while we return this form to you for your signature.
Releases I hereby give the member(s) against whom I am making this complaint permission to give the APA Ethics Committee any confidential information regarding me, including any records of our interactions, and to answer all questions the Committee may have concerning such information.
Signature: _/Kenneth Gottfried/______________________________ Date: ___9/01/ 2017_______
I hereby give the APA Ethics Committee permission to send to the member(s) against whom I am making this complaint, copies of any materials submitted by me or on my behalf concerning this complaint.
Signature: ____/Kenneth Gottfried /________________ Date: __9/01/17______
I hereby waive any right to subpoena from APA or its agents, for the purposes of private civil litigation, any documents or information concerning this matter.
Signature: ______/Kenneth Gottfried/__________________________ Date: __9/01/07________
Return the completed form and documentation to: American Psychological Association Ethics Office, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002.
Form revised 9/2012
1. Violation of Standard 9.01a of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association.
2. Violation of Standard 2.01a of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association.
3. Violation of Standard 3.04 of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association.
4. The failure of to take affirmative actions consistent with his professional duty to protect my son from the evident psychological abuse inflicted on my son by his mother.
Substantiating Information:
Standard 9.01 Bases for Assessments
(a) Psychologists base the opinions contained in their recommendations, reports and diagnostic or evaluative statements, including forensic testimony, on information and techniques sufficient to substantiate their findings.
The professional services of DR. Kurt Michael were engaged to diagnose and treat family problems surrounding my child’s triangulation into the spousal conflict following divorce. In assessing and diagnosing the family conflict I specifically requested that DR. Kurt Michael assess for attachment related pathology involving the artificially induced suppression of my child’s attachment bonding motivations as a result of a cross-generational coalition of my child with the mother that was targeted against me. I also specifically requested that DR. Kurt Michael assess for the impact of parental narcissistic personality disorder pathology as it is being expressed in my child’s symptom display as evidence of influence on my child by the narcissistic pathology of a parent. I also asked DR. Kurt Michael to specifically assess for an intransigently held, fixed and false belief in my child that is maintained despite contrary evidence (i.e., an encapsulated delusion) regarding the supposedly “abusive” parenting practices of a normal-range and affectionally available parent.
Despite my direct requests for an assessment of specific forms of pathology, and for documentation in the patient record regarding the findings of this clinical assessment, DR. Kurt Michael declined to conduct the requested assessment of psychopathology and declined to document in the patient record the existence or absence of these forms of pathology with 2 my child. I believe the refusal of to assess for these forms of pathology, despite the specific requests of the client-parent of the child, represents ’s failure to base his diagnostic opinions on “information and techniques sufficient to substantiate [his] findings,” in violation of Standard 9.01a of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association.
Standard 2.01 Boundaries of Competence
(a) Psychologists provide services, teach and conduct research with populations and in areas only within the boundaries of their competence, based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study or professional experience.
The symptoms of my child evidence a pronounced suppression of normal-range attachment bonding motivations toward a normal-range and affectionally available parent. The induced suppression of my child’s attachment motivations are the product of my child’s triangulation into the spousal conflict through the formation of a cross-generational coalition with one parent against the other parent (as defined and described by Jay Haley1 and Salvador Minuchin2). My child’s symptoms also evidence prominent narcissistic personality traits (e.g., grandiosity, entitlement, absence of empathy, haughty and arrogant attitude, splitting) which are evidence of the influence on my child’s attitudes by a narcissistic personality parent.
The assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of the forms of pathology evidenced in my child’s symptom display requires professional competence in the relevant domains of attachment related pathology, including the potential transgenerational transmission of attachment trauma from the mothers’s childhood to the current family relationships,
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1 Haley, J. (1977). Toward a theory of pathological systems. In P. Watzlawick & J. Weakland (Eds.), The interactional view (pp. 31-48). New York: Norton.
