Parenal Alienation: What’s Really in the Best Interest of the Kids?A listener wrote in, asking us to discuss in greater detail the concept of parental alienation. Many mainstream scientific groups say it’s not a legitimate diagnosis. What happens, though, when a lawyer brings it into a court case and the judge rules in favor of it? That’s what’s happening right now in Utah with the case of Brynlee Larson, 12, and Ty Larson, 15, who have barricaded themselves in their room because a judge ruled that their father should have time with them, even though they say he’s sexually and physically abused them in the past. 
It’s an incredibly complicated topic, and Seth and Pete are here to break it down a bit in order to better understand the case, but also to help those in cases in which parental alienation is brought up and used on one side or the other. It’s a fascinating discussion that certainly shows how tricky it is to deal with this not just in legal cases but also in emotional challenges that come when parents fight this way over their children.
Links & Notes

• ProPublic article about the case of Ty and Brynlee Larson
• Psychology Today: The Truth About Parental Alienation
• Schedule a consult with Seth
• Got a question you want to ask on the show? Click here!

• (00:00) - Welcome to How to Split a Toaster
• (00:26) - Parental Alienation
• (00:47) - The Case of Ty and Brynlee Larson
• (03:57) - Listener Question
• (09:10) - Who Has the Power?
• (14:34) - Reunification Therapy
• (15:54) - From a Legal Perspective
• (17:58) - Sponsor: Soberlink
• (20:45) - Reunification Camps
• (22:01) - Reasonable Preference of Child?
• (23:47) - Camps
• (24:43) - Aging Out
• (25:16) - Mom's Side
• (28:46) - Dad's Side
• (29:01) - Not Following Judge's Orders
• (30:21) - Legal Concept or Catchprase?
• (32:36) - Wrapping Up