Author: Kate Amber, MSc

My name is Kate Amber MSc. I hold a master's degree in the psychology of coercive control from the University of Salford and a post-graduate certification in violence and abuse prevention executive leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. My lived expertise in coercive control includes surviving domestic abuse, a cult-like group, and multiple coercively controlling systems. and relationships Through decades of lived experience and years of post-graduate study in trauma, undue influence, brainwashing, narcissistic abuse & coercive control, I conduct research & and develop coercive control training programs, like The Quicksand Model® of Coercive Control, to facilitate #SystemicTransformation.

When the Mirage Is Revealed: Trump, DARVO, and the Quicksand Model® of Coercive Control

As an expert in coercive control and the creator of The Quicksand Model®, I’ve spent years teaching professionals and survivors alike how to recognize the patterns of domination, gaslighting, and narrative manipulation that define coercive and controlling abusive power. This week, the US political landscape has provided a stark, public demonstration of these dynamics—on a […]

Institutional Betrayal: From “Witch” to “Parental Alienator”—How Family Courts Silence Protective Parents

Disclaimer: It is important to acknowledge that not all victims of coercive control are women, and not all coercive controllers are men. People of all genders can experience or perpetrate coercive control. However, statistically and according to extensive research, the harms of coercive control are predominantly, and most dangerously, inflicted against women. This reality is […]

The Quicksand Model® of Coercive Control: Reflections on the Assassination of Charlie Kirk

Kate Amber, MSc Posted on: September 17, 2025 The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk has sent shockwaves through the nation, not only for the tragic loss of life but also for the disturbing patterns of coercive control that have emerged in the aftermath. As the founder of The Quicksand Model® and a lifelong supporter of ending coercive […]

Three D’s of Coercive Control in Action: Double Speak, Double Down, and Double Standards in the Yemen Signal Messages Scandal

Examining How Government Officials Deploy Classic Coercive Control Tactics in the Wake of Leaked Military Communications

Sinking in the Quicksand of Coercive Control: How Force, Fraud, and Fear Erode America’s Democratic Foundations

As a survivor, researcher, and consultant in the field of coercive control, I’ve dedicated my career to understanding and combating the insidious tactics used by coercive controllers to manipulate and dominate others. Today, we find ourselves facing a stark reality: the strategies of coercive control, as outlined in The Quicksand Model®, transcend personal relationships and […]

Stuck in the Muck: Why Trump’s Reign Feels Like Quicksand

In the political landscape, power dynamics are always in play, but what happens when these dynamics shift from the usual tug-of-war into the realm of coercive control? As we reflect on Trump’s time in office, we see parallels between his tactics and strategies and the pattern often seen in intimate relationships characterized by coercive control. […]

Coercive Control & The Double Bind of the Continuing Resolution

Coercive Control Through the Lens of The Quicksand Model®

Exposing the Insidious Nature of DARVO in the Viral Town Hall Incident

As Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of End Coercive Control USA (ECCUSA), I am deeply concerned about the recent viral video depicting a woman being forcefully removed from a town hall meeting. This disturbing incident serves as a unique systemic example of the insidious tactic known as DARVO. DARVO, one of the coercive controller’s weapons in The Quicksand […]

Targeted & Entrapped: Understanding the Quicksand Model® of Coercive Control

Introduction to The Quicksand Model of Coercive Control The Quicksand Model of Coercive Control, developed by (me) Kate Amber and utilized by End Coercive Control USA, is a survivor-centered, trauma-informed framework that explains the layered tactics and strategies coercive controllers use to entrap and dominate their targeted victims. This model categorizes coercive control tactics and […]

Double Speak – Coercive Controller’s Weaponization of Language

Double Speak – Coercive Controller’s Weaponization of Language: An Analysis of JD Vance’s Tweet Using The Quicksand Model® of Coercive Control In the complex landscape of political discourse, language often serves as a powerful tool for shaping perceptions and influencing public opinion. The recent tweet by J.D. Vance, U.S. Vice President, provides a compelling case […]