By Richard Luthmann
Joani Kloth-Zanard, a leading voice in the fight against parental alienation, has called on Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont to officially proclaim April 25, 2025, as Parental Alienation Awareness Day in the state. The date aligns with the 17th annual International Parental Alienation Awareness Day, a global initiative to shed light on what many advocates consider a severe form of child abuse.
"Parental alienation is psychological warfare, with children used as pawns to hurt targeted parents," said Kloth-Zanard, founder of Parental Alienation/Psychological Abuse Support and Intervention (PASI), when she joined Mary Auld-Kovacs on her popular family court podcast.
Her organization provides resources to combat this destructive behavior and calls for legislative recognition of its impact.
A Call to Action
In an email widely circulated to Connecticut lawmakers, journalists, and activists, Kloth-Zanard urged supporters to “bombard” Lamont’s office with requests for a proclamation.
"If the governor only hears from me, nothing will be done," she wrote, providing a link to the governor’s online submissions portal.
The proclamation would emphasize the emotional and psychological toll parental alienation takes on children. It would also label the practice as a form of domestic violence and recognize it as a felony under Connecticut law.
"Alienation is not just emotional abuse—it’s an assault on a child’s ability to think critically and function healthily," the draft proclamation reads.
Divided Opinions
The issue was a hot topic on The Unknown Podcast, hosted by investigative journalists Richard Luthmann and Michael Volpe. Luthmann expressed cautious support for Kloth-Zanard’s efforts.
"Joan is a dedicated advocate who has mobilized countless people to this cause," he said. "This proclamation could help validate the experiences of alienated parents and children."
Volpe, however, who has widely criticized parental alienation, dismissed the idea entirely.
"I wouldn’t support a Parental Alienation Awareness Day any more than I’d support a National Unicorn Day," he quipped.
Volpe also shared his personal conflict with Kloth-Zanard, alleging she was "unbalanced" after he published an email she wanted to keep private.
"We have history, and I don’t think she’s a neutral party on this issue," he added.
Others are not nearly as charitable to Kloth-Zanard. Jill Jones Soderman, Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for the Child Victims of the Family Courts (FCVFC), has been an outspoken critic of parental alienation, describing it as a “discredited theory with no scientific foundation.”
Soderman asserts that the theory, initially developed by Dr. Richard Gardner, has caused irreparable harm to families and children while fostering systemic corruption in family courts.
“Parental alienation is not a legitimate psychological phenomenon but a lucrative invention by Richard Gardner,” Soderman said. “It has become a weapon in family courts, enabling racketeering and, in some cases, child trafficking under the guise of protecting parental rights.”
She points to Gardner’s self-published work and his lack of peer-reviewed research as evidence of the theory’s dubious origins.
“Gardner marketed this concept without scientific rigor, exploiting families for profit while masquerading as a credible authority,” she added.
The FCVFC’s stance is bolstered by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Custody, Violence against Women, and Violence against Children, which highlights how the misuse of custody determinations often leads to further victimization of women and children.
“The report underscores the very issues we’ve been fighting against,” Soderman noted. “Family courts worldwide have become tools of oppression rather than bastions of justice, perpetuating cycles of abuse and silencing victims.”
Critics of Gardner also point out his questionable professional background, including his role as an unpaid volunteer at Columbia University, which he allegedly used to lend false credibility to his theories.
Soderman concludes: “It is time to dismantle the structures built on Gardner’s flawed legacy and replace them with evidence-based practices that truly protect children and families.”
We also contacted Tina Swithin of One Mom’s Battle for comment. She did not respond as of press time. This is what we asked:
From: Richard Luthmann <richard.luthmann@protonmail.com>
Date: On Tuesday, January 7th, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Subject: Fw: National Parental Alienation Awareness Day - April 25th
To: Tina.Swithin@gmail.com <Tina.Swithin@gmail.com>Tina,
Parental Alienation advocates are lobbying the Connecticut Governor to have April 25th proclaimed "National Parental Alienation Awareness Day" in Connecticut.
Do you have any comment?
Regards,
Richard Luthmann
Writer, Journalist, and Commentator
A Movement Gaining Momentum
Many practitioners say the argument that parental alienation isn’t a legitimate family issue is misplaced.
The DSM-5 defines syndrome as a grouping of signs and symptoms based on their frequent co-occurrence that may suggest a common underlying pathogenesis, course, familial pattern, or treatment selection. (DSM-5 p.830)
Proponents say Gardner’s eight symptoms not only fit the actual DSM syndrome definition but are also highly specific and sensitive for identifying alienated children. These symptoms help determine relevant DSM-5 family problems and mental disorders in individual cases.
Despite the debate, parental alienation awareness has gained growing support nationally and internationally. Advocates argue that officially recognizing the issue could help bring legal reforms and increase public understanding.
Critics, however, worry that the term is often weaponized in custody battles, leading to further conflict and harm.
"Parental alienation destroys families," Kloth-Zanard emphasized. "Children are manipulated to fear or hate a parent without any legitimate cause. This is abuse, plain and simple."
Governor Lamont’s Decision
Lamont’s office has yet to respond to the growing calls for action. Under Connecticut law, proclamations are strictly honorary and issued at the governor’s discretion. They are not legally binding but hold symbolic significance.
For now, the clock is ticking as advocates like Kloth-Zanard rally supporters ahead of the April deadline.
"This is about protecting children and families," she said. "We must make our voices heard."
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