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.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Debunking the Myth of Mutual Abuse: A Closer Look at Coercive Control and The Quicksand Model®
Debunking the Myth of Mutual Abuse In the complex world of interpersonal relationships, one unfounded myth continues to persist – the myth of mutual abuse. This notion, which proposes that both parties in a relationship engage in consistent, reciprocal abuse, is not only ill-defined but can also be dangerously misleading. Let’s delve into the reasons why […]