News & Insights

Source: Newsweek

Dear Newsweek, My name is Alicia and I am the mother of five amazing minor children and two adult sons. I divorced my husband 3 years ago, and due to Covid, things took much longer and we actually separated long before our divorce was finalized.

Anyway, while married I was a stay-at-home mom and home-schooled my kiddos. My ex-husband worked full-time and was generally uninvolved in day-to-day life. 

However, as time went on, I realized my ex-husband was causing a lot of damage to our children and myself. I realized that he was financially, emotionally, and spiritually abusing us, so I left.

He then made it his mission to punish me for leaving. He went on a smear campaign and isolated me from all of my friends and family. “Making things as difficult as he could so I would come crawling back to him”—his exact words.

Part of his revenge was to seek 50/50 custody, which he was awarded because at the time I was still afraid of him and easily intimidated so I was not able to fully advocate for myself or my children. Since then, it has been a battle.

All of the abusive behaviors that were present when we were married are still present now, but because he doesn’t abuse our children physically the court has done absolutely nothing to protect our children.

Despite him having [court] involvement four separate times for throwing our youngest daughter down the stairs, dragging our oldest daughter down the stairs and through the house by her arms, break-checking our youngest daughter so hard she had a bruised and swollen face for two weeks, and leaving our children in a whole other state with a woman he just met and that they knew for a few days.

His abuse is to the extent that his new wife left him after only being married to him for two months because she feared for her children’s safety.

Even still, the judge in our small town will do nothing to protect our children, or even order him to attend real therapy or parenting classes.

One of the most troubling behaviors that he regularly engages in is bullying our LGBTQIA+ daughter. He tells her that being a homosexual is as bad as being a pedophile. He tells her that she is evil and against God—he has even worked with his pastor to arrange very hateful anti LGBTQIA+ sermons. He treats her like a maid and cook when she is with him and makes sure to let her know that she disgusts and disappoints him because she identifies as LGBTQIA+ and listens to the band Ghost. All of this continues to wear on my daughter’s mental health and yet still no one will do anything.

He is treated as if he is a model father and the family court continues to turn a blind eye to everything he does. He uses his religion as a reason to get away with his abuse, stating that he has not only a right, but an obligation, to tell our daughter the things he does because she has turned her back on the Lord.

No one seems to want to hold him accountable and help out our children. He has blocked me from putting them in therapy, receiving immunizations, attending doctor visits, and taking medication. All because it’s against his beliefs and western medicine is witchcraft.

I hired a Guardian Ad Litem who found he was abusive and that it was in the kids’ best interest to be with me full-time and limit his involvement until he completed therapy and parenting classes, but the court also ignored that. I have spent THOUSANDS on attorneys and have only landed in the same spot every single time.

So now, I am hopeful that if I make it public how badly the County Court is failing our children, maybe something might be done for them.

As a healthy parent, he would deserve 50/50 time with our kids, but until then I don’t think he should get it just because it’s his “right.” 

Alicia, Unknown

Newsweek‘s “What Should I Do?” offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.

‘Abusive Relationships Impact Self-Confidence…You Need To Protect Yourself and Children’

Lisa Pion-Berlin, Ph.D., is a licensed hypnotherapist and CEO of Parents Anonymous.

You are a very courageous woman to speak out about your family situation to expose the injustice and harm to your family. Do not minimize what that takes. Stop blaming yourself for not advocating harder because you felt so insecure.

Physically and psychologically abusive relationships impact our self-confidence and wear us down so we cannot fight back. Twenty-five years of research into “battered woman” or “battered person” syndrome shows this.

It is understandable that you and your children are in a very difficult and abusive situation. Your focus needs to be on going forward by continuously and relentlessly protecting yourself and your children.

First of all, insults, threats or bodily harm needs to be reported and documented with the police, schools and your own doctors. Clear and complete documentation cannot be overemphasized—print out and save every email, text and voicemail regarding any threats or evidence of abuse.

