When Court Orders Are Violated

I have heard numerous stories of high conflict cases where it is inevitable that one parent has gotten away with not following court orders. Not only is it very common, but parents aren't the only ones who choose to break the orders of the court. High conflict custody cases can be so stressful on everyone involved, that you will find therapists, doctors, court appointed moderators, subordinate officials, and even the judge him or herself overlooking court order violations. 

You may have an ex-spouse who intentionally demands you follow the order and turn around and break it. Then, at the slightest lack of adherence to the order, threaten to drag you to court, threaten to take your child/ren, make a motion that you be penalized financially or have your custodial time reduced. When they break the court order, on the other hand, they will likely have a "legitimate" explanation and state you are being uncooperative if you try to address it. Your recommending mediator may say, "You just need to get along." Or you might have a special master who simply overlooks it. Perhaps your special master has been led to violate the court order by your ex-spouse and instead of being accountable, quickly moves on to the next "issue." If you take a violated order to the judge, she might look at you like, "you have come into my courtroom with this?" It inevitably gets turned around on you...every time.

Some of you will be nodding your head in both directions. Yep. You may be yelling out your own story as you are reading this...yep. I have heard many other notable stories. You may have heard them too. How can this possibly happen? You may be saying, "My attorney says that violating court orders needs to be taken to court." I know.  You may say, "But Ashley the law says we are to follow the law." I know. I have heard about a judge making an order and then overlooking the very violation of that order. So what are these people thinking, how do they still have a job and how can the game-playing parent still have any custody of the child/ren?  

In my research and interviews with  attorneys, therapists, special masters, mediators, recommending mediators, psychiatrists, teachers and parents and have come up with a few reasons. I have helpful links and titles of books that also talk about the following points.

1. Some ex-spouses are so "hostile, inflammatory, deceitful, and manipulative" (The High Conflict Custody Battle by Amy J.L Baker et al.), they want to undermine the other parent at all cost and are good at manipulating a system that is overworked and too exhausted to unravel the insanity.
2. Most people who are helping with family law cases are overwhelmed and unable to effectively do their job.
3. Most people who are helping with family law cases do not have enough experience and education in dealing with high conflict custody cases.
4. Some people, parents as well as family law workers, have mental health issues that get in the way of being able to reasonably do the job required.
5. People may go into a case full of energy and ability and become exhausted from the repetition of work to resolve the conflicts and become too discouraged to help and either back out or choose a side.

One story, from a psychiatrist I spoke with, was about two parents who were so committed to proving the other parent wrong that they wouldn't stop going to court. Success in therapy proved to be difficult in this situation. Attorney's fees ran high...very high. In cases like this, most family law workers simply put their hands up in the air and wait to see who is left standing. One special master had seen so many court order violations taking place, she had to focus only on the ones that were critical to maintain joint custody, which is often the goal of the family law court. One co-parenting therapist said that she didn't intervene with minor order violations because she wanted to see which parent was able to best handle the games being played without getting upset. 

I spoke with another psychiatrist who said he stepped away from working with couples in high conflict custody battles because it was so burdensome he just couldn't take it anymore. He said that the bitterness between spouses was so toxic that there was no room for considering what was in the children's best interest. The obsessive nature of getting back at an ex-spouse makes it virtually impossible to follow court orders by one or both spouses and the dense manipulative games that are played can be difficult to spot, much less unravel. It takes a tremendous amount of time and time is money. Now he only provides psychological testing for high conflict custody cases. Most of his time is now focused on protecting children who are caught in the middle of high conflict game-playing parents. I have followed some of the conferences he supports and if this movement to protect the children of game-playing parents continues, parents who use their child or children as pawns in a game of chess are going to eventually face tough consequences for their actions.

