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...

Divorce is difficult for everyone involved, but when one parent becomes coercive and emotionally manipulative, the burden often falls...

When divorcing a high-conflict co-parent (HCCP) they may continue harm you through the weaponization of the children. Many times they do...

Emotional manipulation by a co-parent can be harmful to children and can create a toxic environment. Here are some signs that a co-parent...

It's well-known children caught in the middle of a distressing divorce are going to have emotional and behavioral responses to the change...