Parental Alienation

Parental alienation is a deeply damaging form of psychological abuse where one parent—knowingly or not—manipulates a child into rejecting the other parent without legitimate cause. At CPHW of PA, we recognize how such tactics can destabilize families and cause lasting emotional harm. The consequences ripple across a child's development, undermining emotional security, identity formation, and long-term mental health.

Renowned developmental psychologist Dr. Laurence Steinberg stresses the importance of secure attachment and the damaging effects of chronic familial conflict on adolescents’ emotional regulation and identity. Alienation, which often arises in high-conflict custody disputes, attacks this attachment at its core.

What Is Parental Alienation?

At CPHW of PA, we define parental alienation as a pattern of behavior in which one parent attempts to sabotage the child's relationship with the other parent. These behaviors are often subtle, persistent, and manipulative—especially effective when applied to young, impressionable children or emotionally vulnerable adolescents.

Common Tactics Used in Parental Alienation

Leading researcher Dr. Amy J.L. Baker identified recurring behaviors used by alienating parents to achieve the unjustified rejection of the other parent:

• Limiting contact and communication (e.g., overscheduling to block visitation time)
• Undermining the targeted parent’s authority
• Withholding affection unless the child complies
• Rewriting or erasing positive family history
• Spreading false allegations of abuse
• 
  

Our therapists at CPHW of PA often see these behaviors play out during divorce or custody battles.

The Baker Five-Factor Model of Parental Alienation

Dr. Baker outlined five criteria to diagnose parental alienation:

1. Child actively avoids or resists a relationship with one parent
2. Previously positive relationship with that parent
3. No evidence of actual abuse or neglect
4. Use of alienating behaviors by the preferred parent
5. Presence of alienation symptoms in the child

Source: Baker, A. J. L. (2007). "Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Breaking the Ties That Bind."

Effects of Parental Alienation on Children and Teens

The emotional and psychological damage of alienation can be long-lasting. At CPHW of PA, we treat children and adolescents who experience:

• Depression and anxiety
• Difficulty trusting caregivers and peers
• Low self-esteem and internalized guilt
• Attachment and identity struggles

Steinberg, L. (2014). "Age of Opportunity: Lessons from the New Science of Adolescence."

Personality Traits of Alienating Parents

Research reveals that alienating parents often display high-conflict personality traits such as:

• Narcissistic tendencies (need for control, lack of empathy)
• Borderline personality features (emotional instability, splitting)
• Paranoid thinking (unjustified fears about the other parent)
• Coercive control (brainwashing-like dynamics)

At CPHW of PA, we help families recognize and address these harmful patterns.

Harman, J. J., Kruk, E., & Hines, D. A. (2018). "Parental alienating behaviors: An unacknowledged form of family violence." Psychological Bulletin, 144(12), 1275–1299.

Long-Term Outcomes of Parental Alienation

Children exposed to alienation often carry the trauma into adulthood. Our clinicians frequently support adults coping with:

• Ongoing depression and anxiety
• Addiction and substance abuse issues
• Troubled intimate relationships
• Estrangement and unresolved grief

How We Can Help

CPHW of PA offers specialized counseling and family therapy services to address parental alienation. We provide:

• Therapeutic reunification support
• Co-parenting education and coaching
• Court-informed assessments and documentation
• Individual counseling for children and parents

Our experienced team collaborates with legal professionals and the court system when needed to advocate for the best interest of the child.

Final Thoughts

Parental alienation is more than a legal matter—it’s a mental health crisis affecting the very foundation of a child’s identity. At CPHW of PA, we are committed to helping families rebuild trust and heal from the psychological wounds caused by alienation.

If you or someone you know is experiencing parental alienation, contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation.

References

1. Baker, A. J. L. (2007). Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome: Breaking the Ties That Bind. W.W. Norton & Co.
2. Baker, A. J. L., & Ben-Ami, N. (2011). “To Turn a Child Against a Parent Is to Turn a Child Against Himself.” Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 52(7), 472–489.
3. Harman, J. J., Kruk, E., & Hines, D. A. (2018). “Parental alienating behaviors: An unacknowledged form of family violence.” Psychological Bulletin, 144(12), 1275–1299.
4. Steinberg, L. (2014). Age of Opportunity: Lessons from the New Science of Adolescence. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
5. Bernet, W., et al. (2010). “Parental alienation, DSM-V, and ICD-11.” American Journal of Family Therapy, 38(2), 76–187.
6. Warshak, R. A. (2015). “Ten Parental Alienation Fallacies That Compromise Decisions in Court and in Therapy.” Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 46(4), 235–249.