According to Amy J. Baker, parental alienation is the term used to describe the overall problem of children being encouraged by one parent, the favored parent, to unjustly reject the other parent, the targeted parent. 
The specific behaviors that the favored parent engages in are referred to as parental alienation strategies. Parental alienation often but not always occurs in divorced families.
Parental Alienation def. the overall problem of children being encouraged by one parent to unjustly reject the other parent
During the divorce process and typically one that is considered “high conflict”, strategies are used by one parent to weaponize the children against the other parent. These parental alienation strategies, include
- poison the child about the other parent through lies
- limit the contact between the children and the targeted parent
- interfere with parenting time and encourage the children not to go
- encourage the children to betray the trust of the other targeted parent
- manipulate the children to believe that by loving their other parent, they are betraying them
There are many more identifiable tactics used to engage in parental alienation. When these behaviors are seen, it is undeniable that the alienating parent is toxic.
For targeted parents who are facing parental alienation, this can be a very difficult and confusing time. The emotional abuse that you endured during your marriage has now taken on a new face. In this toxic environment it will be impossible to co-parent. If you find yourself in the early stages of alienation, you will need guidance with getting yourself grounded and educated on strategies to navigate the IED’s (internal emotional detinaters) that your ex will drop. They know all of your vulnerabilities. So you must heal up those emotional wounds within you and prepare to be the most solid parent for your children.
For targeted parents who are already alienated, my heart goes out to you. You are on a tough road. But you will prevail. Your love for your children and more importantly the abundance of love that you MUST find for yourself, are the tools needed to win.
To learn more about parental alienation, join me in the Alienated Parents of Boulder County or reach out to join our Facebook Page for support. You are not alone.
