This is how you know if your ex is turning your child against you
One of the more tricky aspects of parental alienation is how to accurately establish whether there really is alienation, or such intent, on the part of the other parent.
Parent24 spoke to two experts who explained this issue from a psychological and a legal point of view.
Also see below for a list of typical behaviours.
Psychologically
Joburg-based Counselling Psychologist Ace Chiheya explained to Parent24 that there is usually a continuous pattern of efforts to stop the child’s contact or visit with the targeted parent, as well as efforts to disturb or shorten contacts or visits.
Parental alienation is the process through which a parent may cause a child to become estranged from another parent through psychological manipulation.
Nonetheless, it is still relatively unknown, and often goes unnoticed or is misunderstood even by the psychologists and legal professionals involved in mediation and divorce processes.
To shed light on the issue, Parent24 gathered a panel of five local professionals to discuss the intricacies of the issue of parental alienation in South Africa, from the legal side of the topic to the emotional impact on families.
Our panelists are:
Rushka Lee Pedro, Divorce Mediator and Johannesburg-based Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
What is parental alienation? A list of terms and concepts
Parental alienation occurs when one parent attempts to poison a child’s mind against another parent, through words or actions or inactions.
It is recognised in South Africa, and has been regarded by the court as a form of child abuse, but it s still a minefield for many who might not even realise what is happening until it s too late.
Parent24 spoke to advocate Riani Ferreira of Circle Chambers to provide us with answers to some of the more frequently asked questions on the issue.
Frequently asked questions Unfortunately, Ferreira tells us, parental alienation features in almost every custody dispute.