Episode 26: How Childhood Kidnapping Shapes Adult Resilience and Forgiveness

The Secrets to Growing a Sensitive, Impactful Podcast - From Personal Experience to Action

We wrapped up an incredible Season 1 with 27 episodes filled with powerful stories and expert insights on family abduction. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge! After a successful first season, I want to take some time to enhance the podcast's quality. I will not be publishing new episodes until September, as I plan to work hard this summer on recording more episodes and improving our content. My goal is to provide even more valuable insights and stories when we return. Special thanks to everyone who supported me this season. Let’s continue to mend hearts and help others together. If you have a story or expertise to share, reach out! I hope you will subscribe, send me your feedback/comments and contact me if you would like to be a guest. Contact info: Abduction.victimtosurvivor@gmail.com [Abduction.victimtosurvivor@gmail.com] 571-412-1913

Episode 27: Why Treating Each Family Abduction Case Seriously Can Save Children's Lives

In today’s episode, I share my journey and the heartbreaking reality of family abduction. It’s not just a custody dispute; it’s a profound trauma that impacts everyone involved. You’ll hear from my dear friend Gary, who spent years working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and law enforcement. He’ll shed light on the challenges faced and the resources available for those who find themselves in this painful situation. Let’s create a safe space to discuss and understand the gravity of family abductions. You’re not alone in this. #FamilyAbduction #TrueCrime #MissingChildren #SurvivorStories #ChildSafety #ParentalAbduction #NCMEC #LawEnforcement

Episode 26: How Childhood Kidnapping Shapes Adult Resilience and Forgiveness

In episode 26 of Abduction: Victim to Survivor Laura recounts her experience of being taken from her home at a young age. She describes a day that started like any other, coming home from school, only to find her father waiting in a van to take her and her brother away.  - Immediate Confusion: Laura was just a child, and the shock of being taken by a parent she barely knew was overwhelming.  - Feeling Unwanted: The experience was terrifying, filled with uncertainty and a sense of abandonment. Laura felt unwanted, not just by her father but by her mother as well, which deepened her emotional scars. I have known Laura for years and have had the honor of watching her in her healing journey and become the strong, compassionate, resilient woman she is today.  I hope you will watch/listen/subscribe/comment.  Thank you. Contact info: Abduction.victimtosurvivor@gmail.com [Abduction.victimtosurvivor@gmail.com] 571-412-1913

Episode 25: How Mindset Shifts and Brain Rewiring Can Transform Conflict and Resolution

Family abduction devastates lives — but understanding how mediation can help prevent, resolve, or transform these high-conflict situations offers hope. If you've ever wondered whether peaceful solutions exist when a child is forcibly taken by a parent, this episode with expert mediator Shari Doherty unveils the truth about mediation's potential—and its limits. Shari, a seasoned child advocate with 20 years of experience at Child Find of America, breaks down the complex landscape of family mediation. She reveals the three fundamentally different types—evaluative, facilitative, and transformative—and explains how each can either help or hinder healing, especially when an abduction is involved. You'll discover: the myths surrounding mediation, why some processes are inappropriate in high-conflict family separations, and how understanding these modes can make all the difference. Shari shares real stories that shine a light on success cases, including her work with searching parents and abducting parents, and the delicate balance of empathy, legal considerations, and emotional regulation. In this episode, you'll learn how mediation can empower parents, foster compassion, and even transform blame into understanding—if the parties are committed. We delve into the warning signs that mediation may do more harm than good, such as coercion, power imbalances, or the presence of domestic violence and abuse. Most critically, you'll grasp how unrecognized conflict patterns and unaddressed trauma can entrench harmful behaviors, making resolution impossible without proper guidance. Why does this matter? Because family conflict—especially involving parental abduction—can leave lifelong scars on children, affecting their emotional development and sense of safety. Without awareness of the different mediation approaches, families risk escalating trauma or losing crucial opportunities for healing. But with the right knowledge, parents, advocates, and officials can choose more effective, trauma-informed strategies to protect children and rebuild relationships. Perfect for parents, family law practitioners, and anyone involved in high-stakes custody disputes, this episode offers practical insights and hope. If you're navigating a complex family situation or want to better understand how the right mediation approach can help turn conflict into connection, don’t miss it.

A Gentle Mother's Day Message

A Mother's Day Message for all mothers, for mothers whose children were taken far too soon, for mothers with missing children, for mothers with children who are alienated from them,  for women who carry the ache of the children they longed for but never had, for mothers separated from their children, and for those whose mothers are gone or whose hearts still ache for the love of a mother they never truly had.