“The people responding to each other in the triangle are not peers, but one of them is of a different generation from the other two… In the process of their interaction together, the person of one generation forms a coalition with the person of the other generation against his peer. By ‘coalition’ is meant a process of joint action which is against the third person… The coalition between the two persons is denied. That is, there is certain behavior which indicates a coalition which, when it is queried, will be denied as a coalition… In essence, the perverse triangle is one in which the separation of generations is breached in a covert way. When this occurs as a repetitive pattern, the system will be pathological.” (p. 37)
2 Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and Family Therapy. Harvard University Press.
“The boundary between the parental subsystem and the child becomes diffuse, and the boundary around the parents-child triad, which should be diffuse, becomes inappropriately rigid. This type of structure is called a rigid triangle… The rigid triangle can also take the form of a stable coalition. One of the parents joins the child in a rigidly bounded cross-generational coalition against the other parent.” (p. 102) “An inappropriately rigid cross-generational subsystem of mother and son versus father appears, and the boundary around this coalition of mother and son excludes the father. A cross-generational dysfunctional transactional pattern has developed.” (p. 61-62) “The parents were divorced six months earlier and the father is now living alone… Two of the children who were very attached to their father, now refuse any contact with him. The younger children visit their father but express great unhappiness with the situation.” (p. 101) 3 personality disorder pathology specifically involving the assessment and identification of narcissistic personality pathology that is influencing family relationships, and family systems pathology involving the child’s triangulation into the spousal conflict through the formation of a cross-generational coalition with one parent against the other parent (as described by Haley and Minuchin).
The curriculum vitae of Dr. Kurt Michael (Attachment 1) reflects no evidence of the necessary experience or training in attachment related pathology, personality disorder pathology, or family systems therapy. does not appear to possess knowledge, training, and experience in the domains of professional knowledge necessary for assessing, diagnosing, and treating the forms of pathology evidenced in my family. The apparent absence of professional competence in the relevant domains of professional knowledge necessary to assess, diagnose, and treat the pathology evidenced in my family represents a violation of Standard 2.01a of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association.
Standard 3.04 Avoiding Harm
Psychologists take reasonable steps to avoid harming their clients/patients, students, supervisees, research participants, organizational clients and others with whom they work, and to minimize harm where it is foreseeable and unavoidable.
The failure of Kurt Michael to assess for relevant forms of pathology within my family, despite my specific request to do so, and to document in the patient record the results of this assessment, and Dr. Kurt Michael’s apparent absence of professional competence in the relevant domains of pathology being evidenced in my family resulted in significant and potentially irrevocable harm to my child and our family relationships. In not even assessing for the relevant domains of pathology, despite my direct requests that he do so, Dr. Kurt Michael did not take “reasonable steps to avoid harming [his] clients/patients.”
The failure to possess the necessary knowledge and professional competence in the relevant domains of pathology being evidenced in my child and family, and his failure to even assess for the relevant domains of pathology despite my direct request to do so, led to significant and potentially irrevocable harm to my child and family in apparent violation of Standard 3.04 of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
Duty to Protect
Dr. Kurt Michael failed to conduct a professionally appropriate assessment that would have collected information “sufficient to substantiate” his diagnostic findings, and he failed to conduct an appropriate assessment and collect the relevant information necessary to protect my child from the evident psychological abuse being inflicted on my child by the pathogenic parenting of the child’s mother Pathogenic parenting that is creating significant developmental pathology in the child (i.e., induced suppression of the child’s attachment system), personality disorder pathology in the child (i.e., the presence of specific narcissistic personality disorder traits in the child’s symptom display), and delusional-psychiatric pathology in the child (an intransigently held fixed and false belief in the 4 supposedly “abusive” parenting practices of a normal-range and affectionally available parent), would warrant a DSM-5 diagnosis of V995.51 Child Psychological Abuse (at least at the lower threshold of “suspected” and more reasonably at the higher threshold of “confirmed”). Yet Dr. Kurt Michael failed to conduct an assessment of the relevant pathology and as a result he failed to provide an accurate diagnosis based on “information and techniques sufficient to substantiate [his] findings” (Standard 9.01a).
