New Rules for Stepfamilies

Finding the Missing Peace

Stepmothers in Distress

Studies show that stepmothers are much more likely to be demonized by the children than stepfathers. Why would this be the case? This is because husbands often expect their new wives to establish order in the household and this can be resented by the children. Read More

my Mother,Debbie Manka ,went

my Mother,Debbie Manka ,went off and married her Psychologist/therapist Matt Manka. It destroyed our family and my brothers mental health as well as mine. it also destroyed my fathers health as he and my mother(debbie)r were going to Matt for marriage counseling initially. Now Matt and Debbie are running Lifestream Solutions in Arizona.I personally do not think they should be allowed to counsel anyone ,as dating your client is against the rules,right? Any comments on all this? kris

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Matt & Debbie Manka

Kris,
I am in the field and the "rules" are not to have relationships with clients for at least 2 years. As a colleague and friend of both Matt and Debbie I know that they started a friendship somewhere between 3 and 4 years after ending the therapeutic relationship. This is not illegal but may be frowned upon by some professionals. They are people of high integrity and compassion. I also understand that your family problems were there well before this relationship ever started.
It is a sad reflection on modern technology when people such as yourself and your husband can go onto blog sites such as this and post lies about people and do this under false names. For example, a friend of mine, I'll only use her first name, Karen, (however her full name was used on-line) had a comment posted on this site. I know for a fact that someone used her name without her permission as I have spoken with her regarding this incident and she told me it was not her who wrote this blog. I wonder who used her name falsely.
The Manka's families, friends, business associates, and other four children know the truth about this situation, which is that you, Kris, and your husband are lashing out at your mother for pressing charges against your, then, 36 yr. old boyfriend, who had sexual relations with you when you were 14 years old! Now, that is definitely illegal and against the rules. It's my understanding that Mark pleaded guilty to sex crimes, and is on the state and federal sex offender lists, and that he was foolish enough to wear a disguise to his state sex offender photo shoot. I think it was on TV. What an idiot! He got another 10 years on the sex offender list added to his first 10 as a result of this incident. I recall hearing you were sent to a school in another state because Mark was still stalking you when you were only 15, and he was 37! Talk about a creep! I heard he managed to sneak communications to you through a friend, using her name, even after being convicted in court! Wow! What a guy! I'm going to check the National Sex Offender List, and see if I find anything under the names Mark Perk, Mark Perkovich or Mark Hawk since he uses aliases to try to confuse the police. He sounds like the real looser in this scenario!
Your husband was taken to court and found guilty and has been bitter and vengeful ever since, which is about 12 years ago. I feel very sorry for the two of you that you cannot find peace in your lives and hope that someday you will. As I have said, I know your mother and know that she has been trying desperately to get messages through to you to tell you her wish to reconcile and work on a loving relationship. For reasons unknown, you don’t respond. Maybe this is not Kris writing, but really Mark.
I have never responded to a “blog” and maybe never will again, but when I was told of this injustice I had to offer the other side of the story. I just hope that the people out there who read these comments that are posted on the Internet are intelligent enough to know that they can’t believe everything they read. There are a lot of people out there using these networks for purposes not meant to happen, such as harassment.
Peace be with you, Kris
Oh, and by the way, Kris, no, your mother is not deaf, dumb, or blind. She has her Doctorate and is very competent in her field and her personal life.

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Dr. Joshua Coleman is a psychologist with offices in San Francisco and Oakland and is a senior fellow with the Council on Contemporary Families. His newest book is When Parents Hurt.

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