Attorneys, as another example, will make themselves available to fight to uphold the orders, but they are only able to do so much. In the courtroom, even if your attorney has presented an excellent motion or response to a motion, if the judge wants nothing to do with your case or has personal issues, the following of orders may be overlooked. Some judges fine one or both of the parties and attorneys can end up being held to pay the fine. As a result, certain attorneys will not take on cases that are high conflict in nature. One case in point is an attorney who presented an excellent response to a motion against a parent for full custody of the children. Both motion and response had multiple examples of each parent violating court orders. It was virtually impossible to know which examples were real or made up and who actually violated the orders. The person who first filed the motion attached 40 pages of exhibits, so the response ended up having 30 pages, including exhibits, plus the original motion filed with its' exhibits. Who has time for this? The judge was furious and tried to fine both parties, but it would have required the attorney to pay the fine. As a result, she was reluctant to continue bringing motions for her client to the same judge. When I have considered what attorneys have to sift through, with all the emails and copies of texts we have today, it can be a legal nightmare to untangle well enough to make a clear and sound motion or response to a judge.

So with all of this said, are YOU following the court orders or are you the game-playing parent? One of the psychiatrists I spoke with said that even if one parent is undermining the other parent with games and successful manipulation of family court workers, the job of the other parent is to be able to walk away with the skin on their back and a close second would be to have the relationships with their kids still intact. Are you focusing on your relationship with your child or the other parent? Maybe this is what they want. Some parents are psychologically incapable of leaving bitterness behind or have a personality disorder that creates a domestic abuse environment. So...the rule and most important response to your game-playing spouse is... control yourself from entering into the game and using your child or children to undermine the game-playing parent. Disengage. When you disengage, the other parent has no power over you and when you do not use the children to do what is being done to you, you walk away with your integrity still intact and a possible future with your children. When the other parent violates the order, let it be unless it truly endangering the children. Keep your nose clean and your heart spotless. The other parent will likely try to change the orders multiple times to create chaos (I will write a post about this later), but simply stick with what is written and try to do your best to disengage from the madness. I have a couple of books below that have been recommended and that I have found to be useful. I will provide one link that gives a few quick answers to related questions here.

If you are a Christian reading this post, there are a few scriptures that help us walk in a manner worthy of our calling. As one pastor said, "Allow the legal system to work (to the best of its ability) and pursue all paths of justice (as is within your means), but when you have done everything you can to speak truth in love, you have to trust in the Lord, be at peace with all men as best as is possible, and do not return evil for evil." Parentheses were my additions. Here are a few scriptures that have helped me as well as a couple of useful Christian books.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."                            Romans 12:18

"Learn to do good, Seek justice..." Isaiah 1:17

"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?" Matthew 5:44-46a

"Be angry and do not sin." Ephesians 4:26

"Do not fear for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

"And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors." Matthew 6:12
__________________________________________

Christian Books
How to Overcome Evil by Jay E. Adams
This is a phenomenal book! It is a study of Romans 12:14-21 and gives practical applications in dealing with people who seek only to undermine you.

A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent
This book is all about the Gospel. It reminds us that we were once very unlovable and can still be quite unlovable, but we have a faithful God who is full of mercy and grace for us and who has a heart for the lost. In turn, we can use the information in this book to extend mercy and grace to the game-playing parent. 

Non-Christian Books
The Batterer as Parent (2nd ed.) by Lundy Bancroft, Jay G. Silverman, Daniel Ritchie
This book was recommended to me by a therapist who has extensive experience with high conflict custody cases and has worked as an individual therapist, co-therapist, special master, evaluator and mediator. It summarizes characteristics of parents who perpetuate a domestic abuse environment and goes into detail about the impact these parents have in the home, the other parent, and the children. The section about community response will give you insight to the role an evaluator, family court and therapists play in looking at and responding to a domestic abuse environment. However, you may not actually find anyone who has actually read this book or who applies the information in this book. It is, though, an excellent resource when dealing with such people. FYI

Breakthrough Parenting by Jayne A. Major
Though I have found this book to be ineffective in some high conflict custody cases, it is useful in many others. If your child or children are successfully manipulated by the other parent and you do not have a family law advocate for yourself, the practice of the principles in the book are not very effective. Pretty much anything you do will be seen in a negative light. However, each situation is a little different, so don't lose hope. The section on teaching responsibility, communicating effectively, reducing stress in your family, and resolving family conflicts, are just a few good chapters. Keep trying, learning and growing as a parent and individual. You will be better as they get older and when they are older you will reap the rewards for all of your hard work.
__________________________________________

My prayers go out to all who are being impacted by high conflict custody cases. It truly is a bloody war and no one is a winner. The kids lose the most, at least one parent is scarred and the game-playing parent has lost all integrity and honor. The family law system gets a bad rap, mediators and therapists get bad Yelp reviews, and evaluators and judges have to live with making bad decisions. I don't know who is in the better position. But I imagine the one who has the biggest heart and highest intentions for all involved and works to make choices based in integrity and love for what is in the children's best interests is likely moving in the right direction.