The failure of Dr. Kurt Michael to make an accurate diagnosis of the pathology within the family as representing psychological child abuse, due to the refusal of Dr. Kurt Michael to even assess for the relevant pathology despite direct requests to do so, and his absence of the necessary professional knowledge and professional competence in the relevant domains of pathology evidenced within my family, led to a failure by Dr. Kurt Michael in his duty to protect my child from the psychological child abuse being inflicted on my child by the mother.
Remedy Sought
My hope in registering this complaint is that Dr. Kurt Michael will receive formal sanctions on his license related to violations of Standards 9.01a, 2.01a, and 3.04 of the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association, and for a failure in his duty to protect my child from the psychological abuse inflicted on my child by the child’s mother. In my view, Dr. Kurt Michael should be formally required to obtain additional education and training in the relevant domains of attachment related pathology, personality disorder pathology, and family systems theory and therapy necessary for professionally competent practice with children and families evidencing these form of family pathology, and he should be required to obtain additional training in the recognition and diagnosis of a pathogenic role-reversal parent-child relationship in which the child is used (manipulated and exploited) by the parent as a regulatory object to stabilize the emotional and psychological pathology of the parent.
The refusal of Dr. Kurt Michael to even assess for the relevant domains of pathology despite the direct requests made to him by the client-parent also suggests a cavalier disrespect for the collaborative participation of the client in psychological services. Additional education and training should also be required regarding the formation of a respectful, collaborative, and responsive approach to psychotherapy with clients and client families that demonstrates greater respect for the client’s self-autonomy and collaborative self-determination in the psychological services they receive.
Thank you for your consideration of this complaint. Additional evidence and documentation is available upon request.
Dear APA,
I am a parent who has had a deeply troubling experience with a psychologist, and I am seeking advice on what options I may have for a course of action.
After reviewing the treatment that my child and family received, I am deeply concerned that the psychologist who assessed, diagnosed, and treated my child and our family did not have the necessary professional competence based on their education, training, supervised experience, consultation, study, or professional experience, and that their assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of my child and family therefore violated Standard 2.01a of the APA ethics code.
Through my research, I am further deeply concerned that because of this psychologist’s limited knowledge and lack of professional competence in required areas of pathology, that this psychologist did not conduct an assessment based on information and techniques sufficient to substantiate their diagnostic findings and forensic testimony, in apparent violation of Standard 9.01a of the APA ethics code.
As a result of this psychologist’s seeming professional ignorance and practice beyond the boundaries of professional competence, great and possibly irreparable damage was caused to my child and our family, seemingly creating another breach of Standard 3.04 of the APA ethics code.
Can you please advise me on what remedy I may have for my concerns regarding the professional practices of this psychologist?
What recourse would you recommend for a parent who is concerned that the psychologist who assessed, diagnosed, and treated a child and family failed to possess the necessary professional competence in the pathology (in apparent violation of Standard 2.01a of the APA ethics code), and who therefore failed to conduct an adequate assessment based on information and techniques sufficient to substantiate the diagnostic and forensic statements of the psychologist (in apparent violation of Standard 9.01a of the APA ethics code), and who, as a result of practice beyond the boundaries of professional competence thereby caused substantial and possibly irreparable harm to the client child and family (in apparent violation of Standard 3.04 of the APA ethics code)?
I HAVE HAD NEXT TO ZERO CONTACT WITH MY DAUGHTES SINCE KURTS INVOLVEMENT. I HAVE MADE MANY ATTEMPTS TO ASK FOR HIS HELP AND HE HAS NOT RESPONDENED. KURT MICHAEL HAS AVOIDED AND DENYED MY DAUGHTERS CHILD ABUSE AND IT HAS CAUSED EVEN MORE IREPUTABLE HARM IN BOTH OF MY 2 YOUNGEST DAUGHTERS.
What would be the proper path for addressing my concerns?
Sincerely,
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Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 5/6/14
to Alex, Crystal
Hi Alex and Crystal,
Let me know when we are good to meet with the girls(Separately).
Thank you
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Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/7/14
to me
Mr. Gottfried,
I will not be able to this week or next on account of final exams, graduation, and being out of town for a conference. I will speak with Megan and we will figure out when would be a good time within the next 2-3 weeks.
