Perfect Prey Podcast

Trauma bonding can keep us locked in an abusive relationship. It’s a neurological response to the abuse that creates significant vulnerability. It happens to our children too—they may become bonded to their abuser (your abuser). About Dr. Nadine: Dr. Nadine Macaluso, known to her patients as Dr. Nae, is the real-life inspiration behind Naomi Belfort's character in "The Wolf of Wall Street." She survived a turbulent eight-year marriage to Jordan Belfort, marked by abuse, greed, and trauma. Following her experiences, Dr. Macaluso relocated to California. Her journey of trauma and healing inspired her to return to school at age 39, where she earned her Master's in counseling and a Ph.D. in somatic psychotherapy. She further specialized with a two-year postdoctoral training in the Neuro-affective Relational Model (NARM). As a therapist, Dr. Macaluso combines her education and personal experiences to help others heal from trauma. Her practice focuses on assisting patients in connecting with their authentic selves, fostering confidence, resilience, and agency. Dr. Macaluso firmly believes in the potential for post-traumatic growth, instilling hope in her patients and guiding them to reach their potential in life and love. --- 🔸Follow Dr. Christine on IG: www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol 🔸Visit her website: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com 🔸Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. 🔸Sign up here: https://go.drcocchiola.com/pppwselfstudy

Caitlyn is my first adult child guest, and she’s here to share her powerful story of growing up in a home with a coercive controller. Her brave escape from the abuser paved the way for her mom to find freedom as well. The strength and resilience of children like Caitlyn inspire hope for us all. 🔸Follow Dr. Christine on IG: www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol 🔸Visit her website: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com 🔸Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. Sign up here: https://go.drcocchiola.com/pppwselfstudy

Dr. Christine and Amy Polacko expose the disturbing realities within the family court system. In this episode, they discuss their new book FRAMED: Women in the Family Court Underworld which highlights the struggles of mothers facing coercive control and narcissistic abuse. Learn how abusers manipulate the system and why family court often fails to protect victims. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation that aims to inspire change and support those impacted by these injustices. Don’t miss out—SUBSCRIBE to our list to be among the first to receive updates! 🔸 Visit: https://narcfreepress.com

In this episode, we talk about loss and grief and unpack the magnitude of loss that occurs via a coercive controller/narcissistic abuser and the institutions complicit in the abuser's game.  --- Follow Dr. Christine on social media: 🔸Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ 🔸Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@dr.cocchiola.coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ 🔸Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠@coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ 🔸YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@DrCocchiola⁠⁠⁠ 🔸Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠ 🔸Book a 15-minute FREE consultation with Dr. Cocchiola: https://coercivecontrolconsultingllc.practicebetter.io/#/652da62e4e6384072a650689/bookings?s=65c7d2817d2b5f5dcd34c6ea&step=date Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. 🔸Sign up here: https://go.drcocchiola.com/pppwselfstudy DISCLAIMER: The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast.

Follow Dr. Christine on social media: 🔸Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ 🔸Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@dr.cocchiola.coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ 🔸Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠@coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ 🔸YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@DrCocchiola⁠⁠⁠ 🔸Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠ 🔸Book a 15-minute FREE consultation with Dr. Cocchiola: https://coercivecontrolconsultingllc.practicebetter.io/#/652da62e4e6384072a650689/bookings?s=65c7d2817d2b5f5dcd34c6ea&step=date Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. 🔸Sign up here: https://go.drcocchiola.com/pppwselfstudy DISCLAIMER: The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast.

Dr. Cocchiola highlights how coercive control in the home can significantly impact a child's developing brain and emotional wellbeing. Drawing from her experiences in child welfare and as a survivor herself, she emphasizes the importance of providing a safe space for children by preventing them from being forced into interactions with their abusers. --- Follow Dr. Christine on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@dr.cocchiola.coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠@coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@DrCocchiola⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠ Book a 15-minute FREE consultation with Dr. Cocchiola: ⁠https://calendly.com/drcocchiola/15min?month=2023-12⁠ Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. Learn more about The Protective Parenting Program: A Coercive Control Trauma-Informed Parenting Program: https://go.drcocchiola.com/ppp24q2wselfstudy DISCLAIMER: The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast.

Do you see it? Watch for it and then the patterns will become evident. When the patterns are visible, then we can give them the support they need. --- Follow Dr. Christine on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@dr.cocchiola.coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠@coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@DrCocchiola⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠ Book a 15-minute FREE consultation with Dr. Cocchiola: ⁠https://calendly.com/drcocchiola/15min?month=2023-12⁠ Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. Learn more about The Protective Parenting Program: A Coercive Control Trauma-Informed Parenting Program: https://go.drcocchiola.com/ppp24q2wselfstudy DISCLAIMER: The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast.

The Coercive Controller exerts power over everyone - including our children. His primary focus is to ensure our children feel shame and he kindles that overtly and covertly with them. We need to do whatever we can to extinguish this - shame-reducing responses are so important, yet so challenging when our children trigger our trauma. --- Follow Dr. Christine on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠@dr.cocchiola.coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠@coercivecontrol⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠@DrCocchiola⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠ Book a 15-minute FREE consultation with Dr. Cocchiola: ⁠https://calendly.com/drcocchiola/15min?month=2023-12⁠ Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. Learn more about The Protective Parenting Program: A Coercive Control Trauma-Informed Parenting Program: https://go.drcocchiola.com/ppp24q2wselfstudy DISCLAIMER: The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast.

