Perfect Prey: A Coercive Control Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode of Perfect Prey, I sit down with Dr. Jaime Zuckerman, a licensed clinical psychologist and national expert in narcissistic abuse, to uncover the hidden dynamics of coercive control and narcissistic relationships. Dr. Zuckerman shares her deep expertise from years of working with survivors, offering insight into the traits that make individuals vulnerable, the subtle and overt patterns of abuse, and the critical need for better clinician training to identify these behaviors.

As the founder of The Z Group, host of the Next Up: Narcissism podcast, and author of two interactive workbooks—Find Your Calm and Find Good Habits—Dr. Zuckerman brings practical tools and real-world strategies for reclaiming your power, setting boundaries, and rebuilding your life. She also shares a sneak peek at her upcoming guided workbook designed to help survivors navigate narcissistic abuse in any type of relationship.

Whether you’re a survivor, a clinician, or someone seeking to understand the insidious nature of coercive control, this episode provides clarity, guidance, and the support you need to recognize patterns and take back your power.

Connect with Dr. Zuckerman:

• Workshops: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/workshops
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.z_psychologist/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJaimeZuckerman
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.z_psychologist
• Narcissistic Abuse Coaching: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/
• Therapy with The Z Group: https://www.zgrouptherapy.com/
• Podcast: Next Up: Narcissism https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/podcast
• Books: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/books

In this episode of Perfect Prey, I sit down with Vanessa Reiser, LCSW, a renowned psychotherapist, speaker, and advocate who has dedicated her career to helping survivors of narcissistic abuse and coercive control reclaim their lives.

Vanessa is the founder of Tell a Therapist, a nationwide telehealth platform, and the author of Narcissistic Abuse: A Therapist’s Guide, a groundbreaking resource that not only unpacks the devastating impact of narcissistic and cult abuse but also offers clinicians the training and tools they need to support survivors in the healing process.

Together, we explore what coercive control looks like in real life. We talk about why certain people are more vulnerable to narcissistic abuse, the toll it takes on mental health, and how survivors can begin to recognize the patterns and break free.

We also shine a light on the unique challenges survivors face in family court when narcissistic abuse is involved, and why therapist training in this area is so urgently needed. Vanessa’s book is an essential guide for professionals and survivors alike, offering not just insight but hope—that recovery is possible, and that healing from narcissistic abuse is about reclaiming your voice, your power, and your life.

Connect with Vanessa:

• Narcissistic Abuse: A Therapist’s Guide: https://www.amazon.com/Narcissistic-Abuse-Therapists-Identifying-Manipulative/dp/0306833174
• Tell a Therapist: https://tellatherapist.net/
• Follow Vanessa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessareiserlcsw/

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

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

🔸Services for Professionals: https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/services/for-professionals/

🔸Private Coaching: https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/private-coaching/

🔸Free Guide: Clinical Implications for Children Who Are Coercively Controlled: https://drchristinemarie.kartra.com/page/childvictimofccgrowthguide

Dr. C interviews Anne Wintemute, the co-creator of Aimee Says, an AI tool that understands coercive control and supports victims and survivors of abuse. Anne Wintemute is the Co-Founder and CEO of Aimee Says, the AI companion for victims and survivors of relationship abuse. She is a fierce champion for the rights of survivors and children and systems that hold perpetrators accountable.

---🔸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 sits down with Sybil Cummin, licensed therapist, play therapy expert, and founder of Rising Beyond, to discuss the hidden world of child therapy and coercive control.

Sybil shares her front-line experience working with children who have been weaponized, silenced, and fractured by narcissistic or coercively controlling parents—especially in the context of family court and custody battles. She reveals how kids show their trauma in play, how therapists can (and often don’t) catch the signs, and why protective parents are often the best therapists their kids have.

🔸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/pppwselfstudy

Download VEST2.1K and Repeatables FREE Guide: https://go.drcocchiola.com/vest-free-guide

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