The Rising Beyond Podcast

If you have ever had your therapist tell you, "That's a legal issue, talk to your attorney," only to have your attorney tell you, "That's something to talk about with your therapist," you know how frustrating it can be to feel like you're the only person connecting all the pieces.

And in cases involving coercive control, post-separation abuse, and family court, those pieces are rarely separate.

A child's anxiety around parenting-time exchanges may show up in therapy, at school, at the pediatrician's office, and in a court filing. An attorney, therapist, evaluator, advocate, teacher, and medical provider may each be seeing a different part of the same family's experience.

Each professional has an important role, and staying within that role matters. But staying in your professional lane does not have to mean working in a silo.

In this episode, we're talking about why collaboration matters so much in these cases, the difference between staying within your scope and simply saying "that's not my job," and what can happen when the survivor is left trying to connect all of the dots herself.

We'll also talk about what meaningful collaboration can actually look like without asking professionals to step outside of their expertise, and a few things you can ask for when the professionals supporting your family aren't communicating.

Because children don't experience therapy over here, family court over there, school somewhere else, and coercive control in another little box.

It's all one life.

And if we want to understand what is happening to families experiencing coercive control, sometimes we need to get better at seeing the whole picture. 

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

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Mica Miller’s story has brought coercive control into the public conversation, but this episode is not about speculating about her death or turning her life into another true crime story.

It is about learning to recognize the pattern.

When we look at each behavior separately, the seriousness can be easy to miss. A tracking device. Repeated messages and calls. Financial control. Public humiliation. Sexual coercion. Using mental health systems against someone. One incident may not tell us the whole story, but together they can reveal a pattern designed to take away a person’s autonomy, stability, and ability to safely leave.

Mica also reportedly reached out for help multiple times. Yet she encountered misunderstanding, legal limitations, and systems that seemed to conclude there was little or nothing they could do.

We talk about:

• The patterns of coercive control reportedly present in Mica’s story
• Why these behaviors are often minimized when viewed one at a time
• What may happen when professionals recognize an incident but miss the pattern
• The red tape and legal limitations survivors can face when they ask for help
• Why “nothing can be done” should never mean nothing else is offered
• What professionals, family members, faith communities, and support systems can learn moving forward

We may not always have the legal remedy a survivor needs. But we can believe her fear, document the pattern, help her understand her options, connect her with additional support, and make sure she does not leave believing that “nothing can be done” means no one can help.

Mica’s story should push all of us to learn more, listen differently, and get better at recognizing coercive control before it is too late.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of domestic violence, coercive control, stalking, sexual abuse, and suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 in the United States. For domestic violence support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE or text START to 88788.

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

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A protective mom is preparing for her final family court hearing after receiving a fairly neutral CFI report. The evaluator acknowledged that domestic violence occurred during the relationship but did not recognize the post-separation abuse she continues to experience.

Although the parenting-time recommendations leaned slightly in her favor, the CFI did not recommend sole decision-making. After hearing stories about judges disregarding evaluators’ recommendations, she is struggling to hold onto hope without setting herself up for even more heartbreak.

In this Friday Coaching Corner, we explore:

1. Is it realistic to hope for sole decision-making when the CFI did not recommend it?
2. How can she prepare for court without becoming consumed by other people’s horror stories?
3. How can she explain the post-separation abuse the evaluator missed without appearing to attack the CFI or reject the report?

When so much is outside of your control, how do you prepare thoughtfully, stay grounded, and still leave room for hope?

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

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Family court asks survivors to explain years of coercive control within a system that often focuses on isolated incidents, limited evidence, and only a few hours of conversation. So how do you make sure the right information is actually heard?

In this episode, I’m joined by Renee Rodriguez from The Custody Blueprint and Best Foot Forward Consulting, LLC. Renee shares how her own experience with coercive control and a custody battle led her to combine her professional background in strategy with a passion for helping protective parents prepare for family court and custody evaluations.

We talk about why having the truth is not always enough in family court. Survivors also need to understand how to organize their evidence, communicate the impact on their children, work in partnership with their attorney, and stay grounded enough to be understood by evaluators and other professionals.

Renee introduces the three pillars she uses with clients: strategy, evidence, and mindset. We also discuss the idea of developing a “court persona” that allows you to show up as an authentic, capable, child-centered parent without allowing trauma, fear, or the other parent’s accusations to pull you away from what the court needs to understand.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why custody evaluations can hold so much weight in family court
• The gap between passing new domestic violence laws and implementing them effectively
• Why your attorney cannot be your savior and what it means to truly partner with them
• The difference between having a plan and having a strategy
• How preparation can reduce some of the anxiety created by uncertainty
• Why the strongest evidence often focuses on the impact on the child
• How to communicate your concerns without sounding like you are simply badmouthing the other parent
• The importance of presenting as a parent rather than a litigant
• Why healing and the family court timeline rarely move together
• The different roles a therapist, attorney, domestic violence advocate, divorce coach, and custody strategist can play
• What child therapists notice during intakes and throughout treatment
• Why play therapy and other expressive therapies may be especially helpful for children experiencing coercive control

This conversation does not pretend that there is a perfect way to navigate a deeply imperfect system. It does offer practical insight into how protective parents can prepare, communicate more clearly, and make intentional decisions about what information may help professionals understand what their children are experiencing.

