Regional Chapters
Alejandro Mendoza-Amaro, M.D., Ph. D.
Chairperson of Hispanic Regional Chapter
PhD in Psychology from the University of Guadalajara UDG, with the research: effects of child abuse on mental health, as well as childhood and adolescence psychopathology.
Master’s Degree in Health Sciences and Medical Doctor from the School of Medicine and Biological Sciences “Dr. Ignacio Chávez” from the Michoacan University of San Nicolas de Hidalgo UMSNH.
President of the College of Cognitive Behavioral and Contextual Therapists of Michoacan State. Three years of training in therapy with empirical support by the National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM, the Veracruzana University UV and the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute ITCC. Degree in Educational Psychology from the Education Sciences Michoacan Institute IMCED.
Diploma in Ethics and Bioethics in Health Care from the School of Philosophy of UMSNH and the Ministry of Health of Michoacán.
He has been Mental Health Coordinator and Technical Secretary of the National Strategy for the Prevention of Addictions of the Ministry of Health in Michoacan State, Chairman of Education and Research of the Psychiatric Hospital “Dr. José Torres Orozco” in two periods for a total of 7 years, as well as Chairman of Research at the Women’s Hospital in Morelia city.
Member of the Parental Alienation Study Group PASG, as well as a Scientific Delegate of the Mexican Association of Separated Parents AMPFS.
Regional Chapters
William Bernet, M.D.
Chairperson of English Regional Chapter
Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Vanderbilt. From 1992 to 2012 he was Associate Professor and Professor of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Director of Vanderbilt Forensic Psychiatry.
Specialist in Forensic psychiatry, in particular: effects of divorce; child custody disputes; parental alienation; child maltreatment; and genomics of violence. His current research interest is methodology around distinguishing parental alienation and parental estrangement.
Postgraduate in Child Psychiatry and Psychiatry by Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Boston; Neuro-Pediatrics Medicine by Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, New York; and Medical Doctor by Harvard Medical School, Boston.
Membership of American Psychiatric Association, distinguished life fellow; American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, distinguished life fellow; and American Academy of Forensic Sciences, fellow.
Founder and first President of Parental Alienation Study Group.
He has written many professional articles and book chapters in group and individual therapy with children and adolescents, humor in psychotherapy, forensic child psychiatry, child maltreatment, true and false allegations of abuse, child custody and visitation, parental alienation, and risk management.
Secretary
Fabiola González Betanzos, Ph.D.
PhD in Methodology and Statistics in Behavioral and Health Sciences from the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. Research Professor at the School of Psychology of the Michoacan University of San Nicolas de Hidalgo UMSNH. Member of the National System of Researchers SNI of the National Council of Science and Technology CONACyT.
Treasurer
Irene Varelas González, M. Sc.
Master’s Degree in Legal and Forensic Psychology with Honorable Mention by the Postgraduate Institute in Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy. President of the Psychology Experts College of Michoacán State. Assistant Expert attached to the list of the Court of the Michoacán State. Professor at the State Institute for Higher Studies in Security and Police Professionalization of Michoacán.
Vocal
María Elena Rivera Heredia, Ph.D.
PhD in Psychology and Health from the National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM. National Prize of Psychology 2015 granted by the National Council of Teaching and Research in Psychology. Head of the academic body “Psychological and Sociocultural Interventions in Family, Gender, Migration, Education and Health.” Research Professor at the School of Psychology at the Michoacan University of San Nicolas de Hidalgo UMSNH. Member of the National System of Researchers SNI of the National Council of Science and Technology CONACyT.
Vocal
María Guadalupe Villicaña Palomares, M.D.
Psychiatrist graduated from the Psychiatric Hospital “Fray Bernardino Álvarez” and the National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM. She specializes in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM. Attached member of the Psychiatric Hospital “Dr. José Torres Orozco” from the Ministry of Health in the State of Michoacán where she serves as an expert and head of the Child Psychiatry Clinic.
