On Point | Podcast
Do estranged parents have the legal right to be loved by their kids?
Feb 6, 2025
Jean Mercer, a psychology professor and author, discusses the complexities of parental alienation. Danielle Pollack, a policy advocate, highlights issues with reunification therapy and its potential harm. Ansley Younginer shares her personal experience of being forced into a reunification process, shedding light on the emotional turmoil it caused. The conversation critiques the ethics of such therapy, questioning its legitimacy and the impact on children's mental health. Together, they explore the need for better judicial training in custody cases, emphasizing children's well-being.
47:04
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Quick takeaways
- Reunification therapy, though aimed at restoring familial bonds, often exacerbates emotional distress in children and raises significant ethical concerns.
- The lack of oversight and empirical support in family court decisions regarding parental alienation underscores the urgent need for reform and evidence-based practices.
Deep dives
The Impact of Parental Alienation
Parental alienation can profoundly affect a child's emotional well-being and familial relationships. Ansley Younginer's experiences illustrate this, as she was separated from her preferred parent, her father, and forced into reunification therapy with her mother. This therapy claimed to address supposed alienation but instead seemed to intensify Ansley’s anxiety and feelings of loss, leading to significant emotional turmoil and even physical health issues like ulcers. The forced separation and mandated therapy underscored the distressing conditions that can arise from parental conflicts and court decisions, often disregarding the child's perspective.
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