Learn more about Renee:
Website: https://www.bestfootforwardllc.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecustodyblueprint
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/custody-help/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecustodyblueprint/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCustodyBlueprint
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecustodyblueprint
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thecustodyblueprint
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thecustodyblueprint

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
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If it feels like no one fully understands what happens at the intersection of domestic violence and the larger systems survivors are forced to navigate, this conversation is for you.

So many women we serve are not only healing from coercive control. They are also trying to make sense of what happens when the systems they believed would help instead dismiss their experiences, restrict their choices, or prevent them from acting in ways that align with their values.

Dr. Summer Rippe, one of my therapists, colleagues, and friends, recently completed research on moral injury among women survivors of domestic violence. Her work examines how coercive control, betrayal, and constrained moral agency can disrupt a survivor’s sense of identity, values, and moral selfhood.
In this episode, we talk about what moral injury can look like, how it differs from other ways we understand trauma, and the impact of being forced to make impossible choices. We also discuss how institutional betrayal can deepen the harm when survivors are disbelieved, blamed, or pressured to participate in decisions they believe may hurt themselves or their children.

We discuss the possible impact of this and future research on the professionals that survivors find themselves relying on.  

If you have ever thought, “I knew what my child needed, but I wasn’t allowed to protect them,” this conversation may help put language to an experience that has been incredibly difficult to explain.

Connect w/ Summer: https://www.instagram.com/emergingmeaningcounseling/  

About Summer: Dr. Summer Rippe is a counselor educator, researcher, and licensed professional counselor candidate specializing in complex trauma, dissociation, domestic violence, and moral injury. She recently completed her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision at Colorado Christian University, where her dissertation explored the lived experiences of moral injury among women survivors of domestic violence. Her research examines how coercive control, betrayal, and constrained moral agency can disrupt survivors’ sense of identity, values, and moral selfhood. In addition to her research, Summer teaches master's level counseling students and provides trauma-focused clinical care, with a particular interest in helping survivors move toward meaning, integration, and moral repair.

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

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If they see the safety concerns, why can’t they tell the court?

In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the role of a treating therapist in cases involving coercive control, post-separation abuse, and family court. I explain why a child’s therapist must remain focused on the child, why a survivor’s therapist may be cautious about testifying, and how therapy records, diagnoses, and even honest testimony can sometimes be weaponized.

But staying within our clinical role does not mean therapists have to remain silent about the larger systems affecting our clients.

I also explore the ways mental health professionals can make an impact beyond the therapy room through continued education, collaboration, thoughtful documentation, professional training, public education, and advocacy.

We explore:

• Why treating therapists generally cannot make parenting-time or decision-making recommendations.
• Why testifying may not always help—and can sometimes create additional risks for clients.
• How therapists can protect a child’s privacy and the trust built in therapy.
• Why diagnoses, records, and disclosures may be weaponized in family court.
• The importance of collaboration among therapists, attorneys, evaluators, GALs, and other professionals.
• How clinicians can advocate for survivors and children without practicing outside their scope.
• Why therapists have a role in changing the systems that shape their clients’ safety and healing.

I would love to hear from both survivors and mental health professionals: What do you wish therapists could do in these cases? What has surprised you about their role? And where could therapists make the greatest impact beyond an individual case?

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

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What if just one professional truly understood coercive control?

What if your therapist, evaluator, attorney, judge, child protection worker, or GAL recognized the patterns that so often go unseen?

Would your family's story look different?

In this episode, I share more than 20 of the most important things I believe professionals need to understand about coercive control, post-separation abuse, and the experiences of protective parents and children.

These aren't abstract theories. They are lessons I've learned from years of working with survivors, children, and families—and from listening to the stories of people who have lived through these systems.

Whether you're a survivor hoping professionals will better understand your experience or you're a professional wanting to improve your practice, I hope this episode sparks curiosity, conversation, and change.

We explore:

• Why looking at isolated incidents causes professionals to miss the larger pattern of coercive control.
• How children experience coercive control—and why their behaviors should invite curiosity rather than quick conclusions.
• The mindset shifts professionals need to better recognize, assess, and respond to coercive control while supporting protective parents and children.

This episode is also an invitation.

As I continue developing trainings for therapists, evaluators, attorneys, judges, and other professionals, I want to hear from you.

What did I miss?