Also, make copies of all medical records and other entities for your file. Take photographs of the physical damage your children have endured. Make sure you take them to the doctor, as they take pictures and continue to make CPS reports.

It is brave you are making this public. So many parents are afraid when the courts and systems are not helping or protecting children. Make sure you have support for yourself. You cannot stay strong without seeking counseling and surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family.

Also, seek counseling for your children so they can deal with their underlying feelings related to these traumas. Therapists and counselors are mandated reporters. Prejudice and discrimination exist in all institutions sworn to help you protect your children from abuse and neglect.

Even though you have paid for lawyers, if you feel they haven’t helped, you can seek free legal counsel. You may also want to contact your newly elected congressperson or U.S. senators. Senator Stabenow has district staff to help constituents and she is a dedicated social worker and advocate herself.

Local politics are tough to deal with, but the safety, health and well-being of your entire family is at stake. Continue to reach out because asking for help is a sign of strength. You can also call the National Parent Helpline 855-427-2736, operated by Parents Anonymous® (raisingfuture.org).

‘The Safety Of You and Your Children Is The Number One Priority’

Dr. Faisal Tai, MD, is a psychiatrist and the CEO of PsychPlus. 

I’m very sorry to hear about your serious dilemma with your ex-husband. As the mother of five minor children, I am sure that you have your hands more than full and that this conflict only makes taking care of your family—and yourself—10 times harder.

When I hear about all the legal steps you’ve taken to try and improve your situation through the courts and government agencies, it is disheartening that you have not been able to make more progress.

As a psychiatrist, I also would strongly encourage you to seek professional assistance to safeguard the emotional well-being of you and your children. It will be fundamental to your health and well-being, and your quality of life, in the years ahead.

I would recommend that you contact the Child Welfare Medical and Behavioral Health unit for your local county.

Amongst many other resources, they will have a comprehensive list of support services across the state that might be of great assistance.

I wish you the best of luck as you continue to advocate for yourself and your children.

Date: February 11, 2023

Families are not just managing screen time anymore. We are living in a digital-first world where social media never sleeps, AI is becoming part of school and work, and a phone can quietly replace real connection at home. Many parents tell me they feel like they are competing with devices for their child’s attention, while also feeling pulled by their own notifications, work messages and endless to-do lists.

We’re not aiming to “win” our family in 2026 against technology. We’re aiming to establish healthy home culture where relationships come first and tech knows its place. We have collectively lost our way, where the priority is human connection.

Here are realistic ways to come together as a family while balancing the digital push and pull of everyday life.

Start with phone-free micro-moments

Don’t try to fix everything at once. Most families find this turns into month one “going cold turkey” that fizzles out by week two. Focus on daily phone-free micro-moments, such as:

• The first 10 minutes after your child gets home from school. Talk about something important that happened—funny or serious.
• No phones for everyone at dinner.
• The last 10 minutes before bedtime.
• During the car ride to extra-curricular activities.

Read the full article on Psychreg

Leaders from the California Parent and Youth Helpline are in Sacramento today asking policymakers to restore the program’s funding, after the Governor’s January budget proposal was released.

The helpline has helped millions of Californians since it started in 2020 but last year, the state cut funding at the last minute.

Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of the nonprofit Parents Anonymous, which runs the helpline, said they had to lay off all their counselors dedicated to California.

“The impact has been that 40% of the callers, we cannot reach,” Pion-Berlin explained. “We cannot meet the demand from the Californians who call us. We cannot. We are calling people back as fast as we can, but we have a very high abandonment rate because we don’t have the staffing we had to cover separately, Californians.”

Read the full article on Public News Service

Are you concerned about your child’s relationship with social media? Feeling lost on how to set healthy boundaries or support their mental health in today’s digital world? You’re not alone!

