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Episode 2: Unmasking Coercive Control with Dr. Cocchiola
In this conversation, Dr. Christine Cocchiola chats with hosts Ali Kessler and Erin Cooper to discuss the critical issue of coercive control in abusive relationships, emphasizing its insidious nature and the challenges victims face in the legal system. They explore the spectrum of abusers, the impact of coercive control on families, and the difficulties protective parents encounter in navigating family court. The discussion highlights the need for greater awareness and systemic change to support victims and hold abusers accountable.
Takeaways:
- Coercive control is the foundation of all forms of abuse.
- Abusers often mirror their victims to gain trust.
- The legal system frequently fails to protect victims of coercive control.
- Victims should document abusive behaviors to recognize patterns.
- Coercive control can escalate into physical violence over time.
- Many judges and court professionals lack an understanding of coercive control.
- Parental alienation is often misused in court to discredit protective parents.
- The court system tends to favor fathers, even in abusive situations.
- Victims are often disbelieved when reporting abuse in family court.
- There is a pressing need for advocacy and education on coercive control.
Sound Bites
- "Coercive control is the underpinning of all abuse."
- "Abusers are very good at mirroring who they are with."
- "The court system contributes to the abuse."
Chapters
Chapter 1: Understanding Coercive Control
Chapter 2: The Spectrum of Abusers
Chapter 3: The Impact of Coercive Control on Families
Chapter 4: Recognizing Coercive Control
Chapter 5: Navigating the Court System
Chapter 6: The Role of the Legal System
Chapter 7: The Challenges of Parental Alienation
Chapter 8: The Court's Perception of Abuse
Chapter 9: The Epidemic of Abuse
Chapter 10: Creating Change and Awareness
About Dr. Christine Cocchiola:
Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola, DSW, LCSW, is a Coercive Control Educator, Researcher, and survivor. She has been a tenured college professor teaching social work for the last twenty years and has been a social justice advocate since the age of 19, volunteering for a local domestic violence/sexual assault agency.
She supports protective parents in strategizing how best to navigate the family court system, including divorce proceedings and custody arrangements. Our family court system is often set up to harm further and betray adult victims-survivors and their children, unacknowledged child abuse victims.
Most importantly, Dr. Cocchiola is a protective parent. Through her own clinical expertise, research, and personal experiences, she understands the impact that coercive control has on children. She coaches victims and survivors as they navigate parenting their harmed children. She has created programming to educate Allies, including protective parents, clinicians, coaches, and court professionals, on the experiences of children victims of the coercive controller.
Dr. Cocchiola is a Founding Member of the International Coercive Control Conference and a member of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Board. She has actively supported codifying coercive control, writing numerous policy briefs to support these efforts.
Contact: https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/
Instagram: @dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol
Get her new book, “FRAMED” at: www.narcfreepress.com
About Ali Kessler
Ali Kessler is a writer, marketing professional, passionate parent advocate, and founder of Greyson’s Choice, a 501(c)(3) created to raise awareness about the risk of domestic abuse on children. Greyson’s Choice was founded by Ali Kessler in memory of her sweet, vibrant, and fearless 4.5-year-old son, Greyson, who was murdered by his biological father in a murder-suicide during an unsupervised, court-approved visit in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in 2021. This came just hours after her petition for a domestic violence injunction was denied by a Broward County judge, citing that the “petitioner has failed to allege any overt acts by the respondent which would constitute domestic violence under Florida Statute.”
Ali’s advocacy efforts culminated in successfully passing Greyson’s Law during the 2023 legislative session. This bill now requires the court to consider threats against ex-partners or spouses when making child visitation and custody determinations in the court, expanding to include the following factors: evidence of domestic violence, whether a parent in the past or currently has reasonable cause to believe that they or a minor child is, or has been in imminent danger of becoming the victim of domestic/sexual violence by the other parent, even if no other legal action has been brought or is currently pending in court.
Contact Ali:
Website
Subscribe, donate, listen, learn.
