The aim of this study was to identify, synthetize and describe targeted parents’ experiences of being alienated from their child/ren. Fifty-four self-referred targeted parents were interviewed. Two relevant themes emerged in regard to their experiences: targeted parents experiencing family violence before the alienation and what they experienced during the alienation. Mental health and legal practitioners need to be aware that targeted parents have suffered the significant loss of their child/ren. Importantly, many parents experienced family violence before family separation and continue to experience coercion and control post family separation.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	targeted parent, alienated parent, parental alienation, divorce conflict, rejected parent, qualitative description, family violence
Research Division:	Psychology
Research Group:	Social and personality psychology
Research Field:	Social psychology
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding knowledge in psychology
UTAS Author:	Lee Maturana, S (Mrs Sau-Lyn Lee Maturana)
UTAS Author:	Matthewson, M (Dr Mandy Matthewson)
UTAS Author:	Dwan, C (Dr Corinna Dwan)
ID Code:	141802
Year Published:	2020
Web of Science® Times Cited:	1
Deposited By:	Pharmacy
Deposited On:	2020-11-20
Last Modified:	2021-05-11
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