Parental alienation: in a nutshell, it’s when a child flip-flops and doesn’t want anything to do with one parent because they’ve been led to believe that parent is a terrible person. A parent might consciously try to alienate their child from the other parent, or it might happen subconsciously. Either way, it’s extremely traumatic for a child to become distanced from one of his or her parents—particularly during a divorce, when kids need all the love and support they can get.
If you suspect that your child is the victim of parental alienation, tell your Charlotte divorce lawyer immediately. You might be able to reverse some of the damage done and prevent further damage to your relationship. Your lawyer might even be able to help you revisit your custody agreement so you can spend more time with alienated children to reestablish your connections.
What Psychologists Say
Some psychologists insist that parental alienation should be classified as a mental disorder because it’s often a result of bona fide brainwashing, while others contend that it’s a relationship problem between two parents (or a step-parent and natural parent) and a child.
Whether or not you call it a mental disorder, psychologists agree that parental alienation can cause permanent damage to parent/child relationships.
Symptoms of Parental Alienation
The tell-tale signs of parental alienation are generally easy to spot. Tell your Charlotte divorce lawyer right away if your kids:
• become filled with anger and hatred toward you without being able to explain why
• refuse to acknowledge any positive past events that involved you
• attempt to avoid visitation with you at all costs
• support your ex unequivocally (even when he or she has done something wrong) and consistently turn you into “the bad guy”
• insist that alienating you is solely their decision and has nothing to do with the other parent
• do not exhibit guilt over treating you terribly
• reject your extended family members
Who Contributes to Parental Alienation
Both natural parents and step-parents can contribute to parental alienation. Parents can use words or actions to make a child feel unsafe, unloved, or disconnected from the other parent. For example, a stepmother asking a child not to praise their mom, or a mother urging calls from the father’s house “just to check,” can trigger parental alienation.
When to Call Your Charlotte Divorce Lawyer
It’s important to drop what you’re doing and call your Charlotte divorce lawyer if you think your kids are becoming victims of parental alienation. In addition to taking the appropriate legal steps, your lawyer might be able to refer you to a local counselor or therapist who can help you repair your relationship with your kids.
For more information on parental alienation, contact us or call us at (919) 787-6668.
Lee is the founder of Rosen Law Firm and, while retired, still lives on through this website, a huge repository of information to help educate people about family law. It demystifies the divorce process, sharing the secrets and information that other lawyers normally try to keep hidden. Today, this website contains a vast assortment of webinars, legal forms, statutes, Q&As with lawyers, audio and video courses, articles, and lots more.
