Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast What is Parental Alienation?
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Sep 30, 2022 Join clinical psychotherapist Alyse Price-Tobler, a PhD candidate, and Dr. Mandy Matthewson, a senior psychology lecturer, as they dive deep into the complex world of parental alienation. They discuss how one parent can undermine the child’s relationship with the other, especially during custody disputes. The conversation covers the psychological toll this behavior has on children and families, the impact of false allegations, and offers insights on navigating the emotional chaos of these situations. A personal journey of love versus manipulation is also poignantly shared.
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Definition And Core Frame
- Parental alienation is the process where one parent uses behaviors to damage a child's relationship with the other parent.
- Those parental alienating behaviors are a form of family violence and coercive control.
How Psychological Control Works
- Alienating parents manipulate a child's thoughts and feelings through psychological control, guilt, and withdrawal of love.
- Children adopt caregiving roles (parentification) which disrupts autonomy and emotional development.
Role Reversal Produces Complex Trauma
- Adultification, parentification and infantilisation can alternate to keep the child unstable and compliant.
- That instability leads to complex trauma symptoms and dissociation in children.