Relationships between children and their parents can be difficult. Unfortunately, some people may make that relationship even more difficult by doing something known as parental alienation. Below is an overview of parental alienation, including what it is, how it can impact your child, and what you can do if you suspect it's happening.
What is Parental Alienation?
Parental alienation is a form of emotional abuse that occurs when an individual, usually the child's other parent, works to damage the relationship between a child and their parent.
When it comes to parental alienation, it doesn't have to be a deliberate act in order for the child to be affected. Alienation can occur if a parent speaks badly of the other parent in front of their child, and can even occur when both parents argue in front of the child. Alienation can also happen on a more deliberate level, where an individual will purposely try to ruin a child's relationship with their parent by telling them lies about said parent and forcing the child to participate in the lie telling. The alienator can be anyone in your child's life, such as a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or regular care taker.
How Can Parental Alienation Effect My Child?
There are a number of short and long-term impacts that parental alienation can have on your child.
If the alienator is consciously trying to destroy the relationship between the child and parent, they may do so by telling the child lies. Eventually, the child can confuse these lies with reality and begin to believe them. Depending on the severity of the alienation, the child may begin to lash out at the parent being alienated, or they may become withdrawn. Your child may become anxious and feel confused, and this behavior can show in a number of ways, such as bed wetting and aggression.
What Can I Do if My Child is a Victim of Parental Alienation?
If you suspect your child is being alienated from you or their other parent, it's important to set up an appointment with a pediatric therapist.
A pediatric therapist can help your child to sort through their feelings, as well as help your child to bond with the alienated parent. If the person who's doing the alienating is a grandparent, aunt or uncle, babysitter, or other non-parent in your child's life, it's important that contact be cut off immediately. If your child's other parent is doing the alienating, however, ceasing contact can be more difficult. If you're separated from your child's other parent and fear that they're causing the alienation, consult with your family law attorney immediately to learn about what you can do and request a change in custody.
To learn more about your rights when it comes to parental alienation, consult with your family law attorney. For more information on divorce law, contact a company like Backus Law Group.
Share
