Parental Alienation: A Child-Psychology Approach: It Is a Denial-of-Attachment

Dr. Kneier’s focus is on the child - on what happens inside the adolescent child’s mind and heart when confronted with intense conflict between divorced parents.  In response to parental conflict, young children have transfer reactions and switching reactions.  Adolescent children often develop a denial-of-attachment to one parent: a reaction misleadingly called “parental alienation”.  Dr. Kneier will present his view of the nature of this reaction.  He will show how seeing it as “parental alienation” tends to lead to counter-productive, even harmful outcomes.  Dr. Kneier’s insights into the nature and causes of this reaction lead to constructive treatment approaches, and to better ways for the Courts to address this serious childhood disturbance.  Finally, he will briefly share his experience in attempting to treat this very entrenched and difficult problem.  He will try to leave ample time for comments and questions.

Dr. Kneier has been offering psychological services in Calgary since 1974. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in Washington D.C., which included a one-year full-time internship associated with the Harvard Medical School at Children’s Hospital in Boston.  His services have included individual therapy and counselling for adults and children; marriage counselling; help for children and parents in separated/divorced families; family mediation; and court-related assessments of children and parents.

Learn more about Dr. Kneier here

$25 Member

$40 Non-Member