Whether a couple goes through a divorce in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or another state, the brunt of the force is felt upon their children. However, children are usually unable to bring up these feelings to their parents either through fear or simply because they do not want to upset the parents. It is important for both parents in a divorce to remember how much their actions will affect their children and what they must do in order to make the transition to joint custody as smooth as possible.
One of the main problems seen in a co-parenting couple is known as parental alienation. According to psychologists, this kind of situation arises when one parent begins to define their bond with the child around their own emotional and mental needs rather than meeting the child’s needs. One parent may ask the child to support them either emotionally at home or, worse yet, legally in court in order to get ahead of the other parent in terms of having custody over the child. This can either be done out of fear of losing custody of the child or because one parent has negative feelings and a sense of vengeance towards their former spouse.
Therapy for every party in this type of situation can make leaps and bounds in terms of helping the child and their relationship with the rest of the family. The child is what is most important during these difficult times. Alienation may cause emotional harm to them, and it is important to make sure that their needs are still being met.
One effective way of helping a child with an alienating parent is to review court orders and a discussion of supervised visitation. It is crucial for parents to understand their legal actions, so working with a family law attorney may help parents better navigate the court system.