We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tina Swithin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?

As an advocate for family court reform, I have made it my mission to expose the controversial theory of “parental alienation” and the experimental treatments—like reunification therapy and camps—that are marketed as cures for this pseudo-theory.

For years, I had heard stories of the horrors surrounding reunification camps, but nothing could have prepared me for the message I received on October 20, 2022. That night, a brave 15-year-old girl named Maya Laing reached out to me on Instagram, desperate for help.

Maya lived in the Santa Cruz area with her father, stepmother, and younger brother, Sebastian. She had recently gone public with disturbing allegations against her mother, whom she referred to as “her abuser.” Maya’s plea for help wasn’t just for herself—it was also for her 11-year-old brother, Sebastian.

Maya tagged me on Instagram and sent a private message. She was articulate, terrified, and pleading for someone to intervene.

Maya shared shocking details about the failures of family court professionals involved in her case, including Guardian ad Litem Brian K. Myers, psychologist Shawn McCall, reunification therapist Regina Marshall, and Judge Rebecca Connolly. At the center of her fear was a court order to attend Lynn Steinberg’s reunification camp—a program designed to reconcile children with a parent they’ve rejected, often under the guise of combating “parental alienation.”

The very next morning, I received video footage of what I can only describe as a court-ordered kidnapping. Maya and Sebastian had been hiding at their grandmother’s house, refusing to go to the reunification camp. The video showed transport agents violently removing the children, while police officers stood by and did nothing. Their cries for help were heart-wrenching and at one point, Maya’s face was hit into a car door while the transport agent was forcing her into the vehicle.

The trauma was undeniable. These children were begging for protection but were met with force. Witnesses told me that the children were healthy, happy, thriving kids before this nightmare began. What I witnessed that day was nothing short of institutionalized child abuse.

After attending Steinberg’s four-day reunification camp, Maya and Sebastian disappeared. Like many others in similar situations, they were subjected to a 90-day blackout period during which they were prohibited from contacting their father, the parent they preferred and trusted. For some children, this separation becomes permanent. In these camps, children are often told their accounts of abuse are false and they are threatened and coerced into reconciling with the parent they fear.

Maya and Sebastian’s story sparked a wave of public outrage. Protests and candlelight vigils were held across California, including Santa Cruz, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. Press conferences amplified calls for systemic reform. The momentum coincided with legislative efforts already underway, including Senator Susan Rubio’s Piqui’s Law, which sought to prohibit family court judges from ordering children into these intensive reunification programs.

Ten months after being forcibly removed, Maya and Sebastian ran away and went into hiding. From an undisclosed location, they began releasing videos advocating for reform and supporting Piqui’s Law. Maya even testified remotely in favor of the bill.

By the end of 2023, Piqui’s Law passed unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Around the same time, Maya and Sebastian were reunited with their father who currently maintains physical custody of the children.

For me, this case was deeply personal. It exemplified the systemic failures I’ve dedicated my life to exposing. Maya’s courage in the face of unimaginable trauma was a profound reminder of why this work matters. She inspired me to fight even harder against a system that prioritizes profits over children’s safety.

Tina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I often describe myself as the “accidental author” and advocate for family court reform. My journey into advocacy was never a path I consciously chose; in fact, it was born out of necessity. In the midst of my own decade-long, high-conflict custody battle, I started a small blog to chronicle my daily struggles and discoveries. That little blog was discovered by actress and supermodel Christie Brinkley, and what began as 40 views a month exploded to 40,000 overnight. Suddenly, I realized I was not alone—there were thousands of families just like mine battling the same issues. “One Mom’s Battle” was born.

My foray into advocacy was fueled by an urgent need to protect my two daughters from an abusive, narcissistic ex-spouse. When you are fighting to protect your children in a deeply flawed system, you learn very quickly what needs to change. I spent over a decade in the family court trenches—acting as my own attorney due to financial abuse—and encountered institutional betrayals at nearly every turn. Even though divorces are never simple, when abuse and narcissism enter the equation, the conflict level often soars to unimaginable heights.

It became clear to me that many in the family court system lacked critical training on topics like domestic violence, coercive control, post-separation abuse, and narcissism. My experience as a child (personally entering the family court system at just six months old), combined with my journey as a mother, shaped the lens through which I see the desperate need for reform. I also recognized that too often, the courts focus on a parent’s right to access a child—even if that parent is an abuser—while losing sight of the child’s right to safety and stability.

Through One Mom’s Battle and my other platforms, I created the resources I desperately needed during my own journey.