What do you wish every professional understood that could have changed your family's story?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Couples Therapy Episode - “Ep 212: When Couples Therapy Causes Harm | Understanding Coercive Control in the Therapy Room with Frances Russell, LMFT”  https://www.buzzsprout.com/1991648/episodes/19493873

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

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This week's question comes from a protective mom navigating one of the most heartbreaking and misunderstood situations in family court.

Her teenage daughter refuses to go to her dad's house. She's crying, begging not to go, and sometimes won't even get out of the car. She's too old to physically carry, and her mom doesn't want to force her in a way that could be traumatic. At the same time, she's terrified that if she doesn't somehow "make her go," the court will accuse her of alienation or violating the parenting plan.

What is a protective parent supposed to do in a situation like this?

In this Friday Coaching Corner, we explore the difference between facilitating parenting time and forcing a child, why that distinction matters, and how to navigate these impossible moments in a way that supports your child while making reasonable efforts to follow court orders.

I answer the questions:

• What should I actually do when my teen refuses to get out of the car for parenting time?
• Where is the line between encouraging my child and forcing them?
• How can I show the court that I am supporting parenting time without traumatizing my child or appearing to alienate?

Whether you're living this situation now or simply wondering how you would respond if it happened, this episode offers practical guidance, a trauma-informed perspective, and a mindset shift that can help you navigate one of the most difficult parenting dilemmas protective parents face.

Want to have your questions featured on a Friday Coaching Corner? Send me a short summary of your situation and 2–3 questions at [email protected].

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice, mental health treatment, or a substitute for advice from professionals familiar with your specific situation. Every parenting plan and court order is different. If you have questions about your legal obligations or your child's safety, consult with a qualified attorney and other professionals knowledgeable about coercive control and family court dynamics. 

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

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Back-to-school season often brings more than new teachers, new classmates, and new routines.

For many protective parents, it also marks the beginning of a new round of smear campaigns.

Whether it's with teachers, other parents, coaches, family members, or professionals involved in your case, someone who uses coercive control often looks for opportunities to shape the narrative before you have a chance to tell your own story.

The result? Anxiety. Isolation. Self-doubt. And the overwhelming urge to defend yourself.

But what if your greatest strength isn't convincing everyone you're telling the truth?

What if it's learning to stay grounded in your values while allowing your consistency to speak louder than their accusations?

In this episode, we explore practical mindset shifts that can help you respond differently to smear campaigns while protecting both your peace and your credibility.

In this episode, we answer:

• How do I stop a smear campaign from taking over my thoughts and emotions?
• When should I respond to false accusations—and when is it better not to?
• How can I protect my credibility without constantly defending myself?

If you've ever found yourself replaying conversations, worrying about what other people think, or wondering how to protect your reputation without losing yourself in the process, this episode is for you.

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
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Artificial intelligence is everywhere, including family court.

More and more protective parents are telling me that their ex has suddenly started sending perfectly written messages, using AI to draft legal documents, or threatening to subpoena their ChatGPT conversations.

It's understandable to feel intimidated.

But does AI actually give an abusive person more power?

Or is it simply another tool that can be used well—or misused?

In this episode, I'm joined by divorce coach and author Rina Rosewell to unpack the growing role of AI in coercive control, post-separation abuse, and family court. We discuss both the opportunities and the limitations of AI, along with practical ways survivors can use it without becoming dependent on it.

In this episode, we answer:

• Should I be worried if my ex suddenly starts using AI to write messages or court documents?
• Can AI actually help me communicate, organize my case, and reduce the emotional toll of post-separation abuse?
• What are the limitations of AI, and why shouldn't it replace the support of safe, trusted people in your healing?

Whether you're curious about AI, already using it, or feeling anxious because your ex has discovered it, this conversation will help you separate fear from facts and use this technology in ways that support—not replace—your healing.

About Rina: Rina Rosewell is a CDC Certified Divorce Coach, High-Conflict Coach, and Amazon bestselling author of AI ARMOR: Your Digital Defense Solution for Coparenting with a Narcissist. She helps post-separation abuse survivors use AI strategically to communicate, document, and protect themselves when their ex weaponizes every interaction.

Find Rina:
https://lifeafteranabusiverelationship.com/
https://rinas-newsletter-fbfe96.beehiiv.com/

Please leave us a review or rating and follow/subscribe to the show. This helps the show get out to more people.

If you want to chat more about this topic, I would love to continue our conversation over on Instagram! @risingbeyondpc

If you want to support the show, you may do so here at Buy Me A Coffee. Thank you! We love being able to make this information accessible to you and your community.

If you've been looking for a supportive community of women going through the topics we cover, head over to our website to learn more about the Rising Beyond Community. - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/

Wondering where to start? Check out our top free resources - https://www.risingbeyondpc.com/resources.html

If you're interested in guesting on the show, please fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSvLWWyZxmJ8GGQu7

Where to find more from Rising Beyond:
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