Parental Alienation Coaching in Montebello & Newport Beach, CA
When You Feel Like You're Losing Your Child—and It’s Not by Choice
Parental alienation can be one of the most heartbreaking experiences a parent can face. You’re showing up. You’re trying. But somehow, your child pulls away, echoes words you’ve never said, and treats you like the villain in a story you never wrote.
Maybe your co-parent is painting you in a negative light. Maybe your relationship with your child feels strained, distant, or completely broken. And maybe you're questioning your worth as a parent, wondering how something so painful could even happen.
You are not alone, and you are not powerless.
At The Couples Therapy and Reunification Counseling, we specialize in helping families work through the emotional impact of parental alienation syndrome. Whether you're navigating high-conflict divorce, strained custody arrangements, or court-ordered reunification, our trauma-informed therapists are here to support you every step of the way.
What Is Parental Alienation Syndrome?
Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) occurs when a child becomes emotionally distant or estranged from one parent due to the psychological manipulation or negative influence of the other parent. This is not just typical family conflict, it’s a breakdown in the parent-child bond that can feel both confusing and heartbreaking.
You may notice:
Sudden rejection or hostility from your child with no clear reason
False accusations or rewritten memories of past events
A deep emotional divide, even when you’ve been present and loving
Signs of anxiety, depression, or confusion in your child’s behavior
Left unaddressed, PAS can cause long-lasting damage to both the child’s development and the parent-child relationship. Therapy offers a compassionate, structured path toward restoring trust, understanding what’s been lost, and rebuilding the connection you both deserve.
8 Common Symptoms of Parental Alienation
Parents and professionals often notice a combination of the following warning signs:
Unexplained Rejection – The child consistently avoids or rejects one parent without a clear history of abuse, neglect, or harm.
One-Sided Alignment – The child strongly aligns with one parent while completely dismissing the other.
Negative Language or Rehearsed Statements – The child uses adult-like phrases or legal terms when describing the rejected parent.
Absence of Guilt or Remorse – The child shows little to no empathy for the targeted parent’s feelings.
Rigid “Black-and-White” Thinking – One parent is viewed as “all good,” and the other as “all bad.”
Resistance to Visits or Contact – The child refuses communication, calls, or time with the parent despite previous closeness.
Sudden Change in Behavior – School performance, mood, and social interactions begin to shift as conflict between parents increases.
Borrowed Narratives – The child repeats the same language, complaints, or opinions expressed by one parent.
How Reunification Therapy Helps
Parental alienation and child refusal cases often require a structured therapeutic process designed to rebuild trust and restore the parent-child relationship.
Reunification therapy is a specialized form of family therapy used when a child has become resistant, fearful, or unwilling to maintain contact with a parent following conflict, separation, or loyalty dynamics between parents.
At The Couples Therapy & Reunification Counseling, our clinicians use a child-centered and attachment-informed approach to rebuild connection while ensuring emotional safety for the child gradually.
Reunification Therapy Often Includes:
• Individual sessions with the child to understand their emotional experience
• Parent coaching to help parents respond effectively to resistance
• Structured reunification sessions designed to rebuild connection
• High-conflict co-parenting guidance for long-term family stability
Each case is approached carefully and at the pace appropriate for the child and family system.
In many situations, reunification therapy works alongside attorneys, custody evaluators, and court orders to support the child’s wellbeing and the restoration of healthy parent-child relationships.
How We Assess Parental Alienation
We do not assume, we assess.
Our therapists are trained in trauma-informed, court-aligned, and evidence-based methods to determine whether alienation is occurring. We utilize:
✔️ Research-based assessments and structured interviews
✔️ Behavioral observations during sessions
✔️ Parent and child questionnaires
✔️ Attachment and family systems frameworks
✔️ Clinical documentation that aligns with legal standards
These assessments not only help identify alienation but also guide us in creating a clear, structured plan for reunification focused on safety, emotional regulation, and rebuilding trust at a pace that supports the child’s well-being.
