TRANSFORMING SYSTEMS BY MAKING COERCIVE CONTROL VISIBLE
End Coercive Control Blog
Exploring the Quicksand Model® and More:
Insights from the End Coercive Control USA Blog
Dive into the End Coercive Control USA Blog to explore the groundbreaking Quicksand Model® of Coercive Control and gain valuable insights into the patterns and impacts of coercive control and domestic abuse. This blog serves as a vital resource for survivors, advocates, and professionals, offering in-depth articles, expert perspectives, and actionable strategies to combat coercive control. From understanding the intricacies of the Quicksand Model® to uncovering tools for education and prevention, the blog provides knowledge to empower individuals and inspire change.
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 national stage… Again! Donald Trump’s behavior over the past several days is a masterclass in the weapons of coercive control, with a primary focus on the goal of Evading accountability through Escalation. As the House moves closer to releasing the full files on Jeffrey Epstein—a convicted sex trafficker with whom Trump’s connections are both deep and well-documented—the president’s responses have become increasingly erratic, vindictive, and revealing. The Quicksand Model®
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 reflected in both prevalence data and the severity of outcomes observed in family courts and related systems. This work discusses the concept of parental alienation, which does have some scientific validity as a phenomenon observed in certain family dynamics. However, when these concepts are applied within systems marked by structural inequality, their application can become unjust and may further silence or harm protective parents. When we look back at history,
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 control (even though I didn’t always know what it was called), I am compelled to examine how the administration’s and media’s responses to this event have mirrored the very dynamics of abuse and manipulation that our movement seeks to expose and dismantle. The reactions—marked by double standards, double speak, and the classic DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) maneuver—offer a sobering case study in how coercive control operates far
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 infiltrate the very institutions meant to uphold our democratic values. The recent capitulation of Paul Weiss law firm and Columbia University to presidential threats serve as chilling case studies of how the F’s of Force, Fraud, and Fear can erode the integrity of even our most respected institutions. Let’s examine these events through the lens of The Quicksand Model®, which provides a framework for understanding the dynamics of coercive control: FORCE: In the case of
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. Here, we’ll use the Quicksand Model® of coercive control to dissect this further. Before we delve into the specifics, let’s set the stage with some understanding of the Quicksand Model® and its E’s: ensnare, entrap, exploit, prevent escape through escalation, erase, and eradicate. These strategies and tactics of coercive control align with the coercive controller’s goals for domination. They act as the blueprint for the coercive controller’s actions, allowing them to systematically manipulate