Parental alienation isn’t just emotional abuse—it’s a calculated campaign to erase a loving parent from a child’s life. And for too long, those behind it have hidden in plain sight, using the family courts as a weapon rather than a safeguard. But in Texas, something has shifted.
In a recent ruling—Stary v. Ethridge—the Supreme Court of Texas struck down a lifetime protective order that had banned a mother from any contact with her children, despite no clear or convincing evidence against her. The Court affirmed what alienated parents across the world have always known in their hearts: our presence in our children’s lives is not optional, or dependent on the goodwill of an ex-partner. It is a constitutional right.
This isn’t just a win for one family. The ruling sets a higher standard: from now on, no Texas court can impose long-term bans between parent and child without meeting the highest level of proof. This is justice inching closer to where it should be—though for many, tragically, it still comes too late.
If you’re a targeted parent in Texas, or anywhere, let this be a reminder: alienation thrives in silence and delay. You are not overreacting. You are not imagining it. If your child suddenly uses language that sounds rehearsed, if they repeat adult arguments they couldn’t possibly understand, if you’re constantly shut out of decisions, denied visits, or blamed for everything—that is not a child acting freely. That is a child caught in the grip of cognitive dissonance, ‘brainwashing’ … coercive control. It is child psychological abuse and spousal/partner psychological abuse.
I’m sure you are reading this because you know that parental alienation is a form of domestic abuse. Often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, denied, and incredibly poorly supported as a result. Courts in Texs can now, and must, consider the psychological abuse involved—modifying custody arrangements, ordering therapy, and holding alienating parents accountable. This is great news!
But none of this happens without action. Keep records. Stay calm. If you’re going the legal route (you might know my feelings about the current state of our family courts) seek advice from professionals who understand the damage alienation causes. And never, ever let someone convince you that your child is better off without you, just because the current system hasn’t caught up with this truth yet.
Your love and resilience matters—more than alienating parents would ever want to admit.
#charliemccready
#parentalalienationcoach
#traumabonding
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