All About Parental Alienation Syndrome


Parental Alienation Syndrome, or PAS as it is often called, is an insidious and traumatic phenomenon observed in child custody battles gone bad and in high conflict divorce cases. PAS is recognized by some courts, but not others and thus presents an incredibly problematic situation when a Judge fails to see or act upon the problem. The end result is a parent estranged from a child and a child damaged in the worst way by the parent's ongoing insidious tactics.

Dr. Renna Sommer has written an incredible report on Parental Alienation Syndrome.  Her report, which may be accessed through the link, Children's Adjustment to Divorce, highlights and explains  PAS and also discusses divorce and children in general.

Parental Alienation Syndrome occurs often enough that it has resulted in professional recognition.  PAS has attracted to attention of experts, psychologists, social service agencies, doctors, teachers and the legal system.  There is, however, a considerable amount of debate regarding just what Parental Alienation Syndrome is in a child custody case and when it really does not exist.  At the least, this issue has fueled quite a bit of debate with respect to the validity of its existence. Opponents and critics of PAS continue to argue that it does not exist.  Those parents who's lives have been affected, and their relationships with their children ruined, know that it certainly does exist.

It results from an ongoing, intentional campaign on the part of one parent to discredit the parent to the child.  The disparaging parent makes the child a partner in the process with the result that the child begins to actively fuel the conflict and even create or recreate factual scenarios to justify the termination of the parent child relationship.

PAS is difficult to combat.  Dr. Sommer's report outlines how you provide appropriate information to your attorney and a court if this is happening to you.

How to you determine if you are being subjected to PAS?  Dr. Sommer, who has also written, Developing An Effective Parenting Plan, has written a detailed outline on this issue. 

Do Any of the Following Apply to You?

  • Has your relationship with your child been strained by loyalty issues related to your divorce?

  • Has your relationship with your child been influenced by parental alienation syndrome?

  • Have you and your children endured a lengthy and bitter custody battle?

  • Has your relationship with your child been interrupted because of geographical distancing?

  • Do you want to establish a relationship with your child whom you never knew?

If you answered yes to any of the above, read Dr. Sommer's article on Parental Alienation Syndrome at the following link:   PAS