TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN)—There are about 1 million children in America living with divorced parents, according to the Cultural Heritage Foundation. But there is another number behind it. More than 10% of her divorced children have been alienated or alienated from their parent by the other parent.

This is a phenomenon seen in conflict-ridden divorce situations, called parental alienation, a strategy by one parent to harm the relationship between the other parent and the child. According to a study of modern pediatrics, About 22 million adults in the United States are targeted by parental alienation.

“This is a little more serious,” said Matthew Randle, family law attorney for Randle, Palmer and Bernays. “This is emotional manipulation.”

Rundle, a Pima County family law attorney, said it was sometimes intentional or accidental.

“There were situations where parents really thought they were protecting their kids from villains,” Randle said.

Kayla Bernays, a family law attorney at Randall, Palmer & Bernays, said parents alienate their children for a variety of reasons.

“Parents often get stuck in their heads that this is my truth, this is the truth,” she says. “And my child deserves to know the truth.”

When bringing a custody case to court, Arizona Revised Law No. 25-403 lists best interest factorsfor children. If they are not met, custody cases could be shaken in some way.

“One parent is likely to encourage meaningful contact with the other parent,” Bernays said.

One exception to this law is in cases of domestic abuse. Section 6 of the Act states, “If a court determines that a parent is acting in good faith to protect a child from witnessing an act of domestic violence or from being a victim of domestic violence or child abuse, This paragraph does not apply to the

“So it’s often, but not always, a defense against parental alienation,” Bernays says.

So when Randall and Bernays get a lawsuit like this, they said again and again, the evidence counts in the end.

“For the accused, if it’s unjust or false, it basically has to be cleared through litigation,” Randle said.

parental separation is considered psychological abuse. DSM-5. In some cases, estrangement causes the child to cut ties with the other parent completely, leaving the child mentally disabled. So Randall and Bernays encourage an inward approach by therapists to help on an emotional level.

Dennis Hausler is one of the few therapists in Pima County who specializes in reunification therapy for cases of alienation. It’s something she’s been doing for over 20 years, and it’s what prompted her to testify in court.

“I usually meet with each parent and hear their story,” she said. “Some pre-divorce signs undermine the role of the intended parent, with the roles of child and parent being reversed.”

She is there to help her family move forward in a healthy way.

“An unhealthy parent will see how this child meets my needs,” she says. “So it’s important to educate children about how this will affect them if it continues.”

There is a list of symptoms for children experiencing parental alienation. These include feeling no guilt, feeling no hatred towards the target parent’s family, justifying their own hostile behavior, and making the alienating parent’s opinion their own. included.

“Usually they [children in these cases] They have low self-esteem, low self-worth, and become aggressive,” Hausler said.

Through therapy, she works to reconnect parents and children.

“Unfortunately, it takes time to reveal everything,” she said. “And it’s important that everyone has a safe place to let everything out.”

Hausler said divorce is hard, but there are ways to do it in a supportive and healthier way.it is called Divorce by agreement Here, the entire team, including the therapist, helps people reduce conflict and get through their divorce.

But more often than not, she says, there is a sense of hopelessness. A man questioned was estranged from his two children and worked with Mr. Hauser to reunite with his children. One of his daughters reunited with him.

“I had a man come over,” she said. “And he said, ‘I don’t want to,’ and I said, ‘No, I have to work.'”

Bernays said he saw a family estranged from their father for 14 years.

“But now my father has primary custody and they have a great relationship,” Bernays said.

So Hallcer, who has seen many families throughout his career, said there is hope.

“It takes time to scrutinize everything, but it’s possible,” she said.