European University of Lefke (EUL) Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Social Services organized a conference themed “Children in Divorce Process; Alienation to the parents”. Prof Dr. Fuat Torun from Yeni Yüzyıl University Gaziosmanpaşa Hospital attended the conference as a speaker.

Özgür: Divorces are as normal as marriages

The conference started with the opening speech of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özge Özgür, Academician of EUL Department of Social Services. Özgür pointed out that divorces are as normal as marriages and added that what affects the children is the unhealthy divorce processes. She further highlighted the role of social workers in dealing with these problems and the importance of identifying the alienation syndrome to the parents.

Torun, discussed the negative effects of alienation syndrome with parents, especially on children

Giving information on the divorce process and alienation syndrome with parents, Torun discussed the conditions of occurrence of alienation syndrome and the negative effects of the syndrome, especially on children, which are frequently encountered in our society but not mentioned too much.

Torun: The most important symptom of alienation is that the child is unfairly subjected to a slander campaign against the other parent.

Pointing out that the deliberate and programmatic alienation of the child from one parent to the other parent is a common occurrence in conflicts about child custody, Torun said that “The most important symptom of alienation is that the child is unfairly subjected to a slander campaign against the other parent. With the guidance of a parent and the child’s participation in the libel campaign, a brainwashing process takes place against the target parent”. Stating that many scientists refer to this situation as alienation syndrome with parents, Torun said that “However, the debate on the validity of this concept still continues”.

Torun said that in the process of alienation, which begins immediately after some divorce cases, one of the parents takes on the role of alienating and starts alienating and using the child against the other parent and added that “This exposes children to severe emotional abuse and may result in depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and many mental illnesses from destruction of the image of the other parent in children”.

The conference, where the students of Social Work, Child Development, Psychology and Law Department showed great interest, was completed with question and answer session.