Joyfully,

Ashley

Ashley Osier got her master's degree at John F. Kennedy University first in Somatic Psychology and finishing in Holistic Health Education. She is a certified Stress Management Practitioner and has a passion to help others decrease stress in their lives through practical applications. She has been studying various perspectives on the matter since 2009, applying these to her degrees and certifications in working with others. In 2012 Ashley started Lovenprose, an aspect of her business that focuses on loving, encouraging, protecting and serving women and children of all ages. Lovenprose is still a work in progress as she actively supports women and children in varied capacities. Ashley can be contacted for supportive services via email at: inthechildrensbestinterest@gmail.com. You can visit her business website for more information.

Attorneys As Consultants vs. Representation

There were many times when I did not have the money to hire an attorney to represent me and times the attorney I preferred was not available to represent me. So what does one do in a situation like this? Often times attorneys will make themselves available for consultation. That means that you don't contract them out to represent you, requiring a retainer and written agreement. But rather you are able to contact them with questions for consultation and they will charge you their hourly rate. This is an excellent option for people who don't have the funds and/or who feel confident in representing themselves and who have the time to do all the legwork to complete paperwork and filing. 

I highly recommend speaking with a number of attorneys before choosing one. You can Yelp attorneys and look up on Google for reviews as well as asking others who may have referrals. The courthouse does offer a list of referrals, though this list is not always up to date and is not based upon positive reviews. If you go on Yelp, make sure you read through the reviews so you know why people are giving positive or negative input. If someone gives you a referral that is not in your area, you can still contact them and see if they know of someone they would refer in your area. Many attorneys know other attorneys and would be happy to give out the contact if you are not located in his or her area. Take your time and try not to rush. Have a couple of attorneys you can consult with just in case one is not available. 

If you are putting together your own forms, make sure that you send your draft to the attorney to verify accuracy and that everything is in order to file with the court. If you have a judge who has preferences, such as type of font, size of font, spacing requirements and number of pages, make sure you know these details in advance or ask the attorney if he or she knows these details. Putting your own forms together is not difficult in many cases, but if you are having a difficult time, paying the attorney to draft the writing portion of your document may be beneficial in the long run. Sometimes people will write out what they think should be in the document and then send it to the attorney to be proofread and modified as needed. To see some of the legal forms available go to forms.

Now if you are dealing with a very difficult situation, you may fair better with hiring an attorney. But this is not always the case. Consider your options and weigh them carefully. If you are a praying woman, pray for God's leading and for giving you wisdom in making the right decision. Try not to walk in fear. If you have an ex-spouse who regularly uses scare tactics or bullies you, seek out ways to relax, stay present and focused on the task at hand, and know that even if the situation gets rough, God will get you and your children through. Here are a few scriptures that have helped me with fear:

Deuteronomy 31:6   
Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.


Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

For more scriptures on fear, go to no more fear

Praying for you!
Ashley

Ashley Osier got her master's degree at John F. Kennedy University first in Somatic Psychology and finishing in Holistic Health Education. She is a certified Stress Management Practitioner and has a passion to help others decrease stress in their lives through practical applications. She has been studying various perspectives on the matter since 2009, applying these to her degrees and certifications in working with others. In 2012 Ashley started Lovenprose, an aspect of her business that focuses on loving, encouraging, protecting and serving women and children of all ages. Lovenprose is still a work in progress as she actively supports women and children in varied capacities. Ashley can be contacted for supportive services via email at: inthechildrensbestinterest@gmail.com. You can visit her business website for more information.