Alex
Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 5/7/14
to Alex
Maybe we could have Kirt sit in on this one, rather than waiting until school is almost out.
Things are not getting better and I am worried that this hatred (that has been going on for over 6 months)
will continue to manifest itself detrimentally. I believe the longer you allow her to harbor those feeling the
more ingrained they will become especially over the summer.
Thank you
Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/8/14
to me
XXXXXXXXXXX
Unfortunately Kurt is operating on the same schedule with finals, graduation, and attending the out-of-state conference next week. The week of the 18th - 24th is the earliest we would be able to arrange for something. I will talk with Megan today and figure out when we might be able to plan for that.
Crystal Thornhill <[email protected]> 5/13/14
to me
Hi Kenneth,
I will not be able to meet with you and Ellie again this semester. Ellie does not appear to feel like it is needed again at this time. In addition, Ellie and I are terminating our work together next week because I am wrapping up my work with student here at the high school since the end of the year is approaching. I would encourage you to set up that meeting during the summer with another clinician if you feel it is something that would be helpful for you all's relationship. Thanks for getting in touch with me.
Best Wishes,
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Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/23/14
to me
Mr. Gottfried,
After talking with Megan, we were hoping to have another meeting with both you and Kurt next Thursday (5/29/2014) at 9 am at Watauga High School. Would that be possible?
Thank you for your patience in this process, I know it's been a hectic couple of weeks for scheduling.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 5/23/14
to Alex
It is looking like I will be out of town Thursday and Friday of this week.
The following week would be better.
Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/23/14
to me
Do you know what your general schedule will look like the following week (June 2 - June 6)?
XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 5/23/14
to Alex
Lets go ahead and do Thursday. of this week I will move my plans around.
Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/23/14
to me
That sounds good. So we will plan for 9 am on Thursday 5/29/2014 at Watauga High School.
Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 5/25/14
to Alex
Hi Alex,
Had another episode this weekend with Megan. I am still pretty much in the dark about what you are doing with my daughter and how you are handling her emotional stability.
I am very concerned that you are not looking out for her short term and long term well being.
I would like to look into a different route for Megan with a certified professional.
Can you please give me your bosses names, email addresses, and the program that this falls under for ASU.
Thank you
Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/25/14
to me
Mr. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
You can reach Kurt tomorrow around 12 pm at his office number, 828-262-2272 ext. 432.
Alex Kirk <[email protected]> 5/26/14
to me
XXXXXXXXXXX,
Kurt seems to be having some issues with his campus phone for receiving calls. You can reach him by email at [email protected], and then you two can arrange a means to discuss your concerns.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 5/26/14
to michaelkd
Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 5/26/14
to michaelkd
Hi Kurt,
I have forwarded you my concerns in the email to Alex. Can you pleas address these issues so I can proceed.
Thank you
Ken
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 5/26/14
to me
Hi ken, please call me tomorrow at 828-262-2272, ext 432. I will be in by 8. Also, Alex scheduled a meeting between the 4 of us this Thursday at 9am. Are you planning on attending?
Kurt D. Michael, Ph.D., Sent from my iPhone
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 5/26/14
to Kurt
Yes
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 5/27/14
to me
Ken,
I just tried to call you, but your phone won't accept my call.
Are you free to talk?
__________________________________________________
Kurt D. Michael, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Licensed Psychologist
http://psych.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/kurt-d-michael
Principal Investigator/Project Director
ASC Center University-School Partnerships
Associate Editor
Journal of Child and Family Studies
Voice: (828) 262-2272, ext. 432; email: [email protected]
222 Joyce Lawrence Lane
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608-2109
__________________________________________________
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 5/28/14
to me
Hi Ken, can you make it at 8:30 so we can talk alone for a few minutes?
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to Kurt
Yes
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 5/30/14
to me
Ken,
I found our series of discussions to be helpful yesterday. I hope you did as well.
By the way, I failed to extend my apologies from Crystal. She was ill yesterday and unable to meet with you.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 9/14/16
to Kurt
Kurt,
I figured you may want an update.
There has been no contact between any of my children in almost 3 years. With the exception of the little work by Alex Kurt over 2 years ago.
Megan has gone off to a college that I am not even aware of.
Every attempt to communicate has been cut off. Facebook, i dont have phone numbers etc.
I personally have symptoms of ptsd, depression, anxiety and more.
I miss my children everday and can't even talk to them.
Please do not let this happen to any other parent!
Ken
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to Kurt
Hi Kurt,
Here is some reading material about attachment based parental alienation.
https://sites.google.com/site/centralohiopa/dsm5#dsm5-authors
The top two books Dr. Craig Childress on this page are extremely educational.
Foundations
single case abab acessment
http://www.parentalalienationedu.com/learn-about-parental-alienation.html
Here is a super video:
https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=nvUn45-dCDA
Kenneth Gottfried
March 9th 2017
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to Kurt
Hi Kurt,
It has now been 3 and a half years since I have had and contact alone with my daughters.
It is what you called Normal attachment separation when we spoke in WHS approximately 3 years back when you were in the session with Alex Kirk and Megan.
Here is Video that goes into Parental Alienation much better than I can write or come across. I hope you find It educational.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LShhQhPjqsE&feature=youtu.be
It is a great representation.
When you have a parent that states my child is being abused, is it your policy to shut them and pretend that nothing is happening?
This is not a custody issue, it is a child protective issue.
Attachments area
Preview YouTube video Address to the Board of Behavioral Sciences 3 3 17
Address to the Board of Behavioral Sciences 3 3 17
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to jordanna, Kurt
Hi Kurt and Jordan,
I have included Jordan on this email because he seams to be quite understanding on attachment issues and took the time to email back on linked-in.
I would like him to weigh in on this. and please, If you come up with "you think I am nuts", my feelings will not be hurt in the least.
FYI: I was seeing Bob Hill for about 3 years while I went through this.
Still blocked from all forms of contact from my daughters. I do not even know what college
Elli (my youngest) is going to.
I am guessing this is normal separation in Kurt's book.
These are some of the things that scare me the most.
Here is a link that has worried me from the beginning about my daughters.
http://www.votefamily.us/suicide-family-courts-children-vets-divorce-industry-connectionsuicide-family-courts-children-vets-divorce-industry-connection/
I've seen the psychological and emotional change in my daughters from a distance.
They seem to be turning into borderline and narcissistic traits.
Is this normal with your childhood separation?
I can't figure out something. By you not commenting, getting involved or at least emailing me back for the last 3 years, does this make you:
1. A child abuser
2. A child abuse conspirator/enabler
3. Negligent
4. Guilty of malpractice
5. Incompetent
6. All the above
7. None of the above
8. I will give you the benefit of the doubt, me being totally wrong and out of my gourd.
If 8 is the answer, please, explain because if I am kinda nuts this will alleviate my stress a little. (Not kidding)
In case you are wondering.This is a DIAGNOSIS.
DSM-5 diagnosis of V995.51 Child Psychological Abuse
http://drcachildress.org/asp/site/parentalalienation/index.asp
Below is a post by Dr Craig Childress..
The attachment system is the brain network that manages all aspects of love and bonding across the lifespan (including loss and grieving) .
The pathology I describe in Foundations (i.e., an attachment-based model of "parental alienation") is caused by a constellation of distorted and damaged information structures in the attachment system of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent that are being transferred to the attachment system of the child through aberrant and distorted parenting practices.
These information structures of the parent were damaged by childhood trauma experienced by this parent.
During adolescence and young adulthood, these distorted and damaged information structures of the now narcissistic/(borderline) parent coalesced into the narcissistic and borderline personality characteristics (the Dark Triad personality traits and the Vulnerable Dark Triad personality traits) that are now being expressed in current family relationships.
The rejection and abandonment inherent to divorce activates the distorted and damaged information structures in the attachment system of the narcissistic/(borderline) personality parent due to the need to process loss and grieving. The narcissistic/(borderline) parent then triangulates the child into the spousal conflict (manipulates and exploits the child) as a means to stabilize the collapsing personality structure of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent.
