Whether it's due to a  divorce or a breakup, the fact of the matter is that any time there is a major change in the family structure, it's going to be painful and suck. The good news is that most families balance out after a period of turbulence. If you're in the beginning stages of a breakup, remember that today's pain is most likely not forever.

Parent Alienation (PA) happens, but like everything it happens in degrees. When one parent is badmouthing the other parent, that is one element of a Parental Alienation situation, and it frequently is in response to the immediate emotions of a breakup. Most of the time that slows down and stops after a few months. This is generally considered a MILD case fo PA and will likely resolve itself. 

When the badmouthing and fear mongering by the "Preferred Parent" continues to harm the relationship between the child and the "targeted parent" more than a few months, it becomes more of a concern. If the child starts to take on the beliefs of the Preferred Parent in regards to the Targeted Parent, intervention is necessary as soon as possible. This is generally considered a MODERATE case fo PA and requires some intervention and family therapy between the child and the targeted parent.

If the child has started to reject the targeted parent, and there is a breakdown in the communication between parent and child, immediate action is required to prevent long term mental health damage to the child. Parent Alienation is a clear manipulation of the child's right to have a loving relationship with both parents and it is child abuse. In this SEVERE form, it demands experienced experts and definite action by the targeted parent and the courts. 
 

Parent Alienation versus High Conflict Custody Case


​PARENT ALIENATION
Parental Alienation can be defined by these FIVE factors (although there are others): 
  1. Prior normal relationship between the Parent and the Child.
  2. Abuse frequently alleged, but there is NO abusive behavior between Parent and Child.
  3. Contact Refusal /COMPLETE REJECTION by the child by the child.
  4. Alienating behaviors of the preferred parent.
  5. Child manifesting symptoms of Parental Alienation (i.e. depression, self-harm, substance abuse etc)

​HIGH CONFLICT CUSTODY
A High Conflict custody case is EXTREMELY DIFFERENT from a Parental Alienation Case
  1. Targeted Parent and Child continue to have an open and loving relationship.
  2. No allegations of abuse between the child and either of the parents.
  3. Parent/Child relationship and communication continues.
  4. Parents are fighting, child not involved in the battles.
  5. Child continues to develop along normalized standards.

Strategies for treating and dealing with: 


​PARENT ALIENATION
  • Focus on the child's experience.
  • Separate the Alienator from the Child to allow for the re-establishment of the relationship between Targeted Parent and Child for a short period of time.
  • ​Experts need to be properly vetted for awareness and understanding of the causes and treatments for Parental Alienation / Parenting Interference.

​HIGH CONFLICT CUSTODY CASE
  • Focus on the Parents Behavior.
  • Put in place Parental Controls with excruciatingly detailed custody orders.
  • Experts have to be vetted to understand the family dynamics.

Tell us about you and your case.

When your case demands immediate action and you need to know what to do, the first thing is to learn more about the subject of Parent Alienation, it is often also called Parental Alienation. Check out the ​Resources page and if you want to discuss your case with an attorney fill out the form below or call us at 310.664.9969.