Dr L. F. Lowenstein 1928-2016

Dr L. F. Lowenstein, M.A., Dip. Psych., Ph.D.,C.Psychol.,CSci, AFBPsS was a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society. He was a qualified, Clinical and Educational Psychologist and also worked in the area of Forensic Psychology. He was registered with the Health Professional Council (HCPC) to practice in the areas of clinical, educational and forensic psychology. He published widely in both clinical and educational psychology as well as forensic psychology. 

Ludwig was a child of the Holocaust. His family escaped Germany, they settled in New York, and Ludwig attended Stuyvesant High School and New York University. He entered the U.S. Army and served in the 82nd Airborne Division. Ludwig was restless; he traveled around the world; he lived in Perth, Australia, and earned a college degree there. After settling in U.K, he obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. at London University. Over the years, Ludwig worked as a teacher, a welfare officer, a probation officer, and a staff member at mental hospitals, child guidance clinics, and residential centers for troubled teenagers. and was responsible for advising the setting up of centres in Poland and other parts of the World to deal with children who suffered from a variety of problems of a psychological, anti-social and emotional/behavioural nature. Ludwig was made an honorary member of the Polish Medical Society, an honor that he shared with Louis Pasteur.

He received his B.A. Degree from the University of Western Australia, his Masters Degree and Ph.D (Doctor of Philosophy) from London University, and his clinical training and diploma from the Institute of Psychiatry, Maudsley Hospital. As a senior psychologist, he consulted at many agencies and institutions in the U.K., the U.S., the Sudan, Switzerland, and Poland. He was also a former Chief Educational Psychologist for Hampshire.

Following his post as Chief Educational Psychologist for Hampshire Ludwig created a school and therapeutic community, Allington Manor, for troubled adolescents in Hampshire. He ran this for 20 years. Allington Manor was a combination of a school, treatment centre and care facility for disturbed young persons, mainly adolescents, who had a variety of psychological and management problems. He lectured all over the World on this subject. He has twice been elected to serve as a Director of the International Council of Psychologists as well as becoming their President in July 2011- July 2013. He was a Fellow of the College of Teachers and acted as a long serving Chief examiner in Educational Psychology.

As a senior psychologist, following his work with disturbed adolescents he was practicing as an Expert Witness for the courts and wrote reports in the areas of educational and forensic psychology as well as personal injury and criminal cases. He also gave evidence in court when required. During this time as a senior psychologist, Ludwig became interested in parental alienation and he testified many times as an expert witness. He was a tireless fighter for people and their rights against authority when he felt that was justified. His advice and wisdom helped many people with parental alienation and other overwhelming problems. He worked and advised in the area of family problems such as parental alienation. He also had a private practice where he treated people with a variety of psychological problems.

During his extensive involvement over the last 15 years in the area of Parental Alienation he had written over a hundred articles on this subject as well as lectured extensively in order to extend the knowledge of this widespread and often pernicious practice. He had also written about the needs of the child who had been alienated, what needed to be considered, and how this could be achieved. His website dedicated to parental alienation can be found at www.parental-alienation.info. He also wrote a book "Parental Alienation" which was published in 2007. A second book was being considered for publication on this subject. He also wrote many chapters and articles as part of the publication of others as well as in his own right in all areas of psychology in which he worked. He acted as an expert witness in over 50 cases of parental alienation issues where his expert opinion was sought to assist the Court. He also undertook mediation and treatment sessions in parental alienation cases. He was involved with other colleagues in pursuing the inclusion of parental alienation in DSM-5 and ICD-11 and was a member of the Parental Alienation Study Group (PASG).

He will be remembered with love and affection by his family and many of his colleagues and those whom he helped along the way. 

"Ludwig was a pioneer in highlighting the unreliability of wishes & feelings of children controlled by a severe alienating parent. I suspect his work will be recognised in the years ahead."

"We will remember Ludwig for his congeniality, his hospitality, and his contributions to the literature of parental alienation."

"Both our client and her husband consulted Dr Lowenstein and said he was  "a lovely human being." They will be saddened by his loss."

"I will always remember Ludwig as such an outstanding, gentle soul and a wise man."

"Ludwig lives on through all the lives he touched and directed to brighter paths and in our hearts, always. How fortunate we all are that his gallantry graced our lives..."

 "He meant so much to Bob and me, friend, companion, lover of life, a man much greater than most……. "

"We will dearly miss ICP's gallant and ever-optimistic man of energy and empathy, of independent thought and interesting work, of good cheer and good writings."

"The world has lost an important leader and an extraordinary man. Ludwig was a man of integrity, vitality and grit.  He had definite opinions and a strong sense of right and wrong.  He was clear about his values and was fearless in standing up for them.  These are precious qualities we have greatly appreciated." 

My Obituary by L F Lowenstein

Born a Jew, I die a Jew

Yet also one of humanity as a whole.

Uncertain in my birth and early life

I wandered, sought meaning

And finding none, created it finally.

In order to survive my mortal time

Rising from loneliness and poverty

To wealth in children and Kathleen,

Seeking to achieve, hoping for courage

And having lived at odds with many

Challenging hypocrisies

I die having lived much longer

Than I deserved and dying

I hope with courage and with hope

For those who now remain

Not to mourn my passing

But rather to rejoice in the little good

I tried to do and have achieved

I have left behind or tried 

A little time and memory

I, of little faith, but of great hope

In those I loved and leave behind