About Us

Dr. Mary Alvarez, Ph.D. is committed to helping children and families navigate the after effects of divorce. With just a few exceptions, the parent-child relationship is critical to a child’s overall development and such a relationship decreases many risk factors (e.g., psychological issues) for the child while promoting healthy growth and progression into adulthood.

Divorce can be a very difficult process for both children and parents and sometimes the parent-child relationship fractures. When the parent-child relationship fracture is related to what is known as parental alienation, the child is significantly and negatively impacted. Dr. Alvarez helped develop a set of educational programs entitled Resetting the Family to address a parent-child fracture. The objective of Resetting the Family programs is to help the family create a new family model post-divorce in which the child achieves a healthy parent-child relationship with both parents.

Dr. Alvarez has been a licensed psychologist since 1997. Her educational background includes:

• B.A. degree in psychology from the University of Northern Iowa
• M.A. degree in experimental psychology from the University of Texas-El Paso
• M.A. degree in developmental psychology from the University of Houston
• Ph.D. degree in developmental psychology with an emphasis in cognitive and neurodevelopment from the University of Houston

Dr. Alvarez is a member of the following professional organizations:

• The American Psychological Association
• The Texas Psychological Association
• The Association for Family and Conciliation Courts

Chris Turner has dedicated her professional career to helping families and children.  Her social work degree, years of experience as a Child Advocate and training  and experience  in areas of family law affords her valued perspective as families transition through  divorce and separation.  For the past 20 years she has served as  a Mediator in Family Law cases, aiding families and children in decision making through and after divorce and separation.

The patterns of communication established  through these often-high conflict  periods  can affect family members for years to come. Many of these families  endure prolonged litigation and ongoing high conflict which affects all involved. Divorce is a stressful time for all members of the family. It often necessitates a change in physical environment and re-establishes the structure, and communication among family members. Family members can often become estranged or alienated and often children are caught in the midst of that entanglement.

Chris Turner  is a TMCA Credentialed Distinguished Mediator and has maintained a private practice since 1999. She earned her  BA in Social Work at Hood College and her MSW from Catholic University. She has a JD and post Graduate Mediation Training from the University of Houston.