Parental Alienation in Finland

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Dr. Richard A. Warshak

State of Plutoverse – 2010 mentioned the upcoming Finnish translation of Divorce Poison. Today I received a note from a faculty member of the University of Helsinki that parental alienation is being discussed in the Finnish Parliament.

Click here for the original (in Finnish).

Here is the English translation:

“To protect children social workers and courts should get training to help them to identify alienation, and they should be given the tools to stop alienation. Luckily the relationship between an alienated child and parent can be often reestablished according to Richard Warshak, Ph.D.

Posted in alienated parents/rejected parents, Overcoming parental alienation, parental alienation/parental alienation syndrome | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

When Kids Need to Know Bad Things About a Parent – Part 2

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Dr. Richard A. Warshak

You are convinced that your child’s other parent, or a grandparent is bad, and the kids should know about it. Do they really need to hear what you have to say?

When facing the impulse to present a parent or grandparent in a negative light, do some serious soul-searching. Five questions help cut through self-deception, expose irrational motives that could be fueling your behavior, and focus attention on your children’s genuine welfare. If you review the questions before exposing your children to criticisms of their loved ones, you can avoid destructive communications. Read the rest of this article, and leave comments, on the Huffington Post.

Posted in alienated parents/rejected parents, coparenting, parental alienation/parental alienation syndrome, understanding parental alienation | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Telling Kids Which Parent Wanted the Divorce

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Dr. Richard A. Warshak

I have posted a few replies to comments on my recent Huffpost article. Learn more.

Posted in coparenting | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

When Kids Need To Know Bad Things About a Parent – Part 1

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Dr. Richard A. Warshak

Like many rejected parents, Maureen bit her tongue when her children returned from their dad spewing venom about their mother’s alleged wrongdoings. She thought she was taking the high road. She had the support of her counselor whose advice was to give the children time to figure out for themselves that their dad’s view of mom was not accurate. Read the rest of this article on the Huffington Post.

Posted in alienated parents/rejected parents, parental alienation/parental alienation syndrome | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

What Judges Need to Know in Parental Alienation Cases

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Dr. Richard A. Warshak

The Complex Tapestry of Parent-Child Relations emphasizes that the psychology of alienated children cannot be reduced to a single factor. In some cases, the judge has little doubt that one parent is primarily responsible for the child’s alienation. It may be the parent whom the child favors. It may be the rejected parent. In other cases, though, it is difficult to discern the threads that make up the tapestry of alienation. Consider this example.  Continue reading →

Posted in alienated parents/rejected parents, child custody litigation, Overcoming parental alienation, parental alienation/parental alienation syndrome, understanding parental alienation | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

Keeping New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Dr. Richard A. Warshak

People tend to make the same resolutions year after year: they resolve to end a particular vice on average ten times. Every renewed vow represents last year’s failure.

One out of four people give up by the end of the first week. Of those who fail this year, 60% will make the same resolution next year. People usually make the same resolution for five years before they manage a 6-month success. Failure rates are highest for addictive behaviors and unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking, and overeating.

Despite repeated failures, with memories of limited successes people convince themselves that full success is in their grasp with a just few tweaks of the program. This has been called the “false hope syndrome.” Continue reading →

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State of Plutoverse – 2010

Posted on December 30, 2010 by Dr. Richard A. Warshak

This is the first of what I hope will be an annual column recapping significant professional events of the year.

2010 was unusual in the number of major milestones that occurred. I do not expect to have another banner year like this any time in the near future. Here are the top dozen events (arranged by date, not importance). Continue reading →

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Dr. Warshak’s Guide To Managing Holiday Blues

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Dr. Richard A. Warshak

Holiday blues are intense feelings of sadness or loneliness during the holiday period. Such feelings are more unsettling than usual because they contrast with the spirit of benevolence and joy that we associate with the holidays. Holiday blues last for a few days to a few weeks around the holidays, but usually diminish when the season is over and we resume normal routines.

When we understand where the blues come from and what they look like, we are in a stronger position to manage these difficult feelings rather than let them overwhelm us. Continue reading →

Posted in general psychology and mental health, holidays | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Alec Baldwin’s A Promise to Ourselves

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Dr. Richard A. Warshak

Alec Baldwin was kind enough to tell me how much my book, Divorce Poison: How To Protect Your Family From Bad-mouthing and Brainwashing, helped him understand his difficult family situation. I would like to reciprocate by sharing my thoughts about his book, A Promise to Ourselves.

If you are, or have been, or getting ready to be, chewed up in the psychological meat-grinder known as custody litigation, this book will become your welcome companion. In a moving, deeply personal, poignant, at times painful, account, Baldwin escorts us into the morass of the family court system and draws on his experience to suggest needed reforms. Continue reading →

Posted in book reviews, child custody litigation, parental alienation/parental alienation syndrome | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Six Tips to Give Children Better Holidays

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Dr. Richard A. Warshak

Holidays can be times of great joy when families build shared positive memories. Holidays can also be times of great stress, blues, and depression. When parents live apart from each other, they need to make a special effort to work together to ensure that their children enjoy good holiday memories. These tips should help you avoid the pitfalls that detract from the pleasures of the holiday season. Continue reading →

Posted in coparenting, general psychology and mental health | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments