What is Parental Alienation?

Parental alienation is when a parent turns a child against the other parent, therefore causing the child to become hostile and resistant towards the alienated parent. Parental alienation occurs in many ways which include making degrading comments about their other parent, asking intrusive questions of the child when they are with their other parent, giving the child the impression that their other parent does not love them, involving the child in adult matters, limiting and/or restricting visitation and contact with their other parent, and making negative comments about their other parent. These behaviors leads to the child rejecting or not wanting to spend time with the alienated parent.

If your child is a victim of parental alienation, they will demonstrate symptoms such as:

1. Being distant towards the other parent;

2. Showing hate towards the alienated parent;

3. Being silent around the alienated parent;

4. Disrespecting the alienated parent and showing deference to the other parent; and

5. Retaliating or disrespecting the alienated parent.

The alienated parent can seek the court’s intervention to make sure that their relationship with their child is restored if it is safe and in the best interest of the child to do so. Each case is unique and complex and the court is aware of how difficult these matters are. The court may order therapy and have other child care professionals get involved to assist the family. If you believe that your child is suffering from parental alienation, please contact us at (443) 741-2567 and we will help you seek the court’s intervention.