CCC 28-2_LR

FROM THE PRESIDENT

FAMILY TENSION, PARENTAL ALIENATION, AND THE COST OF BROKEN BONDS Tim Clinton, Ed.D., LPC, LMFT, BCPCC i I have begun to notice a troubling pattern in conversa tions with parents, counselors, pastors, and ministry leaders across the country. An increasing number of families are describing a sudden and painful breakdown in the parent-child relationship. A son or daughter who was once close becomes distant, hostile, or completely cut off, often with little explanation and no clear path toward reconciliation. What once felt rare now seems increasingly common, and it should concern all of us who care about families. by my own child.” “My child says they feel unsafe with me.” “They’ve been told I’m the problem.” “They’ve gone no contact.” You probably see these phrases online or hear them in your counseling office, and they signal a funda mental shift in how we are talking about family conflict. There are times when distance is necessary, and wisdom requires us to name real harm honestly. However, not every broken relationship fits that explanation. Some reflect a deeper unraveling between parent and child— the kind that calls for patience, humility, and careful listening rather than quick conclusions or automatic affirmation. In many of these conversations, parents share a com mon thread and language. “I’ve been cut off and ghosted

10 Christian Counseling Connection