De-Escalating Family Law Stress

De-Escalating Family Law Stress

by 

Ashley Osier

It is likely that you are overwhelmed by your circumstances. This is a perfectly normal response because your circumstances are not normal. Your once intact marriage and family has been dismantled from under you and you are dealing with an ex who only has bad intentions for you and is willing to risk the children's wellbeing to take you down. You are in a legal system that is incredibly imperfect and you want nothing to do with any of it. None of this is good news, but you will get through this season even if it is a long one. So my list is short today. I have woven stress management solutions throughout and have a few others at the end with links to additional resources. Take heed, take action and take care. I am praying for all women and children having to go through these circumstances. May God bless and protect you and your children.

1. Your documents may not be complete. 
Though I don't want to add more stress to an already stressful situation, no matter how much you study, you will likely not have a perfectly drafted motion or response. And even if you are represented, documents will still be imperfect. I have seen numerous attorneys with typos in their documents. There was one that even had the wrong case number on it. Another attorney had to use white out at court because he entered in the incorrect information. I can't tell you how many attorneys I have seen in court that didn't have the correct information, who forgot important documents, and who had more excuses than the person they were representing.

STRESS SOLUTIONS? Try not to stress. If you have an attorney, even the ones that charge a lot ($400 or more per hour) draft incomplete documents. One woman told me that she had to redo the response because her attorney's response was incomplete. She would stay up till 3am sometimes drafting her documents because her attorney was so incompetent in this area. But he was very good once inside the courtroom. Every situation is different and some people have more time or do better with the legal arena than others. Know your limitations and your strengths. If you do not have an attorney and want to do it yourself, try to get help at your local courthouse. They do offer assistance though it is often time consuming. But don't let it stop you. There are sites online that will give you examples and sometimes even templates to fill out online and print like family law forms. You can also hire an attorney to consult with instead of having them represent you. Many judges can be understanding in this area.

2. Motions and responses should be filed within one week prior to your court hearing. 
Some judges will not look at your document unless they have plenty of time to read it. This can be frustrating especially if you have an ex-husband who files the day prior to your hearing and gets his motions and responses read by the judge...every time. Just don't let this be you. Keep your track record clean even if the judge does not acknowledge your efforts.

STRESS SOLUTIONS? 
If you have an attorney, don't always expect them to file in time. If it is important to you that the judge read your motion or response, make sure your attorney files it 7-10 days prior to your hearing. If they don't file it in time and the judge doesn't read your document, you should not be charged for the drafting of that document. If you are drafting your own documents and want more information on how to file certain documents in the Family Law Court system, click on self help. Make sure you keep a calendar of when documents need to be filed and block out the time needed to be at the courthouse to file these documents. SIDE NOTE...Also make sure to have enough coins for the parking and in case you need to make copies at the courthouse!!

3. Your ex-spouse can file as many motions with the court as they like.
    As many as he can file? Unfortunately, yes. The court has to consider each motion that is filed unless it is completely frivolous. It is just the way it works. I have seen ex-husbands repeatedly file motions specifically on birthdays, Mother's Day, every other holiday, and any other event that would make it stressful for the mother (like when they find out you are getting married or are having a baby). I heard another story where an ex-wife (don't let this be you!) filed over 300 motions in one year and the courts would not recognize it as harassment. On the other hand, you can get a law firm like farad law who say they can stop the harassment based upon specific laws. I have not heard one story where a mother was able to stop such harassment, but I have spoken with fathers who have been successful with documenting every detail and presenting it in court in a way that brings success.

STRESS SOLUTIONS? Breathe and hang in there! If the stress seems more than you can handle, pray, get enough sleep, eat healthy, reach out to someone who can help you, stay informed, and keep focusing on building wonderful memories with your children. Check your heart and your motives so that you are not filing motions or responding out of bitterness. Read all filed motions if you don't have an attorney and respond to all filed motions in the time required. If it is an Ex Parte (an emergency motion), you will have less time to respond and file. A trusted friend or family member can help you read through some of the motions if reading them and responding is too stressful. If you don't respond, your ex-husband may have more credibility when asking the judge to rule in his favor. If you are able to, list out every motion your ex-husband files so that you can see exactly what is going on and refer to it if needed.

