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

Dr. Christine Cocchiola interviews Jules Thompson, a mother of five, lifelong domestic abuse survivor, and advocate for marginalized communities. Jules shares her journey through coercive control, from growing up in a strict religious home where individuality was suppressed to enduring two abusive marriages that left her questioning everything she thought she knew about love, faith, and identity.

About Jules:

Jules Thompson is a mother of five, a lifelong domestic violence survivor, and a 25-year veteran of the family court system. An advocate for marginalized communities, she is deeply knowledgeable in trauma recovery, the mind-body connection, and religious deconstruction. Known as a fierce social justice warrior, she channels her experiences into empowering others, using her story to inspire hope and change. Based in Colorado with her youngest daughter, she enjoys live music, the outdoors, and meaningful connections. She founded the Facebook group She is Me and is currently writing a solo book exposing covert abuses within family, religious, and court systems.

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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

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.

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.

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.

When an older or more independent child no longer fulfills the abuser's needs, they will often shift their focus to another child. This pattern is predictable, and it’s crucial to anticipate it.

Dr. C and Dr. Salerno delve into the nature and nurture of narcissism, exploring strategies to support children growing up in these family systems and help prevent them from adopting these traits.

Dr. Peter Salerno, PsyD, LMFT, is a licensed psychotherapist, trauma specialist, and award-winning author. With advanced certifications in Family and Complex Trauma, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, and Personality Disorder Treatment, he brings a science-based approach to clinical practice. Dr. Salerno is trained in EMDR and qualified to administer the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R).

He has treated mental health conditions across diverse settings, including domestic violence shelters, juvenile detention centers, and private practice. As a consultant to law enforcement, he has guided agencies in identifying and addressing personality disorders. His book, Fit for Off Duty, is required reading at the FBI Academy.

Currently, Dr. Salerno works in private practice and has authored six books.

Check out:

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