What is Parental Alienation?

Parental alienation is a term to describe behaviours where one parent expresses an outgoing pattern of negative attitudes and communication about the other parent that have the potential or intention to undermine or even destroy the child’s relationship with their other parent. It refers to a situation where one parent manipulates a child to reject or show hostility towards the other parent.

This can occur during or after a divorce or separation, often as a result of a conflict between the parents. The alienating parent may use vicious tactics, such as badmouthing the other parent, limiting contact, or creating a sense of fear or loyalty in the child. This behaviour can have serious emotional and psychological effects on the child and can damage the parent-child relationship. It is a complex issue that often requires intervention from mental health professionals or legal authorities to address.

Common signs of parental alienation

Below are the most obvious signs of parental alienation:

1. Negative statements – the child often makes negative comments about the targeted parent, often echoing phrases or sentiments expressed by the alienating parent

2. Fear or anxiety – the child shows fear or anxiety about spending time with the targeted parent, despite having previously enjoyed that relationship

3. Lack of interest – the child displays a lack of interest in the targeted parent's life, such as not wanting to take part in activities they once enjoyed together

4. Unjustified rejection – the child rejects the targeted parent without a valid reason, often showing a strong allegiance to the alienating parent

5. Confusion about loyalty – the child feels conflicted about their loyalty to each parent, often expressing guilt or confusion about their feelings towards the targeted parent

These signs can indicate that the child is being influenced by the alienating parent, which can be detrimental to their emotional well-being and relationships

Solutions for parental alienation

Solutions can vary depending on the circumstances, and the most commonly used are:

• Many include cooperation from both the parents, one being engaging in therapy this can address the emotional issues and give the child a safe space.

• Another way that can improve the situation is education, educating the parents on how to communicate with each other healthily can affect the behaviour.

The most common solution is legal action, this is sometimes necessary and can involve changing the custody arrangements or visitation rights to ensure the targeted parent maintains a relationship with the child. A court may order consistent contact starting with phone or video calls and scheduled visits to focus on doing activities with the child.

Charlotte Pretty

charlotte.pretty@pennchambers.co.uk

Penn Chambers Solicitors

The information provided in this article is not intended to constitute professional advice and you should take full and comprehensive legal, accountancy or financial advice as appropriate on your individual circumstances by a fully qualified Solicitor, Accountant or Financial Advisor/Mortgage Broker before you embark on any course of action.