Parental Alienation Syndrome is when one parent tries to turn the child against the other parent. This can happen during a divorce or separation. The child may say bad things about the other parent because the first parent is influencing them. It’s important for the court to decide on the right kind of therapy to help the child and the family. The kids make up silly reasons for not wanting to see one of their parents, like saying they go to Disney World too much. They act like the parent they’re mad at is all bad and the other parent is all good. They say it’s their choice not to see the parent they don’t like, even though the other parent supports them. They always take the side of the parent they like, even if the parent isn’t pushing them to. A child affected by Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) often shows no guilt or remorse for mistreating the targeted parent, and their behavior seems rehearsed or coached. They may also have hostility toward the extended family of the targeted parent. PAS was identified by Dr. Gardner, who emphasized the need for both legal and therapeutic intervention to help the child and the family. He also highlighted the importance of continued contact between the child and the targeted parent in mild to moderate cases of PAS. PAS happens when one parent can’t handle being away from their child and uses the child to meet their own emotional needs. This keeps the child from having a healthy relationship with the other parent. In court, there are often accusations of abuse and PAS, which need to be looked into. Many times, both parents have psychological issues, making it harder to solve the problem. It’s important for judges, lawyers, and therapists to understand these families and focus on finding a solution that takes time and commitment to work. Sometimes children reject one parent after a divorce, and this can be due to Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) in some cases. In severe PAS cases, the court may stop the child from seeing the alienating parent until the relationship with the other parent is fixed. This is because allowing contact with the alienating parent can make things worse. There are other reasons for parent-child issues which may require different help, such as abuse. The severity of PAS helps decide the legal and therapy actions needed. This is determined by looking at the state of mind of the alienating parent. In mild cases of parental alienation, court-ordered visitation can help reassure the alienating parent and the child that their relationship with the targeted parent is stable. This can help alleviate the child’s guilt and remove any pressure to choose between parents. In moderate cases, counseling or therapy may also be recommended to help structure the parents’ behavior around visitation and address the alienation tactics. In severe cases, a change in primary custody may be necessary due to the alienating parent’s severe mental health issues that affect the child’s well-being. In cases of Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), one parent may try to turn the child against the other parent. This often happens when one parent has left the family and the other parent feels abandoned. The child may end up siding with the parent who feels hurt and may even develop negative feelings towards the other parent. This can happen when the parent who left is perceived as a threat by the other parent. It’s important in these cases to make sure the child’s best interests are protected, and sometimes this means changing custody to the parent who is emotionally healthier. PAS cases are often at the moderate level, where the targeted parent’s shortcomings contribute to the conflict with the alienating parent. The targeted parent may have a distant, rigid parenting style, while the alienating parent may be indulgent and clingy. Family therapy aims to improve the relationship between the targeted parent and the child. Conflict between the parents is a major factor in PAS, and children often align with one parent as a survival strategy. Family therapy helps the child maintain contact with both parents and reduce conflict. Therapists and lawyers can sometimes make family conflicts worse, instead of helping to resolve them. Therapists may not understand or recognize Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), and may even become a part of the problem. It’s important for therapists and lawyers to work together and communicate in order to help families dealing with PAS. It’s also important to address PAS early, before it becomes a bigger issue that’s harder to solve. Mediation and parent coordination can also play a role in helping families dealing with PAS. When a parent and child stop talking to each other, it can be hard to fix the relationship. The child may start feeling anxious about seeing the parent they’re not talking to. This can become a big problem if they keep avoiding each other. Mediation and counseling can help parents and kids start talking again. A neutral counselor can also figure out if there’s a good reason for the child not talking to the parent or if the other parent is influencing them. It’s hard to fix this problem quickly, but it’s important to keep trying. It’s especially tough when the parent improves but the child still won’t talk to them. Sometimes, the child needs more time to grow up before they’re ready to talk again. It’s important for everyone involved to understand this problem and work together to fix it before it gets worse. This information is about different studies and books on divorce and parental alienation syndrome. It was written by a licensed school psychologist and submitted by the Family Law Section. The goal is to teach its members about duty and service to the public, improve justice administration, and advance the science of law.
Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/treatment-considerations-with-children-diagnosed-with-pas/
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