The child is manipulated and exploited by the pathology of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent (the Dark Triad parent) through techniques of psychological control (e.g., Barber; Kerig - e.g., guilt induction, contingent withdrawal of love, etc.) into forming a cross-generational coalition (Minuchin; Haley) with the narcissistic/(borderline) parent against the other parent.
The core manifestation of this pathology is through the creation in current relationships of a false trauma reenactment narrative from the childhood trauma of the narcissistic/(borderline) parent which is contained in the childhood trauma pattern of “abusive parent”/”victimized child”/”protective parent” (Bowlby: an internal working model; Beck: a schema).
According to Perlman and Courtois: “Reenactments of the traumatic past are common in the treatment of this population and frequently represent either explicit or coded repetitions of the unprocessed trauma in an attempt at mastery. Reenactments can be expressed psychologically, relationally, and somatically and may occur with conscious intent or with little awareness. One primary transference-countertransference dynamic involves reenactment of familiar roles of victim-perpetrator-rescuer-bystander in the therapy relationship. Therapist and client play out these roles, often in complementary fashion with one another, as they relive various aspects of the client’s early attachment relationships.” (p. 455)
According to Prager: “Freud [in Moses and Monotheism] suggests that overwhelming experience is ‘taken up into what passes as normal ego and as permanent trends within it.' and, in this manner, passes trauma from one generation to the next. In this way, trauma expresses itself as time standing still… Traumatic guilt - for a time buried except through the character formation of one generation after the next - finds expression in an unconscious reenactment of the past in the present.” (p. 176)
According to van der Kolk: “When the trauma fails to be integrated into the totality of a person’s life experiences, the victim remains fixated on the trauma. Despite avoidance of emotional involvement, traumatic memories cannot be avoided: even when pushed out of waking consciousness, they come back in the form of reenactments, nightmares, or feelings related to the trauma… Recurrences may continue throughout life during periods of stress.” (p. 5)
The term “parental alienation” is a common-culture label for a form of pathology. It is not an accepted construct in clinical psychology. That’s why I always put the term in quotes. It is a common-culture term, not a clinical psychology construct.
The correct clinical psychology term for the pathology typically subsumed under the common-culture label of “parental alienation” is pathogenic parenting (patho=pathology; genic=genesis, creation). Pathogenic parenting is the creation of significant psychopathology in the child through aberrant and distorted parenting practices.
The construct of pathogenic parenting is an established professional construct in early childhood mental health surrounding attachment-related pathology, since distortions to the normal-range functioning of the attachment system are always the product of pathogenic parenting. The attachment system never spontaneously dysfunctions. It only dysfunctions as a result of pathogenic parenting. (the term "pathogenic caregiving" was used in the DSM-IV in reference to attachment-related pathology).
Pathogenic parenting. The creation of significant psychopathology in the child as a result of severely aberrant and distorted parenting practices.
Pathogenic parenting that is creating significant developmental pathology in the child (diagnostic indicator 1), personality disorder pathology in the child (diagnostic indicator 2), and delusional-psychiatric pathology in the child (diagnostic indicator 3) represents a DSM-5 diagnosis of Child Psychological Abuse, Confirmed.
Pathogenic parenting is not a child custody issue, it is a child protection issue.
Diagnosis guides treatment.
The treatment for all forms of child abuse, physical child abuse, sexual child abuse, and psychological child abuse, is to protectively separate the child from the abusive parent, treat the psychological damage to the child created by the child abuse, require that the abusive parent receive collateral therapy to gain insight into the cause of the prior abuse before restoring the abusive parent's relationship with the child (so that the abuse is not repeated), and then to restore the child’s relationship with the previously abusive parent as warranted and with sufficient safeguards to ensure that the child abuse does not resume upon resumption of the child’s relationship with the formerly abusive parent.
This is the standard mental health response to physical child abuse. This is the standard mental health response to sexual child abuse. This is the standard mental health response to psychological child abuse.
Pathogenic parenting that is creating significant developmental pathology in the child (diagnostic indicator 1), personality disorder pathology in the child (diagnostic indicator 2), and delusional-psychiatric pathology in the child (diagnostic indicator 3) represents a DSM-5 diagnosis of Child Psychological Abuse, Confirmed.