Watch this episode to get practical, real-life tips for handling your child’s social media use without constant worry or power struggles. Learn what to pay attention to, how to set limits that don’t turn into daily fights, and how to keep conversations open even when your child shuts down. You’ll leave this episode with a clearer sense of when to step in, when to give space, and where to turn if you need extra support.

In this eye-opening episode of M.E.S.H., host Pamela Brewer sits down with Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, CEO of Parents Anonymous, licensed hypnotherapist, and social worker. Dr. Lisa shares invaluable insights on parenting in the age of technology—covering everything from how to know if your child is using social media too much, building strong relationships with teens, handling pushback on setting limits, and ways to recognize when your child needs more help.

Key Topics Covered:

✔️ How to set healthy social media limits without constant pushback

✔️ Signs to watch for if social media is affecting your child’s mood, behavior, or well-being

✔️ Ways to keep communication open and build trust—even during tough conversations

✔️ Free, confidential support and mental health resources available through Parents Anonymous

If your teen is constantly FaceTiming, group-chatting, gaming with friends, and replying to 100+ Snap streaks a day, “lonely” might be the last word you’d use to describe them. But research shows otherwise: Gen Z — the most digitally connected generation in history — is also the loneliest.

According to GWI’s global survey, “Eight in 10 Gen Z respondents (80%) agree they’ve felt lonely in the past 12 months,” and strikingly, “The most connected generation in history is also the loneliest.” The CDC reports that “4 in 10 students had persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness,” a sign that emotional disconnection is becoming more common — even among teens who appear socially active.

Experts see it every day. Licensed counselor Sarah Whitmire, LPC-S, explains that “the lack of face-to-face interaction, which is crucial for building empathy and emotional bonds, leaves many teens feeling isolated despite being constantly connected.”Report ad

And social media heightens the pressure. As Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, ACSW, ACHT and CEO of Parents Anonymous, told us, “Social media creates a platform for comparison — teens view idealized representations of others’ lives, which makes them feel isolated and inadequate.”

Read the full article

It was fitting that Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, with its trauma center that has seen so many victims of gun violence over the years, served as the starting point for the October 9 Pomona Peace Walk.

The march, hosted by House of Ruth, the City of Pomona, Project Hope California, and others, drew dozens for the 1.1-mile route from the hospital to House of Ruth’s outreach office at 599 N. Main St., Pomona.

Among them was Sonja Gonzales from Parents Anonymous, who carried a poster with photos of Jeannette Pacheco, a victim of gun violence.

“Her life was taken by her partner,” Gonzales said. “He shot and killed her in the streets of Pomona on Mission, by the car wash.” The date on Gonzales’s poster was May 23, 2024. “She was my sober living sister. I was in recovery with her. And unfortunately, she went back to a disease, and she lost her life.”

Gonzales said she keeps Pacheco’s memory alive with the work she does at Parents Anonymous, a Claremont nonprofit that offers family strengthening programs.

“I get to help people every day that are in the same shoes that her and I were in,” Gonzales said. “I just get to strive and push forward, to know that her life isn’t in vain. She didn’t die in vain because I get to keep her memory alive with every person that I help not end up like her.”

Read the full article

Parents Anonymous, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting parents, children and youth, recently celebrated the grand opening of its new San Fernando Valley Well-Being Center in Van Nuys. The ribbon-cutting event welcomed community members, representatives of local dignitaries and parent advocates for an evening of food, family-friendly activities and connection.

The new Center expands no-cost, evidence-based mental health services across Los Angeles County. Families will have access to weekly Parents Anonymous Adult, Children & Youth Groups that are trauma-informed and built on personal strengths, along with individual and family therapy sessions, tailored referrals and resource navigation, and 24/7 crisis intervention through the National Parent & Youth Helpline.

After the ceremony, guests had the opportunity to tour the new facility, meet staff and learn more about how the Center will serve as a hub for connection, healing and empowerment – backed by more than 56 years of Parents Anonymous expertise.

