In coercive dynamics, the line between protection and punishment can get blurry. What looks like distance might be safety. What feels like silence might be regulation. And what sounds like “honesty” might actually be intimidation. Many trauma responses and coercive control tactics look identical on the surface, but they’re fueled by completely different intentions. The difference isn’t in what   the person does. It’s why  they do it. Let's break down the psychological behavio

In family court, one of the most damaging confusions is between a victim of abuse and a person with a victim mentality. On the surface, both may appear distressed, reactive, or emotional. But psychologically, they operate from completely different places, one from survival, the other from manipulation. Understanding this difference isn’t just semantic. It determines whose voice gets believed, whose evidence gets minimized, and whose narrative shapes the court’s perception of

Divorcing someone who operates through coercive control isn’t a “high-conflict divorce.” It’s not two people struggling to communicate or...

When you’re co-parenting with someone who uses manipulation, name-calling, or insulting as a tactic, it’s easy to get pulled into their...

In a coercive control dynamic, children often live in two very different emotional worlds. With the coercive parent, emotions are...

Divorce can be difficult under any circumstances, but when one parent engages in coercive control, it becomes an ongoing battle rather...

Co-parenting should be about cooperation, respect, and prioritizing the well-being of the child. However, in cases of coercive...

Co-parenting with a high-conflict individual can feel like you’re always on the defense. Their accusations, shifting narratives, and...

Is your co-parent neglecting the kids’ activities? Do they often put their needs before the kids and claim they can do what they want...

While some forms of abuse are obvious there are also indirect or more covert forms of abuse that are so subtle they will go under the...