Parental Alienation: Collaborative Law Can Help you Avoid It
October 17, 2016 by West Coast ADR
Divorce does not always bring out the best in people. It may be that a couple has decided to end their marriage for unpleasant reasons, and they may find they resent one another. In cases like these, ex-spouses will sometimes use anything at their disposal to upset their former partner, including their own children. The use of collaborative law, a practice gaining popularity in British Columbia, might be the key to avoiding such an unfortunate occurrence.
When a divorce turns into a battle, sometimes the war continues long after the litigation has ended. Some parents will even use their children to hurt their ex-spouse. By persuading the child to believe the other parent is not a good person, or doesn’t love them as much, a situation known as ‘parental alienation’ can be created. In cases of parental alienation, the child or children have little to no positive contact with one parent.
The phenomenon was first described in detail by a forensic psychiatrist in the 1980s. It is, in effect, a kind of brainwashing and many consider it to be a form of child abuse. Sadly, it is far too common. Statistics from the United States show that parental alienation affects 13 percent of parents. Potential negative outcomes for both the parent and the child include anxiety disorders and depression.
While men and women who are about to divorce are seldom in a happy place, that doesn’t necessarily mean proceedings need to be uncivil. If differences can be set aside, at least in part, it may be possible to work out a divorce solution in a non-combative environment. Choosing collaborative law, and the support of a family law firm that thoroughly understands British Columbia divorce proceedings, may help avoid a heartbreaking future for a family.
Source: Parent Herald, “Parental Alienation [LATEST NEWS]: Why It Is Time To End The Tragic Reality Of A Parent’s Psychological Manipulation Of Children“, KJ Williams, Oct. 8, 2016
Divorce does not always bring out the best in people. It may be that a couple has decided to end their marriage for unpleasant reasons, and they may find they resent one another. In cases like these, ex-spouses will sometimes use anything at their disposal to upset their former partner, including their own children. The use of collaborative law, a practice gaining popularity in British Columbia, might be the key to avoiding such an unfortunate occurrence.
When a divorce turns into a battle, sometimes the war continues long after the litigation has ended. Some parents will even use their children to hurt their ex-spouse. By persuading the child to believe the other parent is not a good person, or doesn’t love them as much, a situation known as ‘parental alienation’ can be created. In cases of parental alienation, the child or children have little to no positive contact with one parent.
The phenomenon was first described in detail by a forensic psychiatrist in the 1980s. It is, in effect, a kind of brainwashing and many consider it to be a form of child abuse. Sadly, it is far too common. Statistics from the United States show that parental alienation affects 13 percent of parents. Potential negative outcomes for both the parent and the child include anxiety disorders and depression.
While men and women who are about to divorce are seldom in a happy place, that doesn’t necessarily mean proceedings need to be uncivil. If differences can be set aside, at least in part, it may be possible to work out a divorce solution in a non-combative environment. Choosing collaborative law, and the support of a family law firm that thoroughly understands British Columbia divorce proceedings, may help avoid a heartbreaking future for a family.
Source: Parent Herald, “Parental Alienation [LATEST NEWS]: Why It Is Time To End The Tragic Reality Of A Parent’s Psychological Manipulation Of Children“, KJ Williams, Oct. 8, 2016