Parental Alienation is a Form of Child Psychological Abuse - Dr. Mary Alvarez

“Parental Alienation is a Form of Child Psychological Abuse” When a parent engages in alienation, this destructive parental behavior meets the criteria as a form of child psychological abuse. This form of child psychological abuse can have immediate psychological, developmental, and brain-based consequences, including unintended anxiety disorders, toxic stress, and disrupted attachment. The potential long-term consequences of this form of child psychological abuse when a previously alienated child reaches adulthood will be presented, including the risks of addictions, depression, and other psychological and relationship consequences. Mary Alvarez, PhD, earned her doctorate in developmental psychology with an emphasis in cognitive development and neurodevelopment from the University of Houston. Dr. Alvarez, a licensed psychologist for twenty-five years in Texas, has both a forensic and a clinical practice, and she specializes in evaluating and treating high conflict families. As a result of her forensic work in family law as a custody evaluator, Dr. Alvarez has evaluated and witnessed the devastating psychological effects on children whose parents are involved in chronic high conflict, including parental alienation. Dr. Alvarez recognized the need to focus on prevention and early intervention of parental alienation, so she co-developed Resetting the Family to evaluate and intervene with high conflict parents and families that include mild and moderate parental alienation as part of the conflict.