View all episodes
By Ali KesslerIn this conversation, Dr. Christine Cocchiola chats with hosts Ali Kessler and Erin Cooper to discuss the critical issue of coercive control in abusive relationships, emphasizing its insidious nature and the challenges victims face in the legal system. They explore the spectrum of abusers, the impact of coercive control on families, and the difficulties protective parents encounter in navigating family court. The discussion highlights the need for greater awareness and systemic change to support victims and hold abusers accountable.
Takeaways:
- Coercive control is the foundation of all forms of abuse.
- Abusers often mirror their victims to gain trust.
- The legal system frequently fails to protect victims of coercive control.
- Victims should document abusive behaviors to recognize patterns.
- Coercive control can escalate into physical violence over time.
- Many judges and court professionals lack an understanding of coercive control.
- Parental alienation is often misused in court to discredit protective parents.
- The court system tends to favor fathers, even in abusive situations.
- Victims are often disbelieved when reporting abuse in family court.
- There is a pressing need for advocacy and education on coercive control.
Sound Bites
- "Coercive control is the underpinning of all abuse."
- "Abusers are very good at mirroring who they are with."
- "The court system contributes to the abuse."
Chapters
Chapter 1: Understanding Coercive Control
Chapter 2: The Spectrum of Abusers
Chapter 3: The Impact of Coercive Control on Families
Chapter 4: Recognizing Coercive Control
Chapter 5: Navigating the Court System
Chapter 6: The Role of the Legal System
Chapter 7: The Challenges of Parental Alienation
Chapter 8: The Court's Perception of Abuse
Chapter 9: The Epidemic of Abuse
Chapter 10: Creating Change and Awareness
About Dr. Christine Cocchiola:
Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola, DSW, LCSW, is a Coercive Control Educator, Researcher, and survivor. She has been a tenured college professor teaching social work for the last twenty years and has been a social justice advocate since the age of 19, volunteering for a local domestic violence/sexual assault agency.
She supports protective parents in strategizing how best to navigate the family court system, including divorce proceedings and custody arrangements. Our family court system is often set up to harm further and betray adult victims-survivors and their children, unacknowledged child abuse victims.
Most importantly, Dr. Cocchiola is a protective parent. Through her own clinical expertise, research, and personal experiences, she understands the impact that coercive control has on children. She coaches victims and survivors as they navigate parenting their harmed children. She has created programming to educate Allies, including protective parents, clinicians, coaches, and court professionals, on the experiences of children victims of the coercive controller.
Dr. Cocchiola is a Founding Member of the International Coercive Control Conference and a member of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Board. She has actively supported codifying coercive control, writing numerous policy briefs to support these efforts.
Contact: https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/
Instagram: @dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol
Get her new book, “FRAMED” at: www.narcfreepress.com
About Ali Kessler
Ali Kessler is a writer, marketing professional, passionate parent advocate, and founder of Greyson’s Choice, a 501(c)(3) created to raise awareness about the risk of domestic abuse on children. Greyson’s Choice was founded by Ali Kessler in memory of her sweet, vibrant, and fearless 4.5-year-old son, Greyson, who was murdered by his biological father in a murder-suicide during an unsupervised, court-approved visit in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in 2021. This came just hours after her petition for a domestic violence injunction was denied by a Broward County judge, citing that the “petitioner has failed to allege any overt acts by the respondent which would constitute domestic violence under Florida Statute.”
Ali’s advocacy efforts culminated in successfully passing Greyson’s Law during the 2023 legislative session. This bill now requires the court to consider threats against ex-partners or spouses when making child visitation and custody determinations in the court, expanding to include the following factors: evidence of domestic violence, whether a parent in the past or currently has reasonable cause to believe that they or a minor child is, or has been in imminent danger of becoming the victim of domestic/sexual violence by the other parent, even if no other legal action has been brought or is currently pending in court.
Contact Ali:
Website
Subscribe, donate, listen, learn.