MIAMI, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Parental Alienation Awareness today announced its endorsement of an important new book about Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), entitled, "A Kidnapped Mind," by Pamela Richardson, with foreword by prominent PAS expert Reena Sommer.

Richardson's book highlights the destructive power of PAS by recounting her heartbreaking alienation from her son, Dash, by a manipulative father. "PAS is an attempt by one parent, through both overt and subtle behaviors, to manipulate a child and interfere with that child's relationship with the other parent," said Robin Denison, co-founder of Parental Alienation Awareness. "We must not sit idly by while parents and children are torn apart by this insidious form of child abuse."

Parental Alienation Syndrome was first coined by the late Dr. Richard Gardner, a prominent child psychiatrist in the early 1980s.

"A Kidnapped Mind" is a memoir of Richardson's often estranged relationship with her son, Dash, as a result of her ex-husband's actions.

As Richardson recounts, Dash suffered severe parental alienation at the hands of his father. The author describes personal confrontations with Dash's father, encounters with uncooperative psychologists, attorneys, judges, and educators, who exacerbated the situation, and her own relationship and experiences with her son. In 2001, 16-year-old Dash killed himself by jumping off a Vancouver bridge, bringing his years of depression and alienation to a tragic end.

"We at http://www.parental-alienation-awareness.com

are committed to bringing awareness of Parental Alienation (PA), Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), and Hostile Aggressive Parenting (HAP) to the public and to those professionals who work with children and families," said Denison and fellow parental Alienation Awareness co-founder Sarvy Emo.

"A Kidnapped Mind" provides an insightful view into the dynamics of PAS and the effects it can have on children and families. "PAS occurs when a child is wrongfully robbed of his right to love and be loved by both parents," writes Reena Sommer, a divorce and custody consultant and expert on PAS, in the foreword of "A Kidnapped Mind."

The Rick Lohstroh case in Houston serves as another example of the tragic consequences of PAS. While sitting in the driver's seat of his car, Lohstroh was shot repeatedly by his then 10-year-old son who was seated behind him. After an examination of court records, it appeared that Lohstroh's ex-wife had actively alienated her sons from their father. "The Lost Children," an article by John Sedgwick, provides further information about PAS and can be found in the June issue of Best Life Magazine (Rodale Inc.).

The primary goal of "A Kidnapped Mind," Lohstroh's story, Sedgwick's article, and Parental Alienation Awareness is to promote awareness and understanding of PAS and its potentially tragic consequences.

"If more people know about Parental Alienation and Hostile Aggressive Parenting, they'll be able to identify and address the destructive signs," Emo said. "With awareness comes the understanding and power to stop the abuse of innocent children caught in the crossfire of people they love."

To learn more about PA and HAP, visit http://www.parental-alienation-awareness.com.

Contact:

Sarvy Emo

Tel: 416-840-5654

Fax: 866-232-8134