Do you feel like your child has suddenly changed his or her demeanor towards you and is now hyper critical of everything that you do? Does he or she show unwavering support for his or her other parent? Do you feel like your relationship with your child is being devastated as a result? If so, then there’s a decent chance that you’re being subjected to parental alienation.
What is parental alienation?
Parental alienation is a manipulation tactic utilized by one parent to essentially ruin a child’s relationship with his or her other parent. This method of distancing can be carried out in a variety of forms, with children being cut off from communicating with their other parent or being fed lies such as that the other parent doesn’t love him or her. Sometimes the alienation is so severe that a child is led to believe that the other parent has abused him or her. Young children are especially vulnerable to this tactic, as their memories are more impressionable.
What can you do to stop parental alienation?
If you suspect that parental alienation is occurring, then you should take action. You can start by simply asking your child where they received certain information or why they feel the way they do. You can also ask questions of the other parent. From there, you may want to seek help from a mental health professional who can evaluate you, your child, and your child’s other parent. This may require you to seek a court order, but a mental health professional’s take on the situation can be enlightening and powerful in court.
From there, you might have the evidence that you need to seek a child custody modification. This modification may include a change in physical custody or limitations on parenting time, depending on the circumstances at hand. What’s important to realize is that even though these matters are serious and the damage to your relationship with your child may be severe, you can take steps to rebuild that relationship. Skilled family law attorneys like those at our firm stand ready to help.