Resources for those recovering from a partner exerting coercive control

Community resources for coercive control

Books about coercive control

Why Does He Do That? Inside the minds of Angry and Controlling Men, by Lundy Bancroft (Nonfiction). This book is an empowering and actionable book on abuse with origins in coercive control. You will learn about warning signs, understand the different types of coercive control, and learn how to handle leaving, co-parenting, psychology, the legal system, and more. Excellent advice.

The Gift of Fear, by Gavin de Becker (Nonfiction). Insightful book cataloging the ways you should listen to your gut and trust the feelings of fear as they arise. So much of coercive control is built upon feeding into self doubt and distrusting your thoughts, observations, and instincts. This book powerfully reminds us how valuable those instincts are.

Mad Honey, by Jodi Picoult (Fiction). While not directly about coercive control, the main character was previously in a marriage where she was harmed by coercive control, and is still co-parenting with the coercive parent. It is affirming to have this experience documented in fiction, and not all that common.

See What You Made Me Do, by Jess Hill (Nonfiction). A journalists journey into the origins, causes, and consequences of domestic abuse. While the book covers abuse generally, the focus is on the most dangerous types of long term chronic abuse caused by coercive control.

Coercive Control in Children’s and Mothers’ Lives, by Emma Katz (Nonfiction). Looking at coercive control through the lens of the children, including how they are affected in the short and long term, and how mothers and children heal both separately and together. A thoughtful description of what children experience and need during the control and recovery.

Do you have suggestions for resources that have helped you on your journey? Let us know! We would also love if you would tell us a bit about how the resource was helpful to you.