Hi, I’m Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola.
I’m a Therapist, a Parenting Coach for protective parents navigating coercive control, & a Divorce/Custody Coach. I specialize in the traumatic experiences of adult and child victims of Coercive Control / Narcissistic Abuse. My team and I support victims-survivors before escape, after escape, navigating family court, and most imperatively, how best to support children harmed by the coercive controller.
I've been doing this work for over almost 4 decades, since the age of 19, yet I didn't know it was happening to me. Coercive Control can be so insidious - physical violence is not the defining characteristic - a pattern of coercion and control is the defining characteristic. Abusers do not show up with signs saying "I am an abuser." It took me many attempts to escape - and escape is elusive, since we know that when a victim finally does attempt to escape, the Coercive Control intensifies. Coercive Control is the underpinning of all abuse - and where there are children they are often weaponized.
Coercively controlling parents act willfully and with intent to maliciously fracture attachment to the protective parent. This is an unacknowledged child abuse.
As a trained therapist, someone who studied Coercive Control under the tutelage of Dr. Evan Stark - the propeller of the term - I’m here to help. More than that, I am a victim-survivor and a protective parent. I understand your circumstances. I’ve been there. I believe that we all have amazing influence and can REIGNITE & FORTIFY our child's (secure) attachment to us, ensuring they are always reminded that we are their protective parent.
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.
