using System;
using ServiceStack;
using ServiceStack.Text;

public class Parent
{
}

public class Child : Parent
{
}

var child = new Child();

Console.WriteLine("ConvertTo<T> Child To Parent => " + child.ConvertTo<Parent>().GetType().Name);
Console.WriteLine("CastTo<T> Child To Parent => " + child.CastTo<Parent>().GetType().Name);

public static T CastTo<T>(this object from)
{
    T to = from.ConvertTo<T>();
    return to.GetType() == typeof(T)
        ? to
    	: from.ToSafeJson().FromJson<T>();
}