REUNIFICATION (OUTPATIENT) COUNSELING SERVICES FOR MILD PARENTAL ALIENATION:
Services for the whole family. What is the difference between estrangement and parental alienation? Estrangement is a child's rejection of a parent for a variety of bona fide reasons (lack of contact over time between parent and child, abuse/neglect, substance abuse, etc.). Parent Alienation is the child's disproportional rejection of a parent for no valid reason. The rejection does not equal the child's experience of that parent. Our reunification program includes a mini assessment to evaluate for estrangement vs. mild parental alienation. Depending on our assessment outcome, individual counseling services for the offending parent may be recommended before reunification services can begin. Reunification for mild parental alienation includes carefully coordinated, specialized, weekly family therapy with the child(ren) and the alienated parent. Our Reunification program is attended by agreement of the parents or by court order.