Welcome to Cut Off. In today’s episode, Marisa Conway takes us beyond the legal jargon and clinical definitions to confront the raw, emotional reality of parental alienation. Marisa bravely shares her deeply personal story: the subtle signs that something was wrong, the chilling moment she realized her relationship with her children was being systematically erased, and the devastating grief of being cut out of their lives.
She unpacks the confusion, shame, and stigma that surround this misunderstood crisis, highlighting how silence only enables more harm. Drawing on Marisa’s experience as both a mother and a registered nurse, the conversation dives into the urgent need for more public awareness, legal reform, and empathy for families torn apart by hidden abuse.
This is not theory. This is the truth, told from the heart.
Timestamps:
00:00 Understanding Parental Alienation's Impact
05:58 Struggling with Post-Divorce Grief
09:37 Healthcare Professionals' Misunderstanding of Issues
10:39 Silence in Grief's Aftermath
15:06 Silence Empowered the Abuse
17:21 ER Nurse Perspective on Emotionalism
22:17 Addressing Parental Alienation Crisis
23:17 Understanding Parental Alienation's Impact
Understanding Parental Alienation: Insights from Marisa’s Story
Parental alienation is a deeply emotional, often misunderstood phenomenon impacting countless families worldwide. In the first episode of our series, Marisa, a registered nurse and mother, sheds light on the personal toll of being severed from her children; not by physical barriers, but by something more devastatingly invisible and complex.
Recognizing the Signs: More Than Just a Messy Divorce
Many people think family separations and custody battles, although difficult, are just an unfortunate part of divorce. But as Marisa recounts, her experience was far from typical. She describes a gradual, chilling shift in her children’s behavior, transforming from loving sons into strangers. This change, she shares, wasn't caused by a single dramatic event but by a series of subtle, accumulating moments that led to alienation.
What’s critical to understand, according to Marisa, is that parents in these situations often grapple with denial. She talks about the initial confusion and fear she felt - a fear rooted not in her children themselves, but in the realization that they were being manipulated and controlled by forces beyond her reach.
Naming the Pain: The Power and Terror of Terminology
For many parents, putting a name to their experience is both validating and terrifying. Marisa describes her first meeting with her attorney, who identified “parental alienation” as what she was going through. While she found comfort in knowing she wasn’t alone, understanding the term only highlighted the urgent need to act and the uphill battle ahead. Awareness, she learned, is the first step, but recognition in courts or healthcare systems remains elusive and hard to prove.
Enduring the 'Living Grief' of Parental Alienation
Perhaps the most poignant aspect Marisa shares is the concept of “living grief.” This is not grief that comes with a funeral or a clear sense of closure. Instead, it’s a persistent, invisible ache that shadows every holiday, birthday, and everyday moment. The stigma attached often means parents remain silent, worried others may blame them or misconstrue their struggle as the result of personal failings.
What’s worse, Marisa notes, is the tendency, even among healthcare professionals, to misunderstand or dismiss the phenomenon. Despite working in hospital settings surrounded by educated colleagues, she was surprised by how little others knew about parental alienation and by the judgmental, if well-meaning, questions she encountered.
Finding Strength in Speaking Out
Marisa’s decision to break her silence wasn’t easy. She spent years fearing judgment or that sharing her pain would be seen as “airing dirty laundry” or playing the victim. Ultimately, the silence became unbearable, offering no safety or closure, only empowerment to those perpetuating the alienation. By sharing her story, she hopes to inspire others to speak up, helping to build awareness and, hopefully, drive change within legal and mental health systems.
A Call for Change: Recognizing Parental Alienation as a Public Health Issue
In reflecting on her experience, Marisa is clear: parental alienation is more than a family problem, it’s a public health crisis with long-term impacts on children’s mental health and well-being. She advocates for systemic changes: training for family court judges, updated diagnostic criteria in the DSM, and trauma-informed custody evaluations.
Greater understanding, Marisa argues, is the essential first step. Naming the issue allows professionals and communities to stop normalizing or dismissing alienation as simply “high-conflict custody,” paving the way for interventions that might prevent damage before it becomes irreversible.
Final Thoughts
Parental alienation thrives in silence and misunderstandings. By listening to stories like Marisa’s, we can foster compassion, reduce stigma, and encourage both personal and systemic change. If you or someone you know is experiencing these challenges, know you’re not alone, and that speaking out may help others find the words, courage, and support they need.
Show Website - https://cutoffpodcast.com/
Marisa Conway's Coaching Website - https://coachmarisaconway.com/
Marisa's Book - Shattered Bonds, Resilient Heart - https://shatteredbonds.org/
Book a Time with Marisa - https://calendly.com/marisaconway/discovery-call-1?month=2025-07
Podcast Media Partner - https://tophealth.care/