Hi, I’m Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola.
I’m a Therapist, Parenting Coach for protective parents, and Divorce/Custody Coach specializing in Coercive Control. My team and I support adult and child victim-survivors before and after escape, through family court, and, most importantly, in helping children harmed by the coercive controller.
I’ve been a social justice advocate since the age of 19 and have been doing this work for almost 4 decades, yet I didn’t recognize it was happening to me. Coercive control is a multifaceted, strategic pattern of behavior that erodes another person’s autonomy and agency. It can be overt, as with physical violence, but it often starts off more subtle and insidious, and it is relentless. It took me many attempts to leave, because control intensifies when a victim tries to escape. Where there are children, they are often weaponized, as the controlling parent deliberately works to fracture their attachment to the protective parent. This is unacknowledged child abuse.
Dr. Evan Stark, the Godfather of Coercive Control, was my mentor. He described coercive control as a "liberty crime" and "like carpenter ants devouring the foundation of a house, you don't even know it's happening until it's too late."
I’ve been where you are. I've been spent almost four decades supporting victims-survivors. I understand the pathology of coercive controllers/predatory parents. And I believe protective parents are can REIGNITE & FORTIFY their children’s secure attachment to them, even while the predatory parent is attempting to (maliciously) fracture this attachment. Protective parents are their children's greatest healers.
Dr. C’s Experience in Coercive Control
as a social worker & college professor supporting victims-survivors
began advocacy work supporting adult and child victims of abuse
of clients supported via Coercive Control Consulting Institute
Understanding the Insidious Nature of Coercive Control
Coercive Controllers are narcissistic abusers who choose individuals who they impose their regime upon – Perfect Prey.
We want to help you to navigate this oppressive situation AND guide you as you parent your children, harmed by the Coercive Controller.
Coercive Controllers indoctrinate their prey, namely your children, into his or her way of thinking, a false narrative - gaslighting. It is an unacknowledged child abuse.
Since DAY ONE, the Coercive Controller has been attempting to Maliciously Fracture the Attachment that your child has to you.
We want to support Reigniting their Attachment to you – their Protective Parent.
Our children can heal – it is a marathon not a sprint – we MUST counteract the intentional harm by the Coercive Controller.
