This is your go-to Podcast, where we help parents navigate the complexities of family life. Hosted by Ali Kessler of Greyson’s Choice, we’ll cover everything from understanding domestic violence to navigating the legal system, finding the right therapists, life hacks, family law, mental health, custody battles, and how to protect children in dangerous situations.

Dr. Catherine Barrett, a licensed clinical forensic psychologist, shares her journey and expertise in the field of forensic psychology, particularly focusing on domestic violence and risk assessment. She discusses the importance of understanding the complexities of domestic violence, the role of forensic psychologists in legal cases, and the challenges faced in family court. Dr. Barrett emphasizes the need for proper training in domestic violence for legal professionals and the significance of building a supportive legal team to ensure justice for victims. The conversation also highlights the importance of recognizing risk factors and the historical context of abusive behavior in assessing future risks. In this conversation, Catherine Barrett and Ali Kessler delve into the complexities of parenting, the influence of cults, and the failures of the judicial system in protecting children. They discuss the psychological implications of being involved with narcissistic individuals and the importance of recognizing red flags in relationships. The conversation emphasizes the need for systemic change in family courts to prioritize child welfare over parental rights and the challenges faced by mothers in custody battles. They also touch on the healing process from toxic relationships and the intersection of mental health and true crime.

About Catherine Barrett:

Dr. Catherine Barrett is a licensed Clinical Forensic Psychologist, based out of Los Angeles, California. She first gained clinical experience after graduating from the University of Southern California in 2009, with a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Through her training and experience, she has worked with marginalized communities, committed to social justice in mental health, and has developed a practice that is not only cross-culturally competent but also affirmative.

Clinical training and populations include addiction recovery, LGBTQ+, domestic and intimate partner violence, chronic mental illness, and narcissistic personality disorder. Dr. Barrett specializes in narcissistic abuse recovery.

Following a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Dr. Barrett continued her commitment to social justice and psychology in the law by obtaining a Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Forensic Psychology. She graduated from Alliant International University’s California School of Forensic Studies in 2014. A significant amount of her training was in risk assessment, evaluation, and treatment of sex offenders, sexually violent predators, mentally disordered offenders, and individuals found not guilty because of insanity. Dr. Barrett completed her Pre-Doctoral internship at the San Francisco Forensic Institute, where she evaluated, treated, and ran psychological assessments on sex offenders and sexually violent predators. Dr. Barrett was first certified with the Sex Offender Management Board at this time.

Dr. Barrett has performed various clinical and forensic assessments, including psycho-educational evaluations, risk assessment, and psychological evaluations for court. Dr. Barrett has been clinically trained and certified to administer the ABEL Assessment of sexual interest and the STABLE-2007, which measures potential risk for future violence. She has also assisted Dr. Charles Flinton in administering the Penile Plethysmograph (PPG) to forensic hospital patients at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino, California. Dr. Barrett has spent a significant amount of time providing group and individual therapy, as well as risk...

This is your go-to Podcast, where we help parents navigate the complexities of family life. Hosted by Ali Kessler of Greyson’s Choice, we’ll cover everything from understanding domestic violence to navigating the legal system, finding the right therapists, life hacks, family law, mental health, custody battles, and how to protect children in dangerous situations.

In this episode of Grey Minds Think Alike, host Ali Kessler speaks with Sheri Kurdakul, the founder and CEO of Victim's Voice. Sheri shares the story behind the creation of Victim's Voice, a groundbreaking web-based app designed to help domestic violence victims collect and store legally admissible evidence. This tool aids victims in documenting their experiences safely and securely, ensuring that their abusers can be held accountable. Sheri also discusses the development process, the legal considerations, and the impact the app has had on users and legal professionals. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in technology, victim advocacy, and legal reforms.

About Sheri Kurdakul

Sheri Kurdakul is the Founder of EBinRA, Inc., dba VictimsVoice and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. Sheri focuses on making a measurable difference in the lives of victims and survivors so their abusers can be held accountable and they can begin to reclaim and rebuild their lives in safety and on their own terms. Formerly, she was the Managing Partner of Holistic Business Solutions, a small business and nonprofit consulting firm. As a survivor of child abuse and domestic violence, she has devoted herself to ensuring victims of discrimination, harassment, and abuse are heard, believed, and able to seek legal justice. She resides in Central New Jersey with her husband and daughter, as well as a myriad of adopted furry family members.

VictimsVoice was designed for legal admissibility, allowing users to document information that holds up in court, investigators to collect relevant evidence, and prosecutors to build a stronger case. It’s built to meet HIPAA, VAWA, VOCA, and FVPSA regulations, ensuring the strictest privacy and security standards are upheld.

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About Ali Kessler

Ali Kessler is a writer, marketing professional, passionate parent advocate, and founder of Greyson’s Choice, a 501(c)(3) created to raise awareness about the risk of domestic abuse on children. Greyson’s Choice was founded by Ali Kessler in memory of her sweet, vibrant, and fearless 4.5-year-old son, Greyson, who was murdered by his biological father in a murder-suicide during an unsupervised, court-approved visit in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in 2021. This came just hours after her petition for a domestic violence injunction was denied by a Broward County judge, citing that the “petitioner has failed to allege any overt acts by the respondent which would constitute domestic violence under Florida Statute.” Ali’s advocacy efforts culminated in successfully passing Greyson’s Law during the 2023 legislative session. This bill now requires the court to consider threats against ex-partners or spouses when making child visitation and custody determinations in the court, expanding to include the following factors: evidence of domestic violence, whether a parent in the past or currently has reasonable cause to believe that they or a minor child is, or has been in imminent danger of becoming the victim of domestic/sexual violence by the other parent, even if no other legal action has been brought or is currently pending in court.

Contact Ali:

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This is your go-to Podcast, where we help parents navigate the complexities of family life. Hosted by Ali Kessler of Greyson’s Choice, we’ll cover everything from understanding domestic violence to navigating the legal system, finding the right therapists, life hacks, family law, mental health, custody battles, and how to protect children in dangerous situations.

About Lily Schwark: Lily Schwark is a dedicated family court advocate and domestic violence survivor who turned her personal experience into a mission for change. While navigating the family court system and securing full custody of her daughter, she became passionate about supporting other parents facing similar battles. As the President of Families Against Court Travesties and the Vice President of Florida Protective Parents, she actively works to protect children, ensure court transparency, and advocate for family court reform. With years of experience in court watching, she brings a unique and informed perspective on the challenges families face in custody disputes.

Contact:

Florida Protective Parents

FACTS

About Ali Kessler: Ali Kessler is a writer, marketing professional, passionate parent advocate, and founder of Greyson’s Choice, a 501(c)(3) created to raise awareness about the risk of domestic abuse on children. Greyson’s Choice was founded by Ali Kessler in memory of her sweet, vibrant, and fearless 4.5-year-old son, Greyson, who was murdered by his biological father in a murder-suicide during an unsupervised, court-approved visit in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in 2021. This came just hours after her petition for a domestic violence injunction was denied by a Broward County judge, citing that the “petitioner has failed to allege any overt acts by the respondent which would constitute domestic violence under Florida Statute.”

Ali’s advocacy efforts culminated in successfully passing Greyson’s Law during the 2023 legislative session. This bill now requires the court to consider threats against ex-partners or spouses when making child visitation and custody determinations in the court, expanding to include the following factors: evidence of domestic violence, whether a parent in the past or currently has reasonable cause to believe that they or a minor child is, or has been in imminent danger of becoming the victim of domestic/sexual violence by the other parent, even if no other legal action has been brought or is currently pending in court.

Contact Ali:

Email

LinkedIn

Website