“Families in the San Fernando Valley deserve access to meaningful support close to home,” said Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, president & CEO of Parents Anonymous. “This new Center builds on more than five decades of evidence-based work and ensures that parents and youth in this community can find connection, compassion and healing when they need it most.”

Read the full article

Policy decisions on the state and federal levels are creating chaos for the California-based National Parent and Youth Helpline, a service that connects callers in emotional distress to trained counselors. California cut $3 million for the helpline out of the state budget this past June, after supporting the program since its inception in 2020.

Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of Parents Anonymous, the nonprofit organization that runs the helpline, said the cuts came at a particularly bad time, because calls to the helpline doubled between August and September.

“So, we know the demand is increasing, but our capacity is not increasing, which means one thing – our abandonment rate goes up,” she said. “We can’t answer fast enough, we can’t respond fast enough because we don’t have the staff to do that. People who leave us messages, we call them back. We have people who are in crisis who, we call them back, several times.”

Pion-Berlin added that cuts to SNAP and Medicaid in the Republican tax-cut-and-spending bill passed this summer will hurt struggling families. She adds she worries that the administration will use the government shutdown as an excuse to cut social service programs like the helpline, which receives $2 million a year in federal funds.

In July, the Trump administration pulled the plug on the specialized counseling for LGBTQ people that used to be available on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Pion-Berlin added that, along with other federal policy changes, is causing emotional turmoil.

Read more on PNS

Parents Anonymous Inc. hosted a ribbon-cutting Thursday evening to celebrate the grand opening of its new Antelope Valley Well-Being Center, giving families in Palmdale a new resource for support.

The center, at 38345 30th St. East, Suite C-2, will provide free, evidence-based mental health services for parents, children and youth. The goal is to reduce stress and isolation while helping families build on their strengths and improve overall well-being.

“This new Well-Being Center reflects our unwavering commitment to meet parents, children, and youth where they are, with compassion, evidence-based care, and community,” said Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of Parents Anonymous. “By expanding into (the) Antelope Valley, we are addressing critical gaps in mental health and prevention services, ensuring that parents and youth feel less alone, more supported and better equipped to thrive.”

Read more on AVPress

On this edition of Your Call, we continue our discussions about California’s budget cuts, which could potentially eliminate funding for the Parents Anonymous’ California Parent & Youth Helpline.

In May 2020, Parents Anonymous, an organization that supports parents and their families, launched the hotline in partnership with state leadership as part of an initiative to support parents, children, and youth impacted by COVID. The helpline now operates in over 80 percent of California counties and has helped hundreds of thousands across the state for the last five years.

According to Parents Anonymous, the state legislature proposed $3 million for the organization in this year’s budget proposal, but as of Tuesday, the organization was made aware that Governor Gavin Newsom “redlined” their total budget.

“This comes as a shock as last month the Helpline had a peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Technology in Human Services, which showed that 85% of callers experienced improved mood and reduced stress within a single call, proving its effectiveness.”

Listen at KALW Public Media

Phone lines that provide mental health support to tens of thousands of Californians say they are on the verge of shutting down or dramatically scaling back as a result of cuts in the state’s new budget. 

Representatives from the support lines, which are distinct from hotlines that serve people in crisis, say they help thousands of Californians with mental health needs each month.

And with more people than ever calling or texting for help, they say, the so-called warm lines are falling victim to both the budget shortfall and, in some cases, the roll out of Proposition 1, a 2024 ballot measure that redirected some tax revenue from mental health services toward housing.

“We save lives every day,” said Dr. Lisa Pion-Berlin, chief executive of Parents Anonymous, whose California Parents & Youth Helpline serves about 24,000 people a year. “Without that safety net there, where are people going to go?”

Pion-Berlin said the organization had requested $3 million a year from the state; the budget Gov. Gavin Newsom signed last week didn’t provide any of it. Layoffs have already begun.

Read the full article on CalMatters