1. Education and Advocacy: I regularly speak and write about narcissistic abuse, family court reform, and post-separation abuse, helping parents, professionals, and policymakers better recognize the complexities of high-conflict custody cases. I have helped with efforts in several states to pass child centric legislation to help improve the family court system.

2. Resource-Sharing: My books (the Divorcing a Narcissist series, The Narc Decoder, and two children’s books: Lemonade Life and Everyone is Beautiful) equip parents and professionals with strategies, checklists, and real-life examples of how to navigate high-conflict divorce or child custody battles.

3. High Conflict Divorce Coach Certification Program: I founded this program to train coaches in effectively supporting individuals battling high-conflict, narcissistic individuals during divorces and custody disputes.

4. Supportive Community: Through social media groups and online forums, I’ve brought together thousands of mothers (and fathers) who support each other and share experiences. This sense of solidarity can be a lifeline during challenging times.

What truly sets my work apart is that I’ve lived every aspect of the struggle. I’ve been the child in the system, I’ve been the protective parent in a high-conflict battle, and now I’m an expert and advocate working to enact change. My perspective is shaped by firsthand experience, not just theory, and I believe that blend of personal understanding with practical knowledge resonates with the families I serve.

What I Am Most Proud Of: I am incredibly proud of finally securing peace and safety for my own family. In 2019, my ex-husband’s parental rights were terminated, ending a seemingly endless, 10-year legal battle. While that victory brought relief for my daughters and me, it also served as a stark reminder that so many other parents remain trapped in the same storm.

My pride also comes from building a global community of survivors and advocates. When people reach out to me saying they felt alone until finding my blog or my books, it reaffirms my mission. Every message of gratitude inspires me to continue pushing for change and educating the public and professionals about the harsh realities of post-separation abuse.

What I Want You to Know: The overarching theme I’d like potential clients, followers, and supporters to understand is that you are not alone. Whether you are a protective parent dealing with an abusive ex-spouse, an attorney seeking a deeper understanding of complex custody cases, or a professional trying to gain insight into narcissistic abuse—there are resources and advocates out there ready to help.

My Organization—One Mom’s Battle—and my work are dedicated to:

1. Shining a light on the cracks in the family court system
2. Providing tools, strategies, and emotional support to those facing high-conflict divorce
3. Educating professionals to create systemic change and keep children’s best interests in focus

I believe in the power of community, the impact of storytelling, and the importance of never giving up—even when the deck seems stacked against you. My wish is for every protective parent to feel empowered, informed, and unafraid to fight for their child’s safety and well-being. By sharing my own journey publicly, I hope others can find guidance, comfort, and the courage to keep going.

Above all, I hope to continue being a catalyst for change by influencing legislation, policy, and awareness in family courts worldwide. My story is my proof that change and hope are possible—and that no matter how fierce the storm, you can prevail.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have been an entrepreneur since I was 14 years old. My first business was creating and selling chocolate lollipops and it was very successful. In my late teens and early 20s, I operated a large pet sitting business that spanned two counties. Entrepreneurship has been a lifeline and an exciting part of my personal journey.

When my marriage came to an end in 2008, I lost everything in a very short period of time: my home, my vehicles, my business and my marriage. I ended up at a women’s shelter, as a victim of domestic abuse and at the time I had less than $200 to my name and no source of income. It was terrifying and I had two very young daughters who were dependent on my ability to dust myself off and rebuild my life.

I took a job at a marketing firm and I learned about blogging, public relations and marketing. I got my foot in the door and it was a life-changing experience as I worked my way up and then accepted a position with a PR firm in San Francisco. I also dabbled in travel writing for the Huffington Post, and several other outlets.

This transitional time in my life was scary – and it was definitely a huge pivot. I learned a lot about myself and my resilience was tested at a core level. It was also exciting and empowering.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Authenticity has been in critical component of building the community at One Mom’s Battle. When I started, I was simply telling my story and much of it was unfolding live time. There was a huge void, no one was talking about the failures of the Family Court system and my community started to grow because people could relate to what I was sharing. So many people reached out and said, “thank you for articulating and validating what I am going through.”

My advice would be to connect with your audience and meet them wherever they are. Be authentic while sharing your journey, your story or your advice. It is important to build trust, and that can take time. Consistency and dedication to this cause has gone a long way for me. I built the trust, I connected with my community members and I try to share stories that they can relate to because it can feel very isolating. There is power in community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.onemomsbattle.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onemomsbattle
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onemomsbattle
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinaswithin/
• Twitter: https://x.com/onemomsbattle
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OneMomsBattle

Image Credits

1. Allyson Magda Photography
2. Mike Larson Photography