What if you could look down on the relationship dynamics with the coercive controller [Narcissistic Abuser]? What has the coercive controller been saying about you you since DAY ONE? We need THE LIST so that we can counteract the abusers intentional diminishing of the protective parent and we need to begin to change THE STORY our children believe to be true. --- Follow Dr. Christine on social media: Instagram: ⁠⁠@dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠@dr.cocchiola.coercivecontrol⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠@coercivecontrol⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠@DrCocchiola⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com⁠⁠ Book a 15-minute FREE consultation with Dr. Cocchiola: https://calendly.com/drcocchiola/15min?month=2023-12 Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. Learn more about The Protective Parenting Program: A Coercive Control Trauma-Informed Parenting Program: https://go.drcocchiola.com/ppp24q1wselfstudy DISCLAIMER: The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast.

The threats of revenge are all too real: The financial ruin that is often further inflicted through the legal process is overwhelming. It's all intentional. It's all planned. --- Follow Dr. Christine on social media: Instagram: ⁠@dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol⁠ Facebook: ⁠@dr.cocchiola.coercivecontrol⁠ Twitter: ⁠@coercivecontrol⁠ YouTube: ⁠@DrCocchiola⁠ Website: ⁠https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com⁠ The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast.

In this episode Dr. Cocchiola begins to unpack the various ways that coercive controllers inflict their harm. It's ALL intentional. It's a course of conduct. A pattern that is often insidious yet cumulative. It's intimate terrorism. It limits the freedoms of an individual - as Dr. Evan Stark states: "Coercive Control is a liberty crime and we MUST be in the business of EMANCIPATION". --- Follow Dr. Christine on social media: Instagram: @dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol Facebook: @dr.cocchiola.coercivecontrol Twitter: @coercivecontrol YouTube: @DrCocchiola Website: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast.

Their egos so compromised and their goal to compromise the adult victims' ego and their children’s ego - all to maintain control. Our children particularly vulnerable. Who are these individuals? What is it that they are doing? How do they become individuals so readily willing to intentionally harm? Why do they abuse? --- Follow Dr. Christine on social media: Instagram: @dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol Facebook: @dr.cocchiola.coercivecontrol Twitter: @coercivecontrol YouTube: @DrCocchiola Website: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast.

Dr. Cocchiola defines coercive control, highlighting its impact on children beyond physical abuse. She emphasizes its role in domestic and child abuse, often concealed from authorities. Addressing children's vulnerability as "Perfect Prey," she stresses the vital support protective parents offer to those exposed to coercive control. Follow Dr. Christine on social media: Instagram: @dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol Facebook: @dr.cocchiola.coercivecontrol Twitter: @coercivecontrol YouTube: @DrCocchiola Website: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast.

This episode begins to outline the steps of derailing the coercive controller's plan and gives us the perspective of this abusive parent. For our children, Compliance is an Act of Survival. DISCLAIMER: The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast. Follow Dr. Christine on social media: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/dr.cocchiola.coercivecontrol INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol TWITTER (X): https://twitter.com/coercivecontrol WEBSITE: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled. The Protective Parenting Program: A Coercive Control Trauma-Informed Parenting Program: https://go.drcocchiola.com/ppp24q1wselfstudy

Kantianism comes from the philosopher Immanuel Kant:  "the idea that we have a moral duty to act in a good way - whether it benefits us or not. People are ends unto themselves and not pawns in someone else’s games" - unless of course, we are dealing with a coercive controller [narcissistic abuser]. Then everyone is fair game - especially our children.  In this in-depth episode, Dr. Cocchiola explores how individuals, often narcissistic abusers or coercive controllers, prey on empathetic and loyal individuals. She then expands this concept to children who may be more susceptible to this form of manipulation due to the power dynamics with parents or guardians. She emphasizes the importance of understanding these manipulations and the dangers they pose within families. Dr. Cocchiola examines the coercive controller's tactics, from manipulating children and weaponizing them against the protective parent to using children to fill their ego tanks. She also discusses the damage this form of abuse causes, defining it as betrayal trauma and complex trauma, and echoes a strong need for recognition and intervention. DISCLAIMER: The podcast must not replace medical or mental health guidance. It's recommended that individuals consult a healthcare professional for independent medical advice, counseling, or therapy regarding any medical or mental health concerns, including topics covered in the podcast. Follow Dr. Christine on social media: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/dr.cocchiola.coercivecontrol INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol TWITTER (X): https://twitter.com/coercivecontrol WEBSITE: https://coercivecontrolconsulting.com Become a Certified Trauma-Informed Protective Parent in this intensive educational program with an option for LIVE coaching/support to guide protective parents as they navigate the stormy seas of parenting a child who has been coercively controlled.  The Protective Parenting Program: A Coercive Control Trauma-Informed Parenting Program: https://go.drcocchiola.com/ppp24q1wselfstudy