Dealing With Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)
Parental alienation is a complex and emotional situation for both a parent and their child. Sometimes referred to as parental alienation syndrome (PAS), the term is used in situations where a child develops a negative perception toward one parent because of comments or actions made by the other parent. Not only does this damage the relationship between the child and the parent, it can also cause the child serious psychological harm.
Parental alienation can seriously interfere in a relationship between a child and a parent - it can irreparably damag a child's mental and emotional well-being, now as a child, seriously affecting a child in the future as an adult. It is destructive behavior by one parent or a third person - sometimes verbal while at other times nonverbal - toward the other parents to which the child is exposed. Most often, the child is manipulated to believe that the parent who is no longer in the household is the cause of the other parent hurting or the reason the parents divorced resulting in a child exhibiting strong emotions of fear, hatred, disrespect or avoidance toward the other parent. The child learns a behavior from one parent towards the other parent that they believe is acceptable.
It deprives a child of their right to be loved by the other parent and also prevents the child from showing love for both of their parents. Some examples of these behaviors include:
- Disparaging the other parent to the child or within hearing of the child.
- Reading or allowing a child to read all of the legal pleadings.
- Having the child speak with the parent's lawyer.
- Interfering with visitation rights by scheduling activities for the child during the other parent's period of possession - thus resulting in the other parent looking like the "bad parent" for not allowing the child to go to the scheduled activity.
- Using the child as a messenger.
- Sharing intimate details of the other spouse's infidelity, behavior, etc.
Most often, these behaviors are seen in high conflict marriages, separation or divorce. Many times, you will see this behavior after divorce and continuing throughout many years. These actions by the alienating parent or third party are hurtful, disturbing, and confusing to a child — they can destroy a child's sense of security and safety with the other parent and lead to maladaptive emotional or psychological trauma.
Determining whether a child has been alienated from a parent is not easy and evaluating this type of case requires the services of a mental health professional to interview the child and the parents in order to form a professional opinion. If you are a parent and suspect your child is the victim of parental alienation, meet with a dedicated family law attorney who can assist you in this matter.
Contact Us for an Initial Consultation
If you feel that you are being alienated from your child by the other parent, contact attorney Alma R. Benavides to schedule a consultation at her office in Plano, Texas. We will give you legal advice and inform you of your legal rights so you can continue to have a positive relationship with your children.
To schedule an initial consultation, call 972-578-2600 (locally), 866-959-3826 (toll free) or e-mail us today.