4. Your Judge can have quirks you will want to know so you don't get off on the wrong foot.
Not all judges are impartial. Actually, many of them are too burned out by having to read through the sea of documents filed. I can't imagine that it is even possible to be an effective judge, but someone has to do it. In light of this, know that every judge is just a person who may be affected by lack of sleep, poor nutrition, personal stress, job stress and individual bias. Their quirks are personal preferences or issues that affect their ability to make a decision, to effectively listen, or to simply be present at your hearing. Some of these include: clicking your pen, rolling your fingers on the table, smacking your gum, shifting back and forth in your chair, wearing perfume or cologne, sighing,  dressing a certain way, or seeing you in his or her courtroom too often. Some of these can be annoying to a judge and will end up working against you. Most judges do not tolerate angry and emotional outbursts. One judge got so upset over the font not being set at 12 and the document not being double spaced that he wanted to slap a monetary fine.

STRESS SOLUTIONS?
Sometimes you can find reviews on your particular judge. I highly recommend you look him or her up and also ask your attorney to let you know. Don't get angry or have outbursts in their court. Stay cool even if the judge makes a really bad decision. If you are representing yourself you can ask the judge, respectfully, if you can ask a question or clarify what he or she has said. For example, one judge rashly made a decision and the spouse that was self-represented asked a question that made the judge rethink his decision. The result was the less of two evils, but it made a difference. One attorney told me that a judge fined a litigant because they were clicking their pen. So if you have a nervous habit, make it a silent one.


MORE STRESS MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS:
1. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, nutritious food, and spiritual refreshment. If you usually exercise, make sure to try and do something active. It will boost your serotonin, which will help with depression. If you go to church, this is not a time to stop. Make sure you are getting your mid-week Bible study in and connecting with others who can pray for you, your children, your ex-husband and the Family Law court system. Pray without ceasing!

2.  Stay focused on enjoying your time with your child or children. Don't let the stress of what your ex-husband is doing take away any wonderful memories you can make with your child or your children. This will be super important for the future. Take lots of photos, make collages of you and your kiddos and if you have a smart phone, you can make a video and upload it to your computer. The courthouse will have a parenting packet that has good information on do's and don'ts for parents going through divorce and custody. Post it somewhere or take a photo of it to remind yourself each day to stay in solutions that are helpful.

3. If you can afford a good attorney, I recommend it. Though it is difficult to find an attorney who is capable of handling a high conflict divorce and custody case, there are a few out there. You may need to try a few, but don't get discouraged! Do your best with what you have and are able to do. Sometimes your local courthouse will have a list and you can also look at reviews on Yelp, Google or interview them yourself.

4. For moms who are dealing with a system that is failing your child or children to the point of perpetuating domestic violence, parental alienation syndrome or other abuse, make sure to contact a Family Law attorney who fully understands and has experience in this area. You may consider getting an online certification in domestic abuse so you can be better informed. One link is family violence tutorials. Another is domestic abuse class. Your local Department of Social Services should have information about mental and physical abuse and neglect. Parental Alienation Syndrome (PA and PAS) is an issue that is growing in awareness with Amy Baker, author of The High Conflict Custody Battle being an outspoken advocate. You can get more information about her and this growing issue at pas.

5. If you mess up, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again! If your ex-husband truly wants you to fail, he will want you to feel guilty and insecure. Remember that everyone makes mistakes and you are learning with everyone else. Tomorrow is a new day. Take 20 minutes to be down. Set a timer and when it goes off, surround yourself with positivity and hope. Write yourself notes of hope. Eat really healthy. Take a walk. Sing, dance, clean your house. If you read scripture, read through the Psalms. Remember that God's mercies are new every day and that He will not bring you to anything He cannot get you through.


Warmly,
Ashley

Ashley Osier got her master's degree at John F. Kennedy University first in Somatic Psychology and finishing in Holistic Health Education. She is a certified Stress Management Practitioner and has a passion to help others decrease stress in their lives through practical applications. She has been studying various perspectives on the matter since 2009, applying these to her degrees and certifications in working with others. In 2012 Ashley started Lovenprose, an aspect of her business that focuses on loving, encouraging, protecting and serving women and children of all ages. Lovenprose is still a work in progress as she actively supports women and children in varied capacities. Ashley can be contacted for supportive services via email at: ewsomatherapy@gmail.com.

