Family relationships can fracture in ways that feel overwhelming and destabilising. When trust erodes and communication breaks down, the resulting distance can feel like a collapse of the family unit itself. This fracture often leads to a painful state of alienation, where members feel isolated, misunderstood, or even rejected. Recognising this problem is the first step toward restoring connection and dignity. Healing from such deep wounds requires a calm, structured approach

For many parents, alienation isn’t a moment—it’s a season that never ends. The empty chair at the table becomes its own reminder. Birthdays pass quietly. Holidays fade into repetition. And yet, beneath the ache, a strength remains—the capacity to endure what feels unendurable. Before moving into process or frameworks, insert a new emotional reflection paragraph here that gives back to the reader—acknowledging the courage, grief, and daily endurance parents show in ongoing

Parental alienation can feel like an invisible grief — your child is alive yet gone. You may replay every memory, searching for where the distance began. At Anchor and Light, we’ve walked alongside parents in this silence. This Insight offers structured support for the alienated parent: grounded truth, stabilising steps, and a path to restore dignity — even when contact is limited

Parental alienation doesn’t always announce itself through conflict. Sometimes it appears in the quiet refusal of a child’s call, or the absence of small daily connections that once came naturally. When relationships break down, children can become caught in loyalty binds pulled between two realities, unsure which version of truth to trust.

Parental alienation is a growing challenge in Australian family law. Unlike criminal law, allegations in parenting cases can shape orders without being tested, leaving one parent fighting to disprove claims while children lose vital relationships. Research from AIFS shows children thrive with safe bonds to both parents. Reform is needed: early testing of allegations, real consequences for false claims, and stronger child-focused safeguards.