PA Therapy Group

Here at Say More, we offer the UK’s first therapy group, specifically for parents affected by parental alienation.

What is Parental Alienation?

Parental alienation is a harrowing situation where the bond between a child and a parent becomes strained or severed following separation or divorce. Parental alienation describes a complex dynamic where one parent (known as the alienating parent), intentionally or unintentionally, engages in behaviours that negatively influence a child’s relationship with the other parent (known as the alienated parent). Parental alienation is both a form of child abuse and a form of narcissistic abuse. Read our ‘What is Parental Alienation?’ page for a more detailed explanation.

In extreme cases, alienating behaviours can result in the complete eradication of the relationship between the child and the alienated parent.

Coping as an Alienated Parent

It’s heartbreaking to experience your child’s affection and connection seemingly diminish or disappear, often in the wake of separation or divorce. For the alienated parent, this can feel like an incomprehensible and profound loss, a deep wound that cuts to the core of the parental bond.

You might find yourself facing unexplained resistance or negativity from your child, feeling like their perception of you has become distorted or unfairly negative. Attempts to connect can be met with withdrawal, hostility, or echoes of the other parent’s perspective. It can feel as though your voice is being silenced, your history with your child erased, and your place in their life threatened.

This experience can be incredibly isolating, leaving you questioning your worth as a parent and grappling with feelings of helplessness, grief, and anger. The natural desire to love and nurture your child is met with a painful barrier, leaving you longing for the relationship you once shared and struggling to understand the forces at play. It’s a unique form of emotional distress, navigating the complexities of co-parenting while facing the painful reality of a fractured bond with your child.

Our parental alienation therapy groups are a therapeutic space for alienated parents to connect, share experiences, and receive mutual support. Facilitated by a therapist with a lived experience of parental alienation themselves, our groups offer a safe and private space for those affected by parental alienation.

Therapeutic Approach

Here at Say More, we take a Yalom approach to our PA therapy groups. This approach, developed by psychiatrist Irvin D. Yalom, is a leading model that emphasises the power of interpersonal relationships and shared experiences in the healing process. Rather than solely focusing on individual issues in isolation, this therapeutic approach harnesses the dynamics of the group setting to foster growth and change.

At its core, Yalom’s model rests on the belief that individuals can benefit profoundly from interacting with others who are facing similar challenges. The therapy isn’t just about the therapist providing guidance; it’s about group members learning from, supporting, and challenging each other within a safe and structured environment created by the therapist.

It is worth noting that our groups are not just for alienated parents, but also alienated grandparents, step-parents, and close supporters, to find solace, support and guidance in a therapeutic way. 

Our PA therapy groups aim to help you in the following ways:

• Safe and confidential environment: Our groups provide a space for you to openly share your lived experience of parental alienation without judgment. 
• Shared experiences and validation: You’ll connect with others who are also going through parental alienation, a space where you’ll feel validated, helping you feel less isolated. 
• Emotional support and peer-to-peer assistance: The group therapist will encourage and facilitate peer-to-peer support in a therapeutic way. 
• Reduced feelings of isolation and loneliness: Connecting with others who understand the challenges of parental alienation will help you feel less alone and more supported. 
• Improved emotional well-being: Sharing your experiences and receiving support will help you cope with the emotional distress associated with parental alienation. 

We look forward to hearing from you and supporting you through this often isolating, exasperating and immensely challenging life experience.

Still have questions? See our PA therapy group FAQ page for more details.