Welcome!

Welcome to my site!

This site is mainly for women going through an unwanted divorce that is high conflict in nature and that includes child custody. Over the years, I have spoken with numerous women who have varied experiences with high conflict divorce cases. I will be sharing their stories over time so that others may benefit. In all cases, the children have been put in the middle, mercilessly, by their ex-husband and the outcomes have left the children fragmented. The family law court system has failed these children without a doubt. It has been truly devastating to hear some of the stories. In my continued studies, I have read other countless stories of how the family law court system has been as merciless on the children stuck in the middle as the ex-spouse who is using the children as pons in a game of chess. Some women have actually walked away from their children because of the domestic violence permitted and encouraged by the family law system. It is a difficult cycle to break when family law judges are ordering the domestic violence to continue. The children are actually becoming acclimated to parental alienation and the syndrome created. And as a result, we are seeing more cutting, attempted suicides, murders, use of psychiatric medications, and other issues among our youth. 

I am a Christian and so in addition to providing information regarding California laws, rules and codes pertaining to divorce and custody issues, I may use language that is religious in nature. I will be providing articles, research and my own education and personal experience on issues that involve high conflict divorce and child custody. I will also present information and links that is supportive from a Christian perspective. I do not boast in being an authority on Christian thought, so my suggestion is to take everything I present to scripture or a Biblically-sound mentor, pastor or friend to make sure that what I am presenting lines up with the truth found in the Bible.

Unwanted divorce is already a very difficult life change and experience. If you are in this situation, my heart goes out to you. The children will inevitably be put in the middle and if there is bitterness involved from past hurts, egos will likely take charge and ongoing battles will ensue, leaving a path of destruction. All are wounded in high conflict divorce and child custody, especially the children. Hearts are hardened to compete for "the win," which most of the time revolves around money, not really the children. 

If your ex-spouse is really bitter, you may be set up before you know you are getting divorced. You ex-spouse may become your best friend and tell you they are helping you, when, in fact, they are planning your next fall.  Unfortunately there are groups for men that get together to strategize ways to make sure they don't have to pay child support. I actually met a man who said he had written such a book for men, though I cannot verify it since I didn't see the book myself. With that said, be wise but don't get so worried that you become paranoid. The focus is on loving your children and providing your best with whatever time you have with them. I can't repeat "don't waste any moment with your children" enough. 

If you have an ex-spouse who is not bitter and is honestly working with you, then you likely do not have a high conflict divorce issue and this is a huge blessing. Hopefully there might be a chance for reconciliation in the future. This site does provide codes, rules, and laws for divorce and child custody, so it could still be helpful. However, I would recommend you visit your local city courthouse for their latest and updated information just in case I don't update this site. Most courthouses provide a help desk and handouts with phone numbers of people to contact for additional assistance. 

If you are a Christian, my prayer is for God to soften your hearts so that you can both access His solutions to what has divided you. God's plan for marriage has no end date.

A big prayer for your children! They are so naive and impressionable. They love both parents and when parents remarry, they love all new parents and extended families. They don't only have to deal with the loss of their original family but the physical and social changes, added responsibilities of growing up and worldly pressures and expectations. Parenting already does not come with a degree nor does it come with cliff notes or cheat sheets. So read up, ask questions of those who have more experience, or take some parenting classes. There are also churches that provide support for parenting.

Find ways to relax, steal moments of joy, eat healthy, exercise, get enough sleep, and cherish every second with your child or children!

Joyfully,
Ashley

Ashley Osier got her master's degree at John F. Kennedy University first in Somatic Psychology and finishing in Holistic Health Education. She is a certified Stress Management Practitioner and has a passion to help others decrease stress in their lives through practical applications. She has been studying various perspectives on the matter since 2009, applying these to her degrees and certifications in working with others. In 2012 Ashley started Lovenprose, an aspect of her business that focuses on loving, encouraging, protecting and serving women and children of all ages. Lovenprose is still a work in progress as she actively supports women and children in varied capacities. Ashley can be contacted for supportive services via email at: inthechildrensbestinterest@gmail.com. You can visit her business website for more information.