Children exposed to coercive control often experience:
Chronic anxiety or fear of upsetting a caregiver
Confusion about their own feelings or memories
Difficulty trusting themselves or others
Emotional withdrawal, compliance, or heightened distress
Fear of expressing affection toward the other parent
This type of control can be intentional or unintentional. In many cases, caregivers may not realize how their behavior impacts a child’s emotional development. Regardless of intent, the effect on the child’s nervous system and attachment can be significant.
At The Couples Therapy & Reunification Counseling, we approach these situations with care, humility, and a focus on learning, not blame.
Children deserve to feel free to love, connect, and be themselves, without fear, pressure, or emotional control
For Attorneys and Court Professionals
Our clinic regularly collaborates with legal professionals involved in high-conflict custody matters.
We work with:
• Family law attorneys
• Minor’s counsel
• Custody evaluators
• Court-ordered therapy referrals
Our clinicians provide structured reunification therapy designed to address parent child estrangement, resistance, and alienation dynamics while prioritizing the emotional wellbeing of the child.
We understand the complexity of these cases and provide a therapeutic process focused on rebuilding connection, improving communication, and supporting long term family stability.
If you are an attorney seeking reunification therapy services for a case, we invite you to learn more about our process.
Begin Healing from Parental Alienation Syndrome in Montebello, Newport Beach, Nearby Areas, or Online
01.
Book Free Consultation
02.
Match with Therapist
03.
Start Your Therapy Sessions
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![headshot of maria jessica quiroz a couples therapist in la at the couples therapy and reunification counseling, therapist in montebello ca, therapy in la]()
Maria Jessica Quiroz, LMFT
Clinical Director Reunification and Couples Expert
Relationship Expert
Montebello and Newport Beach, CA
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![Michelle Cortez]()
Michelle Cortez, AMFT
Reunification & Couples Specialist
Newport Beach, CA
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![headshot of angelique st jean an addiction counselor in newport beach ca at the couples therapy and reunification counseling]()
Angelique St. Jean
Addiction Recovery, Trauma, and Family Systems Therapy
Newport Beach, CA
Frequently Asked Questions About Parental Alienation Syndrome Therapy
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Therapy provides a structured and supportive space to address the effects of parental alienation. At The Couples Therapy and Reunification Counseling in Montebello, CA, our trauma-informed therapists use clinical assessments and observational tools to help determine whether alienation is occurring and to guide treatment effectively.
Rebuild trust and communication between the alienated parent and child
Address underlying emotional issues contributing to the alienation
Develop coping strategies for both parents and children
Facilitate court-ordered reunification processes when necessary.
Our goal is to restore healthy, loving relationships within the family.
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Reunification therapy is typically not covered by insurance, as it is often court ordered and considered a specialized service focused on family reintegration rather than a traditional mental health diagnosis.
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During your free 10-minute consultation, you'll have the opportunity to:
Discuss your specific concerns and goals
Learn about our therapeutic approach to parental alienation
Ask any questions about the therapy process
Determine if our services are the right fit for your family's needs
This no-pressure conversation is designed to provide clarity and comfort as you take the first step toward healing.
Read What Our Therapists in Montebello and Newport Beach, CA Are Talking About
Visit Our Mental Health Clinic
Book Appointment:
Monday - Friday: 9AM – 6PM
Saturday: 8AM - 4PM
Sunday: Closed
Clinic Hours:
Directions:
MONTEBELLO
NEWPORT BEACH
🚨 Important Notice: Emergency Situations 🚨
If you are experiencing a crisis, feeling unsafe, or need immediate assistance, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
For mental health emergencies, you can also contact:
📞 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Dial 988 (Available 24/7)
📞 National Domestic Violence Hotline – 1-800-799-7233
📞 Crisis Text Line – Text HELLO to 741741
Our practice does not provide emergency services. If you need immediate help, please seek emergency support.