The Quicksand Model®: Why Abuse and Violence Need a New Framework

Coercive control is the fire. Physical violence is the alarm. We have built entire systems around detecting the alarm while the fire burns across intimate partner abuse, child abuse, human trafficking, gang violence, spiritual abuse, and sexual abuse. It is time we learned to respond to both.
Coercive Control Is the Fire. Physical Violence Is the Fire Alarm.

Coercive control is the fire. Physical violence is the alarm. We have built entire systems around detecting the alarm while the fire burns across intimate partner abuse, child abuse, human trafficking, gang violence, spiritual abuse, and sexual abuse. It is time we learned to respond to both.
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 […]
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
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 […]
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 […]