When Control Is the Trauma: Understanding Coercive Control and Its Psychological Impact

When Control Is the Trauma: Understanding Coercive Control and Its Psychological Impact

Coercive Control Trauma: When Control Becomes the Trauma

Coercive control is a form of violence that often hides in plain sight. It can include patterns of restrictive regulation such as isolation, threats, psychological manipulation, economic abuse, technology-facilitated control, stalking, and sometimes physical and/or sexual violence. What makes coercive control particularly difficult to identify is that many individual incidents can look “unremarkable” in isolation — yet over time they can accumulate into a pattern that deprives a person of liberty, autonomy, and safety (Stark, 2007; Williamson, 2010).

While there is a growing body of literature describing the tactics used in coercive control, fewer studies have focused on the traumatic impact of these patterns on victim-survivors themselves. A recent Australian study by Kassig and Collins (2026) addresses this gap by proposing the concept of coercive control trauma — a framework intended to name and clarify the complex psychological harm that can occur when coercive control is sustained over time.

Importantly, coercive control trauma is not presented as a diagnostic category. Instead, it is a conceptual lens designed to validate lived experience, reduce confusion and self-blame, and support recovery and appropriate care (Kassig & Collins, 2026).

What Is Coercive Control?

Coercive control involves repeated behaviours that entrap another person and restrict their freedom. Rather than a single incident, it is the pattern — the cumulative, interconnected tactics — that creates the harm (Stark, 2007).

Kassig and Collins (2026) describe coercive control as a regime of domination that can include:

• Isolation (restricting access to friends, family, work, or community support)

• Threats (explicit or implicit, including threats of abandonment, self-harm, violence, or punishment)

• Psychological abuse (humiliation, manipulation, denegration, accusations, micro-management, blame)

• Economic manipulation (restricting access to money, forcing dependence, sabotaging employment)

• Technology-facilitated control (monitoring & surveillance, tracking, harassment, demands for passwords, impersonation)

• Stalking and surveillance

• Physical and/or sexual violence (for some victim-survivors, alongside the above tactics)

A key point is that coercive control does not always appear as overt aggression. It can be enacted through ordinary-looking behaviours that, when repeated, create a “condition of unfreedom” (Stark, 2007).

Why Coercive Control Is So Psychologically Damaging

Victim-survivors of coercive control often report emotions such as shame, confusion, anxiety, terror, and helplessness (Herman, 2015; Williamson, 2010). I explore the definition of coercion at length in this article. Coercion isn’t defined by intention (Lagdon et al., 2003). It’s defined by impact: whether someone feels that saying no will come with a cost. It often involves sustained pressure, including repeated persuasion, negotiation, or argument, until compliance feels like the safer option. That’s why the person’s fear, distress, or sense of entrapment is more important than the other person’s stated intentions. The person being controlled may find themselves constantly anticipating consequences, monitoring their own behaviour, and making decisions based on safety rather than preference.

Kassig and Collins (2026) note that coercive control can restrict engagement with external supports through the ongoing anticipation of negative or unpredictable consequences from the aggressor. Over time, this can create a system of isolation and risk, sometimes occurring alongside moments of affection and security, which can deepen dependence and entrapment (Herman, 2015).

This is one reason coercive control is so difficult to leave: the relationship can become both a source of threat and a source of stability, producing a powerful bind that is psychologically exhausting and disorienting.

Coercive Control Trauma: A Framework for Understanding the Harm

Kassig and Collins (2026) draw on qualitative questionnaires from 15 Australian women with lived experience of coercive control, using a theoretical thematic analysis. Their findings highlight that coercive control involves diverse tactics that are often interconnected — and that these patterns can produce a specific form of emotional trauma shaped by processes of threat and restraint.

To clarify how coercive control becomes traumatic, Kassig and Collins (2026) propose that coercive control trauma can be understood as three interrelated “attacks” on the person’s psychological functioning and sense of self:

1. An attack on autonomy and independence

2. An attack on identity and self-worth

3. The construction and maintenance of an environment of terror and helplessness

These are not separate categories — they often operate together, reinforcing each other over time.

1) An Attack on Autonomy and Independence

A core feature of coercive control is the gradual restriction of autonomy.

This may involve micro-management of daily life, controlling work and social contact, restricting access to finances, or making independence feel unsafe. Even “ordinary” acts of autonomy can become psychologically dangerous when the person expects punishment, ridicule, withdrawal, or escalation if they act independently (Kassig & Collins, 2026; Stark, 2007).

Technology-facilitated control can intensify this by allowing monitoring to occur anywhere and at any time, creating a sense of being constantly watched, judged, or tracked (Dragiewicz et al., 2018; Harris & Woodlock, 2018).

Over time, victim-survivors may stop making autonomous choices not because they agree, but because the cost of choosing freely becomes too high. The victim-survivors begins to feel like they are living in an “invisible cage” (you can read more about this here)

2) An Attack on Identity and Self-Worth

Coercive control often includes repeated psychological abuse that erodes a person’s sense of self: humiliation, accusations, blame, lying, and degradation. These tactics can dismantle self-confidence and produce profound shame (Herman, 2015; Candela, 2016).