Diagnosis guides treatment.
Craig Childress, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist, PSY 18857
References
Pearlman, C.A., Courtois, C.A. (2005). Clinical Applications of the Attachment Framework: Relational Treatment of Complex Trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18, 449-459.
Prager, J. (2003). Lost childhood, lost generations: the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Journal of Human Rights, 2, 173-181.
van der Kolk, B.A. (1987). The psychological consequences of overwhelming life experiences. In B.A. van der Kolk (Ed.) Psycological Trauma (1-30). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press, Inc.
The reason I keep emailing you is to get some closure or some help. If you realized that maybe you had a missed diagnosis or would like to just look into AB-PA, you may be inclined to reach out to Dr. Childress for a better understanding of Attachment Based Parental Alienation (Yes he is available) and then check in with my girls. Any contact with knowledgeable people in this field I believe would help.
Thank you for your time
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"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel"
Mya Angelou
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 6/25/14
to Alex
Hi Alex,
Last time we met with Meg, your suggestion was for us to meet 1-2 times per week.
Can you please send me that in an email. It seems there is a bit of confusion.
Thank you
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Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 7/21/14
to Kurt, Alex
Kurt and Alex,
Kurt can you please tell me who your supervisor is.
Alex Have you been seeing Megan?
Ken
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 7/21/14
to me, Alex
Hi Ken,
Alex has seen M once or twice this summer. He is under my supervision.
My supervisor is Jim Denniston.
Feel free to call me on my cell 828-773-1139.
Kurt D. Michael, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
PI, ASC Center Partnerships
Licensed Psychologist
Appalachian State University
http://psych.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/kurt-d-michael
Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 7/21/14
to Kurt
Hi Kurt,
I have mentioned P.A.S. in our meetings prior and feel the situation has gotten much worse. The last time I met with Meg and Alex
we had scheduled to meet 1-2 days a week. Meg and I have only met once.
All 3 girls are not returning texts and we have not been together in almost 2 months.
I have been doing a bit of research on P.A.S. and am very worried that this will continue, and affect the girls with all relationships they
will encounter.
I reached out to Alex to document that we had reached an agreement for me and Meg to see each other 1-2 times per week and have not received anything from him.This worries me.
Christy has told me that she has prevented the girls from any communication with me.This combined with their anger/hatred of me reads like the layout for further problems they will encounter without proper treatment.
I am reaching out once more to see what platform/methods you are using to work with Meg.
Thank you.
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 7/21/14
to me
Hi Ken,
Thank you for your email. Alex’s work with M is very limited due to the summer, but we wanted to keep some contact going to maintain continuity. I will follow up with Alex. There is no definitive plan for work with M this fall but I certainly recommend M continue to see someone for on-going concerns.
Kurt D. Michael, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
PI, ASC Center Partnerships
Licensed Psychologist
Appalachian State University
http://psych.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/kurt-d-michael
From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2014 1:10 PM
To: Kurt Michael
Subject: Re: Please send
Kurt Michael <[email protected]> 7/22/14
to me
I spoke with Alex and confirmed he met with M once since school ended.
__________________________________________________
Kurt D. Michael, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Licensed Psychologist
http://psych.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/kurt-d-michael
Principal Investigator/Project Director
ASC Center University-School Partnerships
Associate Editor
Journal of Child and Family Studies
Voice: (828) 262-2272, ext. 432; email: [email protected]
222 Joyce Lawrence Lane
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608-2109
__________________________________________________
Kenneth Gottfried <[email protected]> 6/6/15
to Kurt
Hi Kurt,
Just wanted to let you know it has been over a year since I have spoken or heard from Elli or Megan.
You should really take a look at this psychologists videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OCWXO6oJvA
It may help, before you fuck up another persons children and family.
