About Us

The Counter Parent is more than a platform — it’s a movement advocating for survivors navigating the hidden realities of court-ordered co-parenting with a narcissist. We exist to expose the often mislabeled "high-conflict" family court cases where the real issue isn’t conflict, it’s abuse.

Our Mission Our mission is to: ✔ Support Survivors by providing resources, tools, survivor stories, and trauma-informed strategies to help parents heal, document abuse, and stay strong through the legal system. Whether you’re preparing for court, surviving post-divorce abuse, or rebuilding your life, you are not alone here. ✔ Advocate for Systemic Change by raising awareness about the urgent need for trauma-informed practices across the entire court system — not just judges, but also mediators, lawyers, parent coordinators, evaluators, and guardians ad litem. Without trauma education, these professionals risk reinforcing the abuse survivors are trying to escape.

Our Vision We envision a world where family courts no longer overlook or dismiss emotional and psychological abuse, where judges and every court-affiliated professional are trauma-informed, and where survivors are empowered, supported, and believed. We strive for a future where survivors don’t just survive the legal system, they thrive beyond it.

Founded by Rae Hart, a survivor of nearly 15 years of court-ordered abuse, The Counter Parent draws from lived experience. Rae has battled the courts every step of the way, learning hard lessons, enduring injustice, and now — counting down the days until freedom — is dedicated to using her story to advocate, educate, and support others. She shares what she wishes she had known from the beginning, equipping others to navigate the system smarter, stronger, and with community beside them.

Types of Abuse Narcissists Use in Court:

• Emotional abuse (manipulation, gaslighting, intimidation)

• Financial abuse (withholding child support, draining legal resources)

• Legal abuse (filing endless motions, weaponizing the court system)

• Coercive control (weaponizing court order, refusing to exchange child, unless demands are met)

• Psychological abuse (eroding confidence, planting doubt)

• Parental alienation (turning the child against the other parent)

• Digital abuse (harassment, surveillance, tech-enabled control)

• Procedural abuse (flooding the system with filings to exhaust you)

At The Counter Parent, we believe that by equipping survivors and challenging outdated systems, we can change the story, from one of survival to one of thriving.

Join us. Share your story. Help create a future where the courts truly serve the best interests of families.

With love, strength, and unwavering support,

Rae Hart❤️
(Sharing under pen name to honor personal and family privacy)
Founder | Survivor Advocate |Trauma-Informed Support |Systemic Change Voice