Parental Alienation: interview with Karen Woodall

When Karen Woodall from the Centre for Separated Families was in Edinburgh for our events on December 4th we filmed a short interview with her.

Kare gave two talks that day, one to a audience composed mainly of professionals (lawyers, mediators, child psychiatrists and people working with children and parents).  After mentioning how the English courts are recognising alienation as a feature of some high conflict contact disputes, she described how this unreasonable rejection of one parent is a sign that a child's adaptation to parental separation has gone wrong.

She talked about cases she has experienced and treatment routes involving work with the whole family.  The need for a "super-parent" was mentioned - taking a role when the parents themselves aren't able to sort things out. 

For cases in court, the judge could act as "super-parent", and in discussion it was commented that a few Sheriff's are already dong this.

The evening session was attended by parents and grandparents who are experiencing alienation, including some who are not seeing their children at all.  Karen talked about the causes of alienation and how it is affected by the previous experience of the parents, as well as offering reassurance that alienated children do eventually seek out the rejected parent.

In bringing Karen Woodall to Scotland, FNFS hopes to promote follow-on work both amongst the legal and family support professionals and amongst Scottish parents affected by alienation.  We are gathering comments and experiences through a short survey which is open to anyone, not just participants at the events, and will promote further networking. 

See also this Scottish site and Karen's blog.