PROMOTION Is your child being alienated at home? When a parent criticises another in front of their child the impact can be far-reaching. Anita Scorah, reveals how to legally tackle the issue and protect your child. arental alienation' is a phrase that's becoming more widespread and it's used to briefed to identify parental alienation. Children explain the programming of a child by one relaying negativity about the absent parent will parent with a view to causing distance between the child and the other parent. This phenomenon has long been seen but has only recently been given a label. process, CAFCASS, the court welfare service, are often deny any positive historical memories of that parent. When asked to justify their hostility. the child may focus on something trivial such as 'Ihate my dad because he knocks on the door too loudly'. Attaching too much weight to minor complaints is often a giveaway that the child is parroting the opinions of others. Ifleft unchecked, children can lose empathy entirely for the absent parent and exhibit a lack of gratitude or good grace in their company. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF Anita Scorah Partner in the Famly Law team at SAS Dariels LLP PARENTAL ALIENATION? Parental alienation exhibits itself in numerous ways and, interestingly, is not always consciously done, nor is it only apparent in cases where one parent is implacably hostile toward the other. Denigrating a parent in front of the child may seem innocuous, but children absortb adult DEPROGRAMMING PARENTAL ALIENATION The first step to deprogramming children from parental alienation is to identify its existence, which is usually done through careful questioning of the child by a CAFCASS officer. Where parental alienation is found, it must be roundly condemned as the emotional abuse that it is. Ihave experienced Judges willing to remove the child from the offending parent. Whilst this can operate as an effective threat to a parent exercising parental alienation, increasing caution is being exercised within the judicial system regarding this approach in practice as, understandably, children can struggle to adapt where they are placed with the very parent they have been indoctrinated to mistrust. opinions and will soon start repeating a belief that 'dad is useless' or that mum 'can't hold down a job. Such comments serve to infect a child's perception of the other parent and can be adopted by the child as their own opinion. This negativity can bring an umwarranted rejection of one parent by a child, which is then rewarded by the alienating parent with approval, warmth and positive affirmations. A child of separated parents previously feeling adrift can gain security and reassurance by the acceptance this brings, thus perpetuating the problem. Where child arrangements are within a court It you would like advice on parental alienation or for any other family law matter, please contact Anita Scorah on 01625 442123 or emal anita.scorah@sasdaniels.co.uk (sas daniels LLP Ofces in Chester, Congleton, Macclesfield and Stockport www.sasdaniels.co.uk Solicitors PROMOTION Is your child being alienated at home? When a parent criticises another in front of their child the impact can be far-reaching. Anita Scorah, reveals how to legally tackle the issue and protect your child. arental alienation' is a phrase that's becoming more widespread and it's used to briefed to identify parental alienation. Children explain the programming of a child by one relaying negativity about the absent parent will parent with a view to causing distance between the child and the other parent. This phenomenon has long been seen but has only recently been given a label. process, CAFCASS, the court welfare service, are often deny any positive historical memories of that parent. When asked to justify their hostility. the child may focus on something trivial such as 'Ihate my dad because he knocks on the door too loudly'. Attaching too much weight to minor complaints is often a giveaway that the child is parroting the opinions of others. Ifleft unchecked, children can lose empathy entirely for the absent parent and exhibit a lack of gratitude or good grace in their company. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF Anita Scorah Partner in the Famly Law team at SAS Dariels LLP PARENTAL ALIENATION? Parental alienation exhibits itself in numerous ways and, interestingly, is not always consciously done, nor is it only apparent in cases where one parent is implacably hostile toward the other. Denigrating a parent in front of the child may seem innocuous, but children absortb adult DEPROGRAMMING PARENTAL ALIENATION The first step to deprogramming children from parental alienation is to identify its existence, which is usually done through careful questioning of the child by a CAFCASS officer. Where parental alienation is found, it must be roundly condemned as the emotional abuse that it is. Ihave experienced Judges willing to remove the child from the offending parent. Whilst this can operate as an effective threat to a parent exercising parental alienation, increasing caution is being exercised within the judicial system regarding this approach in practice as, understandably, children can struggle to adapt where they are placed with the very parent they have been indoctrinated to mistrust. opinions and will soon start repeating a belief that 'dad is useless' or that mum 'can't hold down a job. Such comments serve to infect a child's perception of the other parent and can be adopted by the child as their own opinion. This negativity can bring an umwarranted rejection of one parent by a child, which is then rewarded by the alienating parent with approval, warmth and positive affirmations. A child of separated parents previously feeling adrift can gain security and reassurance by the acceptance this brings, thus perpetuating the problem. Where child arrangements are within a court It you would like advice on parental alienation or for any other family law matter, please contact Anita Scorah on 01625 442123 or emal anita.scorah@sasdaniels.co.uk (sas daniels LLP Ofces in Chester, Congleton, Macclesfield and Stockport www.sasdaniels.co.uk Solicitors