Parental alienation support groups

Common signs of parental alienation

For information only, not for diagnosing. Parental alienation isn't a medical diagnosis, and a child pulling away from a parent can have many different causes. Only professionals who know the whole family, such as a child psychologist, family therapist or the family court, can assess what's happening. If this sounds familiar, a family lawyer or counsellor can help you think through your next steps.

What parents who've been pushed out of their children's lives often notice:

• Your child turning against you suddenly, often without a reason they can explain
• Harsh criticism of you that sounds like adult words, or someone else's version of events
• Your child refusing visits, calls or messages they used to welcome
• Visits or contact time being cancelled, cut short or interfered with
• Being left out of news about your child's school, health or activities
• Your child siding with the other parent on everything, and showing little guilt about treating you unkindly
• Your child pulling away from your side of the family too, like grandparents and cousins
• A grief that has no ending, because your child is still here but out of reach

Frequently asked questions