Building on Dr. Christine Cocchiola’s April webinar, this advanced live training explores how coercive control affects children’s developing brains and why children living in coercively controlling family systems should be understood as direct victims of abuse rather than merely witnesses to intimate partner violence. Drawing on current research, participants will examine coercive control as a form of child abuse, its impact on children’s development, and the implications for family court practice.
At the conclusion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Describe coercive control as a form of child abuse affecting children in intimate partner violence family systems.
- Explain how coercive control impacts children’s developing brains and overall development.
- Recognize why children exposed to coercive control should be understood as direct victims rather than merely witnesses to abuse.
- Apply current research on coercive control to improve understanding of children’s experiences in family court.