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What happens when family court becomes another arena for ongoing conflict and abuse? And how can survivors distinguish coercive control from what the legal system may label as high-conflict behavior?
In this episode of Perfect Prey, Dr. Christine Cocchiola is joined by Esther Rosenfeld, family law attorney, divorce coach, and author of Transformative Divorce: From Broken to Blessed. Drawing on nearly 20 years of family law experience, Esther shares insights from her research into high-conflict personalities and the challenges they create within family court.
Together, they explore how litigation can fuel ongoing conflict, how financial resources and power can influence legal battles, and why survivors' trauma responses may be misunderstood. They also discuss the impact of custody disputes on children, the importance of secure attachment, and why stepping away from the fight can sometimes be a path toward greater peace.
What We Cover
High-conflict personalities and family court dynamics
How coercive control can be mistaken for mutual conflict
The role of money, power, and prolonged litigation
Why trauma responses may be misunderstood by legal professionals
Manipulation, entitlement, and harmful personality traits
Custody disputes and the importance of protecting children's attachment
Knowing when to step away from litigation
- Radical self-care, healing, and life beyond divorce
Why This Conversation Matters
For survivors, protective parents, attorneys, clinicians, and advocates, understanding the dynamics of coercive control is essential. This conversation explores how abuse can be overlooked when harmful behavior is framed as ordinary conflict, and why children's well-being must remain central to difficult family court decisions.
Dr. Christine and Esther also reflect on the emotional exhaustion of prolonged legal battles and the possibility of finding peace, personal growth, and transformation beyond the courtroom.
About Esther Rosenfeld
Esther Rosenfeld, is a family law attorney experienced in divorce, child custody, timeshare, relocation, property settlement, and support matters. She co-authored Confronting the Challenge of High Conflict Personality in Family Court, an article examining the challenges high-conflict personalities can present within the legal system.
Esther is also developing her divorce coaching practice and is the author of Transformative Divorce: From Broken to Blessed.
Connect with Esther
📧 Family Law: esther@rosenfeldfamilylaw.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransformative_divorce/
📘 Book: Transformative Divorce: From Broken to Blessed
Connect with Dr. Christine Cocchiola
🌐 Official Website:
https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/
🩵 Protective Parenting Program:
https://www.coercivecontrolconsulting.com/services/for-parents/
▶️ YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@DrCocchiola-coercivecontrol/videos
📱 TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.c_coercivecontrol
📸 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/dr.cocchiola_coercivecontrol/
🎤 TEDx — “It Is ALL Coercive Control”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp2qByKOue4&t=24s
📚 Books:
FRAMED: Women in the Family Court Underworld
https://url-shortener.me/c/FramedBook
Every Moment of Every Day
https://url-shortener.me/c/EveryMomentOfEveryDay
If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation. Together, we can continue raising awareness about coercive control and supporting survivors and protective parents.
— Dr. Christine Cocchiola and Esther Rosenfeld
