Our Team

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Sandra S. Lowe, BA

Executive Director & Creator, Parental Alienation Informed Disclosure

Sandra S. Lowe, BA, is the Founder, Executive Director, and creator of the Parental Alienation Informed Disclosure (PAID), a pioneering, evidence-based legal framework designed to educate, protect, and create systemic change for families navigating parental alienation, psychological abuse, and coercive control. As the leader of The Empowerment Community, she focuses on developing practical resources and structured frameworks that help families, professionals, and legal systems better recognize and respond to complex patterns of family harm.

Sandra spent more than two decades as a mortgage professional, guiding borrowers through complex lending processes by translating regulatory frameworks, federal guidelines, and disclosure requirements into clear, actionable roadmaps. That experience with structured guidelines, documentation, and accountability inspired her to create the PAID, applying principles traditionally used to protect people within financial systems to the challenges families face within legal and family court settings.

A certified trauma-informed, coercive-control ally, Sandra brings specialized expertise in parental alienation, post-separation abuse, domestic violence, coercive control, high-conflict family systems, and intergenerational dysfunction. Her lived experience and professional focus have made her a dedicated advocate for reform within mental health, legal, and family court systems, with a particular emphasis on creating lasting structural change that protects children and families for generations to come.

Areas of Expertise

  • Parental Alienation & Family Systems: Specialized focus on parental alienation, family dysfunction, and complex family dynamics.

  • Coercive Control & Post-Separation Abuse: Focused expertise in coercive control, psychological abuse, domestic violence, and post-separation abuse.

  • Legal Frameworks & Disclosure: Experienced in translating complex guidelines, regulatory requirements, and structured documentation into actionable frameworks.

  • Organizational Leadership & Advocacy: Leads strategic planning, organizational development, and educational initiatives focused on systemic reform and family protection.

Education & Professional Experience

  • Bachelor's Degree (BA)

  • Founder & Creator | Parental Alienation Informed Disclosure (PAID)

  • Executive Director | The Empowerment Community

  • Mortgage Professional | More than 20 years of experience

  • Certified Trauma-Informed, Coercive-Control Ally

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Mary Campbell, LCSW

Director of Clinical Affairs

Mary is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 22 years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and adults across the lifespan. Her specialty lies in the treatment of attachment and trauma, where she utilizes trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches to help children and families heal, strengthen relationships, and build healthy, secure connections. As both a clinician and clinical supervisor, she is committed to advancing practices that support long-term well-being for individuals and families.

Before earning her master's degree and completing her clinical training at the University of Utah, Mary spent years engaged in international social advocacy, contributing to the development of child welfare and adoption laws designed to protect children and families across borders. These experiences provided firsthand insight into the ways vulnerable populations can be affected by coercion, misinformation, and systemic barriers, while reinforcing her commitment to advocacy and meaningful social change.

Over the course of her career, Mary has developed a particular focus on family estrangement and parental alienation, and the impact these dynamics have on children and the adults who love them. Her work emphasizes the importance of understanding individuals within the broader context of their family and community systems, combining clinical expertise, trauma-informed care, and advocacy to support healthier outcomes for children and families.

Areas of Expertise

  • Attachment & Trauma: Specialized focus on trauma-informed, evidence-based treatment approaches for children, adults, and families.

  • Family Systems & Relationships: Extensive experience addressing complex family dynamics and relational challenges.

  • Family Estrangement & Parental Alienation: Focused interest in the effects of estrangement and parental alienation on child and family well-being.

  • Clinical Supervision & Advocacy: Experienced clinical supervisor and advocate for ethical, evidence-based mental health practices.

  • Child Welfare & Social Advocacy: Background in international advocacy efforts related to child welfare and adoption policy.

Education & Professional Experience

  • Master's Degree in Social Work

  • Clinical Training | University of Utah

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker

  • Clinical Supervisor

  • More than 22 Years of Clinical Experience

  • International Child Welfare & Advocacy Experience

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Joshua W. Marsden, MS

Director of Forensic Consulting & Research

Joshua W Marsden is an applied social and health psychologist and a doctoral candidate at Colorado State University. An active researcher and subject matter expert, he has published peer-reviewed articles on coercive control and parental alienation, and has presented his findings on these topics at both national and international conferences. His specialized expertise is recognized within the legal and mental health fields; he frequently serves as a forensic consultant and expert witness on family dynamics, trains mental health clinicians on the dynamics of parental alienation, and is an invited seminar speaker on the topic. His broader work focuses extensively on family systems, sibling relationships, and interpersonal conflict, aiming to bring evidence-based solutions to families and communities.

Joshua holds a master's degree in psychology and brings a strong background in higher education, having formerly served as a lecturer and academic instructor at Colorado State University. He also shares his expertise internationally as a guest lecturer for the University of Malta. Deeply committed to professional and community impact, he focuses on making complex behavioral data actionable and relevant for practitioners, legal frameworks, and organizational leadership.

Areas of Expertise

  • Applied Social Psychology: Extensive focus on family systems, sibling dynamics, coercive control, and parental alienation.

  • Forensic Consultation & Expert Testimony: Recognized authority in translating complex behavioral and psychological data for legal and judicial contexts.

  • Clinical Training & Speaking: Experienced in presenting research at national and international conferences and delivering specialized educational seminars for practicing mental health clinicians.

  • Scholarly Research & Publication: Proven track record of contributing scientific insights to the field of family dynamics and interpersonal conflict.

Education & Academic Experience

  • Ph.D. Candidate in Applied Social and Health Psychology | Colorado State University Expected Completion: 2026

  • Master's Degree in Psychology

  • Former Lecturer & Instructor | Colorado State University

  • Guest Lecturer | University of Malta

Publications

  • Peer-reviewed publications on Parental Alienation

  • Peer-reviewed publications on Coercive Control

  • Additional scholarly publications on family systems and interpersonal conflict

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Nicolle Houtz, M.Ed

Director of Education

Nicolle Houtz is the Director of Education for The Empowerment Community, bringing more than a decade of classroom experience and a strong foundation in both elementary and special education. Her professional work centers on child development, educational accessibility, and supporting the well-being of children and families. Through her leadership role, she helps develop educational resources that are practical, developmentally informed, and responsive to the needs of students and caregivers.

Nicolle earned dual bachelor's degrees in special education and elementary education from Southern Utah University before completing her Master of Education through a joint program with Weber State University. She spent eight years teaching sixth grade, gaining valuable experience supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally during a critical stage of development.

After stepping away from the classroom to raise her six children, Nicolle returned to education in 2017, teaching kindergarten and first grade. Her combined experience as an educator and parent provides a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing children and families today. She has long been a dedicated advocate for child safety, educational success, and the development of supportive environments where children can thrive.

Areas of Expertise

  • Elementary Education: Extensive classroom experience supporting students across multiple grade levels.

  • Special Education: Academic training and practical experience serving diverse learning needs.

  • Child Development: Strong understanding of children's academic, social, and emotional development.

  • Family & Parent Support: Brings both professional and personal insight into the needs of children and families.

  • Educational Resource Development: Focused on creating accessible and developmentally appropriate educational materials.

Education & Professional Experience

  • Master of Education (M.Ed.)

  • Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education | Southern Utah University

  • Bachelor's Degree in Special Education | Southern Utah University

  • Director of Education | The Empowerment Community

  • Sixth Grade Teacher | 8 Years

  • Kindergarten & First Grade Educator

  • More than 10 Years of Classroom Experience