Kassig and Collins (2026) describe how victim-survivors may progressively lose a sense of agency, independence, and even the desire to make choices. This is not a weakness, it is a survival response in an environment where resistance becomes risky.

When a person’s perceptions are repeatedly invalidated and their worth is continually undermined, they may begin to doubt their reality, mistrust their judgment, and feel increasingly trapped.

3) An Environment of Terror and Helplessness

Coercive control trauma is also shaped by an environment of ongoing fear and helplessness.

Threats, isolation, stalking, surveillance, and unpredictable punishment can generate a sustained sense of danger. Even when physical violence is not constant, the anticipation of consequences can be enough to enforce compliance (Kassig & Collins, 2026).

This ongoing threat can foster states of hypervigilance (“walking on eggshells”), emotional constriction, and a narrowing of life until survival becomes the primary goal (Herman, 2015; Williamson, 2010).

Understand Coercive Control as Trauma

The concept of coercive control trauma gives language to a form of harm that is often minimised, including by victim-survivors themselves.

Because coercive control can be subtle and cumulative, people may struggle to identify it as violence. Others may dismiss it because there are no obvious injuries or because individual incidents appear “small.” Yet the pattern can profoundly damage wellbeing by eroding autonomy, identity, and the ability to trust one’s own perception of reality (Stark, 2007; Kassig & Collins, 2026).

Naming coercive control trauma can offer:

• validation (“It makes sense that this affected me”)

• clarity (“This wasn’t just conflict, it was entrapment”)

• a framework for recovery grounded in rebuilding autonomy, identity, and safety

(Kassig & Collins, 2026)

Support is Available

If you recognise these patterns in your own life, it can be helpful to seek support outside the controlling environment. Coercive control thrives in isolation, and recovery is often supported by safe relationships, practical assistance, and trauma-informed care.

If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services or a local family violence service in your area.

Kylie Walls, a registered Psychologist at Kylie Walls Psychology, offers compassionate and professional care for those navigating difficult relationships and seeking to reclaim their autonomy and well-being. With a focus on supporting individuals in overcoming trauma and finding paths toward healing, Kylie provides a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to address these challenges.

Feel free to reach out for guidance and support as you take steps toward a healthier and safer future. You can get in contact here:

Here are some domestic violence specific supports:

1. 1800RESPECT - National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service – 1800 737 732. Available 24/7 for confidential support.

2. Domestic Violence Crisis Service – 02 8745 6999. Specialist support for individuals facing domestic violence in New South Wales, offering emergency assistance and ongoing support.

3. Women's Legal Service – 1800 816 149. Free legal advice and support for women experiencing domestic violence, including family law matters.

4. MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78. A national counselling service for men concerned about their behaviour or experiencing family violence.

5. National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline – 1800 880 052. Support and reporting options for individuals with disabilities experiencing abuse or neglect.

State-Specific Services:

1. Domestic Violence Victoria (DV Vic) – 1800 015 188. Provides resources and support for people affected by domestic violence in Victoria.

2. Queensland Domestic Violence Support Services – DVConnect 1800 811 811 (Women), 1800 600 636 (Men). Provides emergency accommodation and support services for those experiencing domestic violence in Queensland.

3. NSW Domestic Violence Line – 1800 656 463. The NSW Domestic Violence Line provides confidential, 24/7 support and information for people affected by domestic violence.

4. Domestic Violence South Australia – 1800 800 098. Provides crisis support and resources for individuals in South Australia.

5. Tasmanian Women's Legal Service – 1800 682 468. Provides legal advice and support to women experiencing domestic violence in Tasmania.

6. Family Violence Legal Service (FVLS) – 1800 105 303. Provides legal advice and support for people experiencing family violence in Western Australia.

7. ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service – 02 6280 0900. Offers support for those affected by domestic violence in the Australian Capital Territory.

8. Northern Territory Domestic Violence Hotline – 1800 700 250. Support services for those in the Northern Territory facing domestic violence.

If you or someone you know is experiencing coercive control or emotional abuse, it’s important to seek support.

Disclaimer: Any stories or examples provided are an example only and do not describe a specific client, person or event. Some of the information we provide on our website may be information related to health and medical issues, but it's not meant to be health and medical "advice". We provide this information for your general use only. While we try to provide accurate information, it may be historical, incomplete information or based on opinions that aren't widely held. Your personal situation has not been considered when providing the information, so any reliance on this information is at your sole risk. We recommend seeking independent professional advice before relying on the information we provide. Find the full terms of service here: Terms of Service | Kylie Walls Psychology

References

Candela, C. (2016). Exploring the function of shame in survivors of intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 31(16), 2840–2866.

Dragiewicz, M., et al. (2018). Technology-facilitated coercive control. British Journal of Criminology, 58(6), 1303–1321.

Harris, B., & Woodlock, D. (2018). Digital coercive control. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 53(3), 212–227.

Herman, J. L. (2015). Trauma and recovery (2nd ed.). Basic Books.

Kassig, R., & Collins, J. (2026). Coercive control trauma: Understanding the psychological impact of coercive control on victim-survivors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.

Stark, E. (2007). Coercive control: How men entrap women in personal life. Oxford University Press.

Williamson, E. (2010). Living in the world of the domestic violence perpetrator. Women’s Studies International Forum, 33(3), 258–268.