Thank you
Ken Gottfried
Attachments area
Preview YouTube video 11 Parental Alienation Dynamics - Interviewing the Child
_______________________________________________________________________________________
This was also included in the packet I sent them:
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/10/psychological-abuse.aspx
Entire Site News & Events EventsPress Releases ABOUT APA TOPICS PUBLICATIONS & DATABASES PSYCHOLOGY HELP CENTER NEWS & EVENTS SCIENCE EDUCATION CAREERS MEMBERSHIP
Home//News & Events//Press Room//Press Releases
October 8, 2014
Childhood Psychological Abuse as Harmful as Sexual or Physical Abuse
Often unrecognized, emotional abuse prevalent form of child abuse, study finds
WASHINGTON — Children who are emotionally abused and neglected face similar and sometimes worse mental health problems as children who are physically or sexually abused, yet psychological abuse is rarely addressed in prevention programs or in treating victims, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association.
“Given the prevalence of childhood psychological abuse and the severity of harm to young victims, it should be at the forefront of mental health and social service training,” said study lead author Joseph Spinazzola, PhD, of The Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute, Brookline, Massachusetts. The article will appear in a special issue of the APA journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy®.
Researchers used the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Core Data Set to analyze data from 5,616 youths with lifetime histories of one or more of three types of abuse: psychological maltreatment (emotional abuse or emotional neglect), physical abuse and sexual abuse. The majority (62 percent) had a history of psychological maltreatment, and nearly a quarter (24 percent) of all the cases were exclusively psychological maltreatment, which the study defined as caregiver-inflicted bullying, terrorizing, coercive control, severe insults, debasement, threats, overwhelming demands, shunning and/or isolation.
Children who had been psychologically abused suffered from anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, symptoms of post-traumatic stress and suicidality at the same rate and, in some cases, at a greater rate than children who were physically or sexually abused. Among the three types of abuse, psychological maltreatment was most strongly associated with depression, general anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, attachment problems and substance abuse. Psychological maltreatment that occurred alongside physical or sexual abuse was associated with significantly more severe and far-ranging negative outcomes than when children were sexually and physically abused and not psychologically abused, the study found. Moreover, sexual and physical abuse had to occur at the same time to have the same effect as psychological abuse alone on behavioral issues at school, attachment problems and self-injurious behaviors, the research found.
“Child protective service case workers may have a harder time recognizing and substantiating emotional neglect and abuse because there are no physical wounds,” said Spinazzola. “Also, psychological abuse isn’t considered a serious social taboo like physical and sexual child abuse. We need public awareness initiatives to help people understand just how harmful psychological maltreatment is for children and adolescents.”
Nearly 3 million U.S. children experience some form of maltreatment annually, predominantly by a parent, family member or other adult caregiver, according to the U.S. Children’s Bureau. The American Academy of Pediatrics in 2012 identified psychological maltreatment as “the most challenging and prevalent form of child abuse and neglect.”
For the current study, the sample was 42 percent boys and was 38 percent white; 21 percent African-American; 30 percent Hispanic; 7 percent other; and 4 percent unknown. The data were collected between 2004 and 2010 with the average age of the children at the beginning of the collection between 10 and 12 years. Clinicians interviewed the children, who also answered questionnaires to determine behavioral health symptoms and the traumatic events they had experienced. In addition, caregivers responded to a questionnaire with 113 items pertaining to the child’s behavior. Various sources, including clinicians’ reports, provided each child’s trauma history involving psychological maltreatment, physical abuse or sexual abuse.
Article: “Unseen Wounds: The Contribution of Psychological Maltreatment to Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Risk Outcomes,” Joseph Spinazzola, PhD, and Hilary Hodgdon, PhD, The Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute, Brookline, Massachusetts; Li-Jung Liang, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine; Julian D. Ford, PhD, University of Connecticut Medical School; Christopher M. Layne, PhD, and Robert Pynoos, MD, National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, Los Angeles, and University of California, Los Angeles; Ernestine C. Briggs, PhD, National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, Durham, North Carolina, and Duke University School of Medicine; Bradley Stolbach, PhD, University of Chicago; Cassandra Kisiel, PhD, Northwestern Medical School, publication TBD, Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.
Article is available upon request from the APA Public Affairs Office.
Joseph Spinazzola can be contacted by email.
The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes nearly 130,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.
I am also sending this to media outlets.