The Author addresses the phenomenon of parental refusal that a child may manifest in some situations following separation. The issue is framed within specific scenarios in which emerging intertwining rela-tionships support and reinforce the refusal itself and provide frames of meaning for its occurrence. The implications that the refusal and the type of relationships in which it entails have on the development needs of the child and on the entire family system are examined. Finally, the various contexts and possible specialist interventions in this type of sit-uation are discussed.
Keywords: Effects of separation on children, refusal of a parent, in-tertwining relationships, separation scenarios, development paths, contexts of intervention.