Let's TALK Trauma Abuse Love Kindness: SHERA Research podcast Family Law

Episodi

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  Bail, Family Courts, and Child Safety: Why the Law Must Change 09.03.2026 59min

  In this important episode, we discuss the urgent need to strengthen protections for children when someone is under investigation for rape or other serious sexual offences.Joining the conversation is Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno, Founder and Director of SHERA Research Group and Lecturer at University of Manchester, Dr Sarah Learmonth of the London School of Economics and SHERA Research Group who alongside many victim-survivors have spearheaded the campaign based on Sarah’s important bail research, alongside “Jennifer” (pseudonym), who speaks on behalf of her friend “Kate” (pseudonym), a survivor whose experience highlights why legal protections for children must be strengthened.The episode focuses on our proposed amendment currently being considered in the House of Lords that would introduce a clear bail condition for individuals under investigation for rape or other serious sexual offences. The amendment proposes that if bail is granted, the suspect must:* Have no direct or indirect contact with any minor child of whom they are a parent or have parental responsibility* Immediately inform any family court involved in proceedings concerning the child that such a restriction is in placeThe aim of the amendment is to close a dangerous legal gap between the criminal justice system and family courts, ensuring that children are protected while serious allegations of sexual violence are being investigated.In this episode:* Dr Sarah Learmonth explains research on sexual violence, bail decisions, and safeguarding failures, and the risks created when family and criminal justice systems operate without effective coordination.* Jennifer shares Kate’s experience, describing how her friend’s former partner was able to apply to the family court for orders concerning the children while on police bail for repeated rape, forcing years of litigation and exposing major gaps between the criminal justice and family court systems.* The case highlights how delays in evidence disclosure and poor information-sharing between police and family courts meant critical safeguarding information was not always available when decisions affecting the children were made.* Kate describes how the legal process led to years of financial and emotional harm, including losing her career, spending significant sums on legal fees and being forced into prolonged court proceedings while the criminal investigation continued.* The discussion also explores how allegations of “parental alienation,” repeated court applications and system delays can be used in ways that prolong post-separation abuse and place additional pressure on victims and children.* After years of proceedings, the family court ultimately established that rape and abuse had occurred and restricted the father’s contact with the children, but only after significant harm and delay.* More broadly, the episode explores concerns about bail conditions, victim participation in safeguarding decisions, barriers to accessing protective orders, and gaps in coordination across different parts of the justice system.Together, the conversation makes the case that clearer bail conditions and better information sharing are essential to protect children and prevent alleged perpetrators of sexual violence from using legal processes in ways that can prolong harm.Take actionCampaigners are urging members of the public to contact members of the House of Lords and ask them to support this amendment to help strengthen protections for children.Please contact them today as this will be considered in the House of Lords on 10th March 2026.Read the amendment here:https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3968/stages/20503/amendments/10033632Contact members of the House of Lords:https://members.parliament.uk/members/Lordshttps://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/whos-in-the-house-of-lords/get-in-touch-with-members/Support and resourcesIf you or someone you know is affected by sexual abuse or violence, support is available through WeStand, a charity supporting people affected by sexual abuse.Find help and resources:https://westand.org.ukYou are not alone — support and advocacy are available.https://www.shera-research.com/resource-center Get full access to Still Not Safe: Dr Dalgarno on Post-Separation Abuse © at drelizabethdalgarno.substack.com/subscribe
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  Let's TALK Trauma Abuse Love Kindness with LGBTQI+ advocate, therapist and victim-survivor Dr Andrew Thomas Cicchetti 15.12.2023 1h 4min

  In this podcast Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno of SHERA Research Group and University of Manchester talks to LGBTQI+ advocate, therapist and victim-survivor Dr Andrew Thomas Cicchetti about his experiences as a gay man who has been subjected to coercive control*, his work as a Gestalt therapist/trauma coach, so-called 'parental alienation', domestic violence, his ground-breaking supreme court case in Brazil, his meeting with Maria da Penha, why the women's movement needs male allies, healing for women and children in the family court, his love of Christmas music and much more. His twitter can be accessed here: https://twitter.com/AndrewCicchett1. The paper on the health and trauma experiences of mothers in the Brazilian family court, led by Dr Dalgarno and team can be accessed freely here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09649069.2023.2285136Follow SHERA Research here: https://twitter.com/SheraFamilySHERA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherafamily_/*Dr Cicchetti adds he alleges this Get full access to Still Not Safe: Dr Dalgarno on Post-Separation Abuse © at drelizabethdalgarno.substack.com/subscribe
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  Dr Saira Khan on the impact of Abuse and Trauma on Children 03.12.2023 41min

  In this episode Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno, Director and Founder of SHERA discusses with Counselling Psychologist Dr Saira Khan the impact of Abuse and Trauma on Children. They talk all things Family Court and how the courts may be improved. Dr Khan covers the importance of professional understanding on neurodiversity, centring the voice of the child and shares her thoughts on resilience, post traumatic growth and overcoming adversity as a survivor herself.Saira's website: https://www.mendality.com/Saira's thesis: Khan, S. (2020). Growth after intimate partner violence. (Unpublished Doctoralthesis, City, University of London) https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/25701/1/Khan,%20Saira_PhD%20thesis_MAY%202020%20REDACTED%20docx_Redacted.pdfSHERA website: www.shera-research.comSHERA X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SheraFamilySHERA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherafamily_/Dr Andrew Cicchetti: https://twitter.com/AndrewCicchett1With music by Coca-Cola | A Kind of Magic | Karakoram x Eva B | Coke Studio Global https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U77gdTpqVyg Get full access to Still Not Safe: Dr Dalgarno on Post-Separation Abuse © at drelizabethdalgarno.substack.com/subscribe
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  Ruth Reymundo Mandel of Safe and Together Institute 30.06.2023 50min

  Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno Chair and Founder of SHERA Research Group and Lecturer at University of Manchester is joined by Ruth Reymundo Mandel Stearns of Safe and Together Institute. Ruth Reymundo Mandel (Stearns) has been in training and implementation since 1995. She is dedicated to issues surrounding social justice and violence.  Drawing on her childhood experiences growing up in an abusive, religious cult and as a survivor she is a fierce advocate for those who have experienced abuse. She is dedicated to helping survivors and allies understand behavioural coping mechanisms arising out of trauma and mitigating societal and personal judgments surrounding common human responses to violence and harm. This transformative approach helps those who have experienced violence and their allies better understand how to support, nurture and nourish survivors in a common sense manner and without blame. Ruth is a great poet and artist and all around wonderful woman. In this episode they discuss the family courts, the importance of holding perpetrators of abuse accountable for their behaviour, partnering with survivors, healing from trauma through music and art and lots more.Ruth's art can be found here: https://twitter.com/survivorstrong3Ruth's chosen song Daffodil Lament by The Cranberries can be found in full here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNusXBCXBR4The partnered with a survivor podcast can be found here: https://safeandtogetherinstitute.com/podcast/The Safe and Together Institute and perpetrator mapping tool can be found here: https://safeandtogetherinstitute.com/ For support resources visit our website: www.shera-research.com Get full access to Still Not Safe: Dr Dalgarno on Post-Separation Abuse © at drelizabethdalgarno.substack.com/subscribe
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  SHERA Research Group Domestic Abuse (DA) Island Discs Episode 1: Sam Beckinsale on LOVE?, trauma, Coercive Control, Secret Family Courts, Unregulated Experts & Pseudoscience of 'Parental Alienation' 12.05.2023 1h 29min

  Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno is a lecturer in global women's health and health systems challenges at University of Manchester. She is also the chair and founder of SHERA Research Group.SHERA Research Group is a collective of researchers and advocates based around the world working in medicine, health care, social care, law, finance, human rights, academia, therapeutic services and domestic abuse support organisations. SHERA is also home to an Expert by Experience Group of victim-survivor mothers, who co-design all our projects meaning all our work is by and for those who are impacted by violence and abuse.In SHERA's first podcast, Dr Dalgarno is joined by actor, producer, film maker, domestic abuse (DA) veteran and advocate Sam Beckinsale where they discuss Sam's journey into the DA sector, her film LOVE? about Coercive Control, the Secret Family Courts, Unregulated Experts, The Pseudoscience of 'Parental Alienation', child safeguarding, misogyny in the police and society and the power of music and art in healing from trauma.Support and other links mentioned in podcast:www.shera-research.comhttps://twitter.com/SheraFamilyhttps://twitter.com/beckinsale_samhttps://rightsofwomen.org.uk/LOVE? film: https://vimeo.com/720726737/c72ed1fe87Harms of family court videos: https://www.youtube.com/@sheraresearchgroup7723 https://broxtowewomensproject.org.uk/https://www.allie-crewe.uk/i-amhttps://www.eida.org.uk/https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan-police/areas/about-us/about-the-met/bcr/baroness-casey-review/https://www.everyonesinvited.uk/https://twitter.com/menagainstvawg?lang=enhttps://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2023-03-22/debates/C99320D8-67DC-43AC-9D2A-5EC66F9AD2C2/FamilyCourtReformAndCAFCASSDr Emma Katz Book: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/coercive-control-in-childrens-and-mothers-lives-9780190922214?cc=gb&lang=en&Prof Jane Monckton-Smith book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/in-control/jane-monckton-smith/9781526613226https://www.culturereframed.org/ (building resistance against hypersexualisation of children)https://safeandtogetherinstitute.com/mapping-perpetrator-patterns-and-reasonable-person-standards-help-keep-child-safety-as-the-bottom-line-in-domestic-violence-cases/https://www.womensaid.org.uk/https://survivingeconomicabuse.org/Harm Report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/895173/assessing-risk-harm-children-parents-pl-childrens-cases-report_.pdfMelanie Gill Case: https://www.theguardian.com/law/2023/feb/26/tighter-regulation-of-psychologists-in-family-law-cases-up-to-mps-says-senior-judgeFull judgement Re C: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Re-C-Parental-Alienation-judgment-220323.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-act-2021Government Rejection of 'Parental Alienation': https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/domestic-abuse-act-statutory-guidance/outcome/domestic-abuse-act-2021-statutory-guidance-consultation-government-response-accessiblehttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/controlling-or-coercive-behaviour-statutory-guidance-frameworkhttps://www.cafcass.gov.uk/grown-ups/professionals/ciaf/Gloria Gaynor, I will survive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dYWe1c3OyU Get full access to Still Not Safe: Dr Dalgarno on Post-Separation Abuse © at drelizabethdalgarno.substack.com/subscribe