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Tip of the Month:
If your client is going to be evaluated by a psychologist or other mental health professonal, make sure that they are informed that, even if the evaluation is court ordered, they have a right to consult their attorney before they respond to questions and that their responses will, in all likelihood, be presented in a report that goes to the court. I find frequently, people are surprised that there really isn't confidentiality in forensic work, not at least, to the extent expected. Feature Article: The symptoms of PAS include the child engaging in a campaign of denigration against the alienated parent. They will typically present weak, frivolous or absurd rationalizations for their position. The children will frequently lack any ambivalence about their position. It is common for PAS children to present their attitude as their idea and no one put them up to this. While they maintain an adamant position against one parent, they present a reflexive support of the alienating parent. There is a noticeable absence of guilt or concern for the alienated parent and frequently they will express borrowed scenarios from the supported parent. Children who suffer with PAS typically display most if not all of the above. In some cases children will display even more symptoms. I mentioned, in a previous newsletter, it is crucial to keep in mind when there is evidence of physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect or poor parenting, there is no PAS, but there may be parent alienation. Dr. Gardner
is very clear in that the cause of PAS is the programming
by the alienating parent in conjunction with the
contributions by the child. That is, in addition to the alienating
parent’s behavior the child presents their own scenarios
of denigration that contribute and combine with that of the
alienating parent.
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