Parental Alienation in Texas: What You Need to Know [2022]

Parental alienation, or Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), occurs when a parent intentionally pits the child against the other parent in an attempt to cause discord or distance in their relationship. The parent does this through a series of strategies, such as brainwashing, manipulation, isolation, or false accusations, to foster a child’s rejection of the other parent. The child, in turn, aligns with the alienating parent and may even show hostility or hatred toward the targeted parent.

Parental alienation in Texas often stems from a bitter divorce or child custody dispute and is motivated by anger, revenge, betrayal or rejection.

There are numerous ways or strategies in which a parent engages in parental alienation in Texas. Common examples include:
* Badmouthing the other parent, including calling him or her derogatory names.
* Blaming the other parent for the divorce and giving specific reasons for the breakdown in the marriage, such as financial problems or infidelity.
* Involving the child in legal proceedings by talking to them about child support or allowing them to read court documents or attend lawyer meetings.
* Persuading the child to refuse visitation.
* Interfering with visitation by scheduling an activity that the child wants to do; therefore, making the other parent look “bad” for not allowing the child to go to the fun activity.
* Buying the child’s favor by spoiling them with gifts or giving them more “freedom” by allowing them to do things they can’t do at the other parent’s house, like stay up late or eat candy.
* Acting hurt or sad when the child has a good time visiting the other parent.
* Refusing to allow the other parent access to the child’s school report card or schedule of extracurricular activities.
* Refusing to allow pictures or gifts from the other parent in the home.
* Telling the child the other parent is dangerous or mentally unstable.
* Refusing to allow the child to visit with the extended family members on the other side of the family.
* Lying to the child about the other parent’s communication efforts. For example, telling the child the other parent hasn’t tried to contact them.
* Creating the impression that the other parent doesn’t care about the child.

Absolutely. Parental alienation can have a devastating effect on the child. It can cause confusion, anxiety, lack of trust, depression, and self-hatred. These negative emotions are a result of a child growing up distrusting or disliking their other parent because they wrongly believed they were unfit, unloving or uncaring.

It’s important to remember that parental alienation in Texas is a form of psychological abuse and should be taken seriously. It’s always best to keep children out of adult disputes, as they may erroneously believe that they are somehow responsible for the parental conflict or discord.

If you suspect parental alienation is occurring in your child’s life, it’s important to seek professional help. A therapist can provide support and guidance to both the parent and child as they work through this difficult time. If you’re a parent going through a divorce or child custody battle, it’s also important to have a supportive team of professionals, including an aggressive, yet compassionate, family law attorney.

There are several signs that may indicate your child is suffering from parental alienation syndrome. These include:
* Your child expresses anger, hatred, or hostility toward you, especially in front of the other parent.
* Your child refuses to spend time with you or tells you they don’t want to see you.
* Your child destroys gifts or other items you gave them.
* Your child talks about the other parent as if they are always correct and always agrees with them.
* Your child is negative toward your extended family.
* Your child starts to withdraw from friends and activities they used to enjoy.
* Your child shows a sudden change in behavior, such as becoming sullen or rebellious.
* Your child begins to have problems in school, such as declining grades or acting out in class.
* Your child demonstrates a sudden change in appearance, such as dressing differently or neglecting personal hygiene.
* Your child denies that they are being influenced by the other parent to treat you negatively.
If you suspect your child is suffering from parental alienation syndrome, it is important to seek professional help right away. Parental alienation in Texas can have a lasting effect on your child and it is important to get help before the situation worsens.