These brave young women share their powerful story of growing up with an abusive parent and navigating the ongoing trauma of the family court system. Their courage is undeniable—and their message is clear: Speak up if you can. Someone is listening.

DISCLAIMER:

The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast.

Dr. Christine Cocchiola explores the heartbreaking and complex issue of family estrangement and coercive control. Why are so many adult children turning against the parent who protected them? Could it be the result of slow, covert indoctrination by an abuser?Dr. Cocchiola dives deep into the psychology behind estrangement, the power dynamics within abusive family systems, and how protective parents can begin to make sense of this painful reversal. She also speaks directly to estranged young adults, asking important, reflective questions to help them see the bigger picture.🔸Follow Dr. Christine on IG: www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol🔸Visit her website: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com 🔸Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. 🔸Sign up here: https://go.drcocchiola.com/accelerated2-selfstudy

Caitlin was a protective mother, navigating the chaos of coercive control and the family court system. For years, she believed her father was her rock—until he started giving her advice on how to beat the system.

That’s when it hit her.

The very tactics she was protecting her children from… were the same ones her father used on her mother.

She hadn’t seen her mom in years. But in that moment, everything clicked. The truth rose to the surface—and with it, a deeper clarity about her past and her purpose.

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🔸Follow Dr. Christine on IG: www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol

🔸Visit her website: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com

🔸Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled.

🔸Sign up for April: go.drcocchiola.com/acceleratedself-study

🔸Sign up for September: go.drcocchiola.com/pppaccelerated-selfstudy2

David Weeks is a survivor of coercive control and human trafficking, bravely speaking out about his experiences. His growing social media following is a testament to the impact of his message. David refuses to stay silent—because abuse thrives in silence.About David:David survived two decades of horrific abuse: familial, medical, and predatory. This included neglect, isolation, coercive control, and attempted murder. Sex trafficked at 13, with known abuse ignored, he was diagnosed with autism and suffered life-altering trauma. He now educates on trauma to support survivors and protect the vulnerable.🔸Follow Dr. Christine on IG: www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol🔸Visit her website: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com 🔸Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. 🔸Sign up for April: go.drcocchiola.com/acceleratedself-study🔸Sign up for September: go.drcocchiola.com/pppaccelerated-selfstudy2

Grace, a survivor of coercive control, grew up with an abusive father and a mother who couldn’t protect her. Now, she shares her story to give a voice to those who can't speak out.

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🔸Follow Dr. Christine on IG: www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol

🔸Visit her website: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com

🔸Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled.

🔸Sign up here: https://go.drcocchiola.com/accelerated2-selfstudy

Dr. Christine Cocchiola is joined by Dr. Lisa Fontes, a leading expert on coercive control. Dr. Fontes serves as an expert witness in legal cases involving coercive control and is the author of Invisible Chains, the second book ever written on the topic. In this powerful conversation, she sheds light on the insidious tactics abusers use to manipulate and dominate their victims—often without ever resorting to physical violence. Learn More from Dr. Lisa Fontes: Lisa A. Fontes, PhD is an expert on coercive control, child abuse, and intimate partner violence. A researcher, professor, and expert witness, she has authored Invisible Chains, Interviewing Clients Across Cultures, and Child Abuse and Culture. A Senior Lecturer at UMass Amherst, she has over 30 years of experience in research, psychotherapy, and education. Her work is widely published, with millions of readers on Psychology Today and Domesticshelters.org. She has served as an expert witness in 17 states on trauma, abuse, and child development. 🔗 Get Invisible Chains: https://a.co/d/8257LNs 🌐 Visit Lisa’s website: https://lisafontes.com --- 🔸Follow Dr. Christine on IG: www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol 🔸Visit her website: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com 🔸Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. 🔸Sign up here: https://go.drcocchiola.com/accelerated2-selfstudy

Ashton Goff joins me in this heartbreaking episode to share his experiences as a child growing up in a home with a coercive controller and narcissistic abuser. He recounts being sent to a reunification camp with his abusive father and being separated from his mother for 3.5 years. Tragically, his brother remains in the custody of their abusive father. These stories are not isolated—they reflect the devastating reality faced by children worldwide who are being trafficked by family courts. ---

🔸Follow Dr. Christine on IG: www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol 🔸Visit her website: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com 🔸Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. 🔸Sign up here: https://go.drcocchiola.com/accelerated2-selfstudy

Dr. Cocchiola sheds light on the intense struggles faced by protective parents when their children are manipulated by abusers. She shares a heart-wrenching story of a mother whose child, after a period of reconnected attachment, is now making false accusations under the influence of an abuser. Through this case study, Dr. Cocchiola explores the harmful tactics of abusers, such as intimidation, isolation, and brainwashing, and how they impact a child's emotional and psychological development. 🔸Follow Dr. Christine on IG: www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol 🔸Visit her website: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com 🔸Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. 🔸Sign up here: https://go.drcocchiola.com/ppp-accelerated