“A CHILD WILL PICK THE PARENT THEY FEAR OVER THE PARENT WHO PROTECTS THEM BECAUSE IT SEEMS SAFER TO STAND WITH A BULLY THAN TO END UP AS THEIR NEXT VICTIM.”

That is the reality of coercion and parental alienation. A child in this situation is not freely choosing. They are being controlled through fear, pressure, and punishment, and they are often unable to speak authentically or show love for the targeted parent without consequences. Under the Family Law Act, children deserve protection from harm, and these dynamics are a serious form of abuse that should be recognized as such. When a child is effectively held hostage in a coercive environment, delay only deepens the damage. That is why early intervention is absolutely critical.

Professionals must not let bias, stereotypes, or outdated assumptions distort what is happening in plain sight. A child deserves the truth. A protective parent deserves to be heard. And when a child is punished for wanting love, safety, and connection with the targeted parent, that is not a conflict to normalize.

It is abuse that demands immediate attention.