Vocal
Ana Teresa Espino y Sosa, M.D.
Specialist in Psychiatry graduated from the Ramón de la Fuente National Institute of Psychiatry INPRF and the National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM. Candidate to a Master’s Degree in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute ITCC. Medical Doctor from the Medicine School of Leon, Guanajuato University UG. Full-time Professor at the Psychology School of the Michoacan University of San Nicolas de Hidalgo UMSNH.
Vocal
Karla Silvia Murillo Ruiz, M. Sc.
Master’s Degree in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from the Institute of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ITCC. Graduated psychologist and professor at the Faculty of Psychology at the Michoacán University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo UMSNH. Head of the addiction module at the Comprehensive Center for Psychological Intervention (CIIP). Her line of research is focused on addictions and family.
Delegate in Mexico
Arturo Loredo Abdalá, M.D.
Main Professor of the Distance Education Course “Child Abuse: Severity and Prevention” conducted by the Medicine School of the National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM. Internist Pediatrician. Specialist in the Study and Comprehensive Care of Child Abuse. Researcher B of the National Institutes of Health. Founder of the Coordination of the Advanced Studies on Child Abuse and Prevention CEAMI-P from National Institute of Pediatrics. He developed the first line of research on child abuse in Mexico, publishing various books with national and foreign publishers and has published countless articles in indexed journals.
Delegate in United States
Jennifer Jill Harman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology at Colorado State University and President of the International Council on Shared Parenting. She serves on the editorial board for the scientific journal, Personal Relationships. Her research focuses on the social psychological aspects of parental alienation as a form of family violence, and she has published over a dozen peer-reviewed, scientific articles on the topic. Regularly collaborates with other scientists, legal professionals, and mental health practitioners in her aim to better understand and find solutions to address parental alienation.
Delegate in Spain
Asunción Tejedor Huerta, M. Sc.
Expert in Family Mediation from the Oviedo University, Master’s Degree in Diagnosis and Therapy from the Maslow Cattell Institute, Specialist Certified in Psychotherapy accredited by the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations EFPA. President of the Ibero-American Association of Legal Psychology in Spain AIPJE. She has been an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Psychology Division PSIJUR of the General Council of Psychology in Spain until 2017. Author of several books on parental alienation, its evaluation and treatment, and parental coordination. She has been an international speaker on related topics for more than two decades.
Delegate in Canada
Edward Kruk, MSW, Ph.D.
Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, where he specializes in teaching and research in the area of child and family practice and policy, with a special emphasis on post-separation parenting, family mediation, and harm reduction in the field of addiction. He is the author of numerous books and journal articles, and the recipient of numerous awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award. His most recent books include The Routledge International Handbook on Shared Parenting and the Best Interest of the Child; and The Equal Parent Presumption: Social Justice in the Legal Determination of Parenting After Divorce, published by McGill-Queen’s University Press. He was the inaugural President of the International Council on Shared Parenting.
Delegate in Costa Rica
David Alonso Ramírez Acuña, Ph.D.
Postdoctorate at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Doctor Degree in Forensic Psychology, Autonomous University of Central America with SUMMA CUM LAUDE’s distinction, Academic Crown Distinction. Clinical Psychologist and Forensic Expert, Graduated in Psychology from the Autonomous University of Monterrey, Master in Clinical Psychology from the Independent University of Costa Rica. Member of the International Scientific Committee of the Latin American Union of Entities in Psychology. Representative in Costa Rica of the Latin American Association of Legal Psychology. Committee Scientific Member of the International Journal of Psicología. Former President of the College of Psychologists of Costa Rica and Discipline Representative in the Costa Rican Federation and Central American of Professional Colleges.
Delegate in United Kingdom
Angela Morgan, Ph.D.
