Parental alienation can do serious harm

 Posted on June 25, 2020 in Child Custody

In a worst-case scenario, a divorced parent in Texas may resort to parental alienation to try to get revenge against the other parent. The practice is very destructive and can do long-term damage to the children. As a result, courts will act very strongly when they learn that one parent is engaging in this behavior. It is vital to learn when this is happening and act quickly.

What is parental alienation?

Parental alienation occurs when one parent badmouths the other to the children, feeding them falsehoods meant to destroy their relationship with the other parent. The parent does this because they feel that it is their way of getting back at the other parent for the divorce. The alienating parent is usually an angry individual who has a certain need that the children fulfill with validating that parent's behavior. Thus, you can see how parental alienation actually becomes a symbiotic relationship between the alienator and the children.

How parental alienation is destructive

This loop is destructive in the near-term and can be even more devastating over the long run. Years of therapy may be needed in order to reverse the effects of alienation. As a parent, your relationship with your children may be able to recover, but it will take intensive work. This is why it is vital to act as quickly as possible before deeper damage can be done. A court may even strip the alienating parent of their custodial time with the children or their ability to see them without supervision.

In order to explain the story to the judge, you should hire a divorce attorney. The court may schedule a hearing in order to get to the bottom of the situation. Your attorney could detail the alienating parent's behavior for the judge. These types of cases are delicate because they may involve the testimony of children. Thus, it is even more crucial to proceed strongly yet carefully with the help of an attorney.