Copyright © FrancoAngeli N.B: Copia ad uso personale. È vietata la riproduzione (totale o parziale) dell’opera con qualsiasi mezzo effettuata e la sua messa a disposizione di terzi, sia in forma gratuita sia a pagamento. Powerless to parent; powerless to protect: The experiences of alienated parents in the UK Sue Whitcombe  Parental alienation is the unwarranted denigration or rejection of a parent where there was a previous loving relationship. Despite thirty years of study establishing its aetiology, preva- lence, appropriate interventions and outcomes for children, parental alienation remains a highly contentious concept in the UK. Additionally, there has been minimal exploration of the experiences of alienated parents across the globe. A recent Q analysis uncovered the subjective and intersubjective experiences of British alienated parents. An unexpected con- sensus became apparent which merited further analysis of the data. Through this phenome- nological exploration of the participants’ narratives, a pervasive sense of “powerlessness” emerged. The source of this felt sense of powerlessness is considered and recommendations for policy and practice are suggested. Key words: parental alienation, family conflict, psychological harm, family law, parent. 1. Introduction Parental alienation (PA) is characterised by a child’s strong alignment with one parent whilst rejecting a relationship with the other, despite a prior normal, loving, warm relationship. This rejection seems unwarranted based on a history of normal-range parenting, in the absence of abuse or violence, and is most usually a feature of high conflict relationship breakdown. Since the 1980s, the symptomatic behaviours and underlying psychological pro- cesses in an alienated child have been identified (Baker, 2005a; Baker & Darnall, 2006; Clawar & Rivlin, 1991; Dunne & Hedrick, 1994; Gardner, 1985; Johnston, Campbell, & Mayes, 1985; Kelly & Johnston, 2001; Ko- petski, 1998; Waldron & Joanis, 1996; Wallerstein & Kelly, 1980). Key features are a child’s irrational anxiety and refusal or resistance to contact with one parent, or contact which is characterised by extreme withdrawal, or gross hatred and animosity (Baker, 2014; Bernet, von Boch-Galhau, Baker, & Morrison, 2010; Fidler & Bala, 2010; Johnston, 2003). Research has identified increased clinical, emotional and behavioural problems in al- ienated children as well as risks to a child’s psychological and emotional  Dr. Sue Whitcombe, CPsychol AFBPsS, HCPC registered counselling psychologist. Fami- ly Psychology Solutions CIC, Wales. Indirizzare le richieste a Sue Whitcombe (sue@suewhitcombe.co.uk). Pervenuto: settembre 2016 Accettato: dicembre 2016 47 Maltrattamento e abuso all’infanzia, Vol. 19, n. 1, marzo 2017, pp. 47-66 ISSN 1591-4267, ISSNe 1972-5140 DOI: 10.3280/MAL2017-001004