In episode 138 Shelby shares personal journal entries to illustrate her painful journey of dealing with parental alienation along with the steps she took to regain her sense of power and worthiness. Shelby emphasizes the importance of identifying and adhering to core values and offers practical advice for alienated parents to navigate their lives more clearly and purposefully.

00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties

00:18 Lost Interviews and Birthday Troubles

03:33 Reading Journal Entries: Finding Your Power

04:43 Parental Alienation: A Mother's Struggle

10:00 A Heartbreaking Zoom Call

15:51 Reflecting on Past Trauma

20:50 Rewiring the Brain After Trauma

31:22 Creating a Personal and Parental Code

39:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

How Trauma and Grief Shape Decisions for Alienated Parents

In this episode of The Beyond The High Road Podcast, Shelby Milford discusses the profound impact of trauma and grief on personal responses and decisions. She highlights a listener review, thanks Alexandra Unshakable for her feedback, and encourages listeners to leave reviews. Shelby shares personal stories and insights into how unprocessed trauma and grief manifest in daily life, affecting decisions, especially in parenting. She uses a comparison from Grey’s Anatomy to illustrate how trauma, irrespective of its source, can lead to similar responses in different people. Shelby emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and understanding one’s responses to past trauma, recognizing that these reactions are often driven by the nervous system’s need for safety and security. She provides examples from her own life, describing her struggles and the lingering effects of grief, and offers advice on shifting perspectives to alleviate self-blame and shame. Shelby concludes by urging listeners to leave reviews on Apple Podcasts to support other parents in similar situations.

00:00 Introduction and Listener Review

01:27 Today's Topic: Trauma and Grief

02:00 Personal Flashbacks and Reflections

04:42 Understanding Past Decisions

06:34 Shifting Narratives and Self-Blame

13:48 Relating to Fictional Characters

24:09 Grief and Its Impact

32:17 Conclusion and Call to Action

Addressing complex emotions surrounding Mother's Day for alienated parents. Shelby shares a poignant story about a mother dealing with the tragic loss of her child, providing insights into how such experiences can shape one’s journey through grief. The episode delves into the various thought patterns that contribute to prolonged grief disorder, such as rumination, self-blame, and avoidance. Shelby emphasizes the importance of processing grief in a healthy manner and provides practical advice for self-reflection and healing. She encourages listeners to acknowledge and adapt to their emotions, giving themselves the grace to move forward. This episode is a supportive guide for navigating sensitive days like Mother's Day, filled with personal anecdotes and expert insights aimed at helping listeners find peace and direction amidst their grief

YouTube Vid I Referenced: Navigating Grief, Mother's Day ,& Healing After Child Loss w/ Dr Marcy Larson

.00:00 Introduction and Episode Teaser

00:13 Mother's Day Inspiration and Emotional Story

05:13 Understanding Grief and Its Impact

10:41 Coping Mechanisms and Thought Patterns

18:02 Navigating Special Days and Self-Care

33:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Why Avoiding Your Feelings is Sometimes the Best Choice For Alienated Parents

In episode 135 of The Beyond The High Road Podcast, Shelby Milford discusses the concept of intentional avoidance and its benefits for maintaining emotional balance and peace in the chaos of parental alienation. She shares her personal experiences and challenges with avoidance, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and societal beliefs about emotions. Shelby delves into the Dual Process Model of Bereavement developed by Strobe and Schut, which proposes a dynamic approach to grief management through oscillation between loss-oriented and restoration-oriented tasks. This model encourages a balanced, individualized, and compassionate approach to processing grief and rebuilding life. Shelby emphasizes the importance of taking breaks from intense emotions and intentionally shifting focus to practical life activities and new goals, thus promoting resilience and adaptation for alienated parents.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:00 Personal History with Avoidance

01:51 Conflicting Beliefs About Emotions

03:22 Coping Mechanisms and Their Impact on Alienation

08:33 Introduction to the Dual Process Model

18:14 Loss-Oriented Tasks in Grief for Alienated Parents

23:16 Restoration-Oriented Tasks in Grief

25:10 Balancing Loss and Restoration As Alienated Parents

29:01 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Understanding and Coping with Betrayal in Parental Alienation

In episode 134 of the Beyond The High Road Podcast, Shelby Milford delves into the complex subject of betrayal, particularly within the context of parental alienation. Shelby explores whether betrayal is an emotion or a perception, drawing analogies with grief and emphasizing that betrayal stems from a perceived breach of trust. The discussion is sparked by a recent experience Shelby had with misleading AI-generated videos of Brene Brown discussing betrayal. Shelby shares personal stories of betrayal by trusted friends and family during her own struggles with parental alienation, highlighting how these experiences can exacerbate feelings of isolation and mistrust. She offers insights on the emotional responses to betrayal and emphasizes the importance of self-respect and self-worth in overcoming these challenges. Shelby also provides practical advice on naming and processing the emotions associated with betrayal to foster personal growth and resilience.

00:00 Introduction & Episode Overview

00:31 Defining Betrayal: Emotion or Emotional Experience Based on Perception?

01:40 Personal Anecdote: The REAL Brene Brown or Dupe?

07:41 Exploring the Concept of Betrayal in Parental Alienation

22:16 Self-Betrayal & How It Began

29:59 Empowerment & Moving Forward

38:15 Conclusion & Final Thoughts

#parentalalienationrecovery #alienatedmom #podcastforalienatedparents #parentalalienation

Discussing the common communication pitfall of using the phrase 'I feel like' and how it can hinder emotional clarity and empowerment, especially for alienated parents. Shelby encourages listeners to focus on identifying and articulating actual emotions to reduce misinterpretations and overcome poor communication habits. By sharing personal experiences and insights from her counseling journey, Shelby aims to help parents take their power back and communicate more effectively. She also invites listeners to consider her coaching programs for deeper transformation and to leave reviews to help more parents find support through the show.

00:00 Introduction and Announcements

00:59 The Power of Coaching

03:20 The Impact of 'I Feel Like' Statements

05:00 Personal Breakthroughs and Counseling

09:15 Taking Ownership of Emotions

10:53 Practical Examples and Exercises

16:11 Avoiding Cognitive Distortions

29:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

#parentalalienationrecovery #alienatedmom #parentalalienation

Coping with Feelings of Inadequacy as an Alienated Parent

In episode 132 of the Beyond The High Road Podcast, host Shelby Milford delves into the common feelings of inadequacy that many alienated parents experience. She opens up about her own struggles with avoiding social media checks on her daughter and the internal conflict about not feeling 'enough' due to her current situation. Shelby emphasizes the importance of recognizing that emotional presence, support, and love outweigh material offerings. She also provides strategies for self-affirmation and suggests exercises to help parents build self-worth and readiness for potential reunification with their children. This episode offers insightful guidance for alienated parents coping with feelings of rejection and inadequacy.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:26 Struggles with Social Media and Avoidance

02:42 Facing Fears and Emotional Challenges

05:09 Comparing Yourself "How THEY Do It"

09:26 Tips for Overcoming Inadequacy

20:13 The Importance of Self-Love and Acceptance

26:34 Practical Exercise for Building Self-Worth

30:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

#parentalalienationrecovery #parentalalienation #alienatedparent #podcastforalienatedparents

Navigating Nostalgia, Remorse, & Uncertainty

In episode 131 Shelby Milford delves into the mixed emotions that arise with springtime nostalgia. She shares her personal reflections on regret and remorse, prompted by some treasured memories with her daughter before alienation. Shelby emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between regret and shame, encouraging listeners to embrace their growth journey. She explores how changing the narratives we tell ourselves about our past can foster healing and growth. With a poignant example of an Instagram post (thanks to Max Stossel), Shelby inspires parents to stay hopeful and believe in a brighter future despite current hardships. She concludes by underscoring the unbreakable bonds between parents and children, offering encouragement and support to all alienated parents.00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:36 Springtime Nostalgia and Memories03:27 Reflections on Regret and Remorse05:29 Understanding and Overcoming Shame10:35 The Power of Perspective and Storytelling30:16 The Unbreakable Parent-Child Bond32:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts