For many years therapists have shied away from treating clients who suffer from severe personality disorders. In fact, many health insurance companies will deny reimbursement for treating Axis II disorders (Kersting, 2004). Yet, what happens when a parent with a personality disorder fears losing his or her children in a high conflict custody battle? How does that parent cope? According to the literature, many of these vulnerable parents commonly resort to using primitive defenses such as denial, projection, idealization, devaluation, and splitting (Bernet et al., 2017; Gordon et al., 2008; Kopetski, 1998). Continue reading “Issues in Diagnosing Parental Alienation”
