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.

Defying Gravity

An Analysis of “Wicked” Through The Quicksand Model® of Coercive Control and Institutional Betrayal “Wicked,” the renowned Broadway musical reimagining of “The Wizard of Oz,” offers a compelling narrative for exploring the intricate dynamics of power, manipulation, and coercive control within both personal relationships and institutional contexts. By employing a multifaceted approach that combines my Quicksand Model® […]

The Hidden Epidemic: Coercive Control, Parental Alienation, and Institutional Abuse in Family Courts

As we approach the end of 2024, it’s crucial to shed light on the pervasive issues plaguing our family court systems and the devastating impact they have on protective parents, mostly mothers, and their children. Today, I want to delve into the interconnected web of coercive control, parental alienation, reunification camps, and institutional abuse within family courts. These issues are not just […]

The weapons of Coercive Control

The Quicksand Model® of Coercive Control serves as a vital framework for training programs aimed at educating individuals and organizations on how to recognize, intervene in, and prevent coercive control. These programs are tailored to support families, businesses, non-profits, communities, and various organizations in dismantling harmful patterns of coercive control. The ultimate goal is to replace […]

Understanding The Quicksand Model® of Coercive Control

The Quicksand Model® of Coercive Control is a groundbreaking training program  designed to make the often invisible tactics of coercive control visible and understandable. This model synthesizes 70 years of research and theory across various fields, including domestic abuse, human trafficking, cults, extremism, and trauma, to provide professionals with the tools needed to detect, intervene […]

Could criminalizing coercive control further harm female victims?

In response to the question “Could criminalizing coercive control further harm female victims?” the concise answer is a resounding yes. This concern is frequently voiced by global domestic violence organizations when survivors seek legislative changes to outlaw coercive control. While this apprehension is valid, it’s worth noting that from the 1970s onwards, as domestic violence […]

Is coercive control intentional?

Coercive controllers are the puppeteers of manipulation! Every strategy they employ against their chosen victims at the start of the “relationship” to fabricate The Mirage, is also utilized on friends, family, and anyone within their surrounding circle. The implementation of these coercive control tactics usually intensifies when their main target begins to comprehend the abuse. However, […]

Coercive Control Research Study Opportunity

This research study on coercive control is being conducted by Kacey Baker, a master’s student in the psychology of coercive control program at the University of Salford. If you have been targeted by coercive control, please consider participating. Here are the important details: I am a researcher from The University of Salford conducting a study […]

What are the signs of coercive control?

Coercive control is a complex, nuanced, and dangerous pattern of abuses of power. It is the pattern of behavior that establishes and maintains oppression, and it is often said to be invisible in plain sight. In order to be able to see the signs of coercive control, we need to understand the biological, psychological, and […]

Context is King in Cases of Coercive Control & Domestic Violence

Commencing prior to 1970, the battered women’s movement, spearheaded by survivors and driven by aspirations to diminish domestic violence and safeguard women seeking refuge, initially framed domestic violence through a lens that persists in law enforcement and the legal system today. This lens, known as the violent incident model, continues to shape perceptions and responses to domestic […]