PhD in Psychology, has worked at the Wolverhampton University as a Senior Researcher in multidisciplinary teams and cross-sector areas for 20 years. Is a qualified project manager, having contributed to and led European, national, regional and local research and consultancy projects for a range of commissioning bodies including EU Daphne III, the Home Office, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Police. Her research expertise and interest focuses on empowerment, voice and well-being of vulnerable victims of violence and abuse, most recently those who experience parental alienation. She has experience of legal management of parental alienation. Her research expertise lies in the qualitative paradigm, and her research outputs and outcomes provide insight to inform service and policy improvement.
Delegate in Colombia
Sonia Rocío Gómez Guerrero, M. Sc.
Lawyer from the Santiago de Cali University, Specializing in Family, Childhood, Youth and Old Age from the Rosario University. Master Degree in Family Counseling and Management of Family Programs of the Family Institute of the La Sabana Univertity. University Expert in Parenting Coordination by the Spanish Foundation for Social Studies EESS and the School of Mediation and Conflict Resolution of the Distance University of Madrid UDIMA, Spain. Vice President for Colombia of the Euro-American Academy of Family Law. Director of Connection-Family Lawyers. Honorary Member of the Colombian Association of Criminology. International expert consultant on issues of International Child Abduction. National and international speaker.
Delegate in Australia
Mandy Matthewson
Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Tasmania, where is also is a lead researcher in the Family and Interpersonal Relationship Research Lab with a research focus on parental alienation, family violence and family relationships. Practicing clinical psychologist in private practice. Co-authored a number of publications in the area of parental alienation including the book “Understanding and Managing Parental Alienation: A Guide to Assessment and Intervention.” Supervises postgraduate research students and teaches advanced assessment skills, ethics and professional practice issues in psychology. Co-author of more than a dozen articles on parental alienation in indexed journals. Editor-in-chief, associate and consultant for indexed journals.
Delegate in Argentina
Juan Carlos García Dietze, LL.B.
Lawyer graduated from the National University of Buenos Aires UBA in practice since 1980, where he has been a teacher of the subject Criminal and Procedural Law. He was involved in the drafting of the article “The medical psychiatric expertise and the criminal judge”, published in the “La Ley” journal, Year LVL No. 142. He is the author of the law project of “Reduction and exemption of penalties for those who collaborate in the investigation of the crimes of aggravated illegitimate deprivation of liberty and extortionate kidnapping”, included in the 41º article of the Argentine Penal Code. He has given numerous legal conferences on criminal and family matters in Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Costa Rica.
Delegate in Ireland
Andrew Doyle, MA, Dip Law, BCL, BSc.
Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Tasmania, where is also is a lead researcher in the Family and Interpersonal Relationship Research Lab with a research focus on parental alienation, family violence and family relationships. Practicing clinical psychologist in private practice. Co-authored a number of publications in the area of parental alienation including the book “Understanding and Managing Parental Alienation: A Guide to Assessment and Intervention.” Supervises postgraduate research students and teaches advanced assessment skills, ethics and professional practice issues in psychology. Co-author of more than a dozen articles on parental alienation in indexed journals. Editor-in-chief, associate and consultant for indexed journals.
Delegate in Chile
Nelson Zicavo Martínez, Ph.D.
Expert in Paternity, Family and Family Therapy. Doctor in Psychology from the National University of Córdoba, Argentina. Principal of the Magister in Family with Mentions in Family Intervention and Family Mediation of the Bio-Bio University UBB, Chile. Principal and Professor of the School of Psychology of the UBB. Author of several books and articles in indexed journals in Latin America on Family, Paternity, Padrectomy and Parental Alienation. Member of Scientific Committees of several indexed journals and of congresses of the area in Latin America. Distinctions and various recognitions for his contribution to teaching and the discipline.
Delegate in Sweden
Lena Hellblom Sjögren, Ph.D.
Is a psychologist with a Ph.D, specialized in interpretation theory and witness psychology. She has extensive experience as an investigative psychologist, researcher, lecturer and writer. Her investigations of legal cases are made as research projects and are followed up in courts all over Sweden, still some in Norway. The first years she was appointed as an expert by the courts. Her vocational experiences are from many fields, for example as a school psychologist, editor, and as a psychologist in a multiprofessional hospital team treating disabled people. She has tried to educate legal professionals and social workers about implacable hostility from one parent resulting in a child´s unjustified rejection of a formerly loved parent in peer reviewed articles and books.
Delegate in Uruguay
Silvana Veronica Giachero, B.S.
Expert in Paternity, Family and Family Therapy. Doctor in Psychology from the National University of Córdoba, Argentina. Principal of the Magister in Family with Mentions in Family Intervention and Family Mediation of the Bio-Bio University UBB, Chile. Principal and Professor of the School of Psychology of the UBB. Author of several books and articles in indexed journals in Latin America on Family, Paternity, Padrectomy and Parental Alienation. Member of Scientific Committees of several indexed journals and of congresses of the area in Latin America. Distinctions and various recognitions for his contribution to teaching and the discipline.
Delegate in Puerto Rico
José A. Franceschini Carlo, M.D
Fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry and Residency in Neurology and Psychiatry at University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Degree of Medical Doctor at Universidad Central del Caribe, were actually is Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry. Life Fellow American Psychiatry Association, also its fellow at the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law, the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry and the International Psychogeriatric Association. Expert Witness Psychiatrist since 1990 in Puerto Rico Courts and Federal Court. He has been an international speaker. He has book publications and articles in indexed journals. Active participation in radio and television on mental health issues for more than 20 years
Delegate in Peru
Manuel Alexis Bermúdez Tapia, LL.B., Ph.D(c).
Expert in Paternity, Family and Family Therapy. Doctor in Psychology from the National University of Córdoba, Argentina. Principal of the Magister in Family with Mentions in Family Intervention and Family Mediation of the Bio-Bio University UBB, Chile. Principal and Professor of the School of Psychology of the UBB. Author of several books and articles in indexed journals in Latin America on Family, Paternity, Padrectomy and Parental Alienation. Member of Scientific Committees of several indexed journals and of congresses of the area in Latin America. Distinctions and various recognitions for his contribution to teaching and the discipline.
Delegate in Brazil
Paula Inez Cunha Gomide, Ph.D.
Fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry and Residency in Neurology and Psychiatry at University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Degree of Medical Doctor at Universidad Central del Caribe, were actually is Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry. Life Fellow American Psychiatry Association, also its fellow at the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law, the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry and the International Psychogeriatric Association. Expert Witness Psychiatrist since 1990 in Puerto Rico Courts and Federal Court. He has been an international speaker. He has book publications and articles in indexed journals. Active participation in radio and television on mental health issues for more than 20 years
Delegate in Italy
Maria Cristina Verrocchio, Psy.D.
Full Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Chieti-Pescara, psychologist and psychotherapist. She worked for several years in a Center for Child Protection and Care of Family Crisis. She is academic coordinator of a Master for Assessment in Forensic Psychology at the University of Chieti-Pescara (2018-ongoing). Her main research topic is child maltreatment, including parental alienation, with a special focus on psychopathological trajectories and factors of risk and protection, and she has published several peer-reviewed, scientific articles on the topic. She collaborates with other scientists, legal professionals, and mental health practitioners to better understand and find solutions to address parental alienation.
Delegate in Turkey
Fuat Torun, M.D
Fellowship in Psychiatry at Kocaeli University and Medical Degree from Marmara University School of Medicine. He is Professor of Psychiatry at the Psychiatry Department, School of Medicine at the Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University and has worked at different hospitals.
He has contributed to several articles, book chapters and presentations at various national and international congresses.
He made the first publication about Parental Alienation (PA) in Turkey. He has written a book about PA in Turkish and this book is one of the reference sources on the subject in the country. He has articles in peer-reviewed international indexed journals on PA.
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