Overcoming the scars of ACEs and parental alienation
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Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes' presentation on parental alienation defines it as an adverse childhood experience involving behaviors like brainwashing, manipulation, and irrational hostility towards the rejected parent. Parental alienation is not listed in the DSM but is considered a form of child psychological abuse, affecting about 1% of US children and adolescents. It disrupts primary attachment bonds, leading to emotional dysregulation, stress-related physical symptoms, and developmental delays. Alienating parents often have attachment dysfunctions and use the child to meet their own needs, causing mental health issues in both parents and the child. Children exposed to alienation may develop hypervigilance, trust issues, and attachment disorders, often adopting the alienating parent's cognitive distortions. Interventions focus on processing trauma, creating safety, and developing secure attachments, using concepts like the 'wounded child' and 'firefighter' in the mind. The presentation emphasizes the need to address the emotional and cognitive impacts of alienation on children and adults.
Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes' presentation on parental alienation defines it as an adverse childhood experi