Episode Details

Ashish Joshi returns to Been There Got Out — and this time, he's brought a new book and a perspective that may change how you talk about your case forever.

If you've been calling your situation a "high-conflict divorce," you may be inadvertently sharing blame you don't deserve. Attorney Ashish Joshi — a domestic violence specialist who focuses on parental alienation and family court litigation — explains why the term "high-conflict" is legally and strategically dangerous for targeted parents, and what the more accurate framework of "family violence" actually means in court.

In this conversation, Joshi draws on his brand-new book, Litigating Family Violence, to walk us through the umbrella of behaviors that constitute family violence — from coercive control and emotional abuse to financial abuse, immigration weaponization, and yes, parental alienation. He explains how all of these are interconnected, and why treating them as separate issues misses the point.

If you're in family court right now, or trying to understand why nothing seems to be working the way it should, this episode gives you something rare: a practicing trial attorney explaining exactly what courts look for, what language to use, and what actually makes the difference in these cases.

IN THIS EPISODE:

- Why calling your case "high-conflict" may actually hurt you in family court
- What "family violence" means legally — and how it changes the narrative
- "Leaving is a process, not an event" — and why courts need to understand this
- The difference between parental alienating behaviors (PABs) and parental alienation itself
- Resist-refuse dynamics: what they are, and what's really causing them
- When to go to court early — and what to ask for instead of pointing fingers
- What a proper, enforceable reunification therapy order actually requires
- The "running the clock" tactic: how the favored parent uses delay as a weapon
- Child voice vs. child choice — and why courts shouldn't let kids decide
- Peer-reviewed research: adult children thanked courts for intervening
- Enmeshment, parentification, and the cult-like loyalty dynamic
- Vicarious trauma and why self-care isn't optional for litigating parents

ABOUT ASHISH JOSHI:

Ashish Joshi is a practicing family law attorney who specializes at the intersection of domestic violence and parental alienation. He is a sought-after speaker at legal and judicial conferences, including the AFCC (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts), and is the author of two books for legal practitioners and litigants: Litigating Parental Alienation and his newest, Litigating Family Violence. His work bridges the gap between academic research and what actually happens in courtrooms.

Ashish Joshi website: www.joshiattorneys.com
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Litigating-Family-Violence-Ashish